Eskom Marks 105 Days Without Loadshedding, Signals Sustained Power Stability
Evident Makatwane 
South Africa has now crossed the milestone of 105 consecutive days without loadshedding, Eskom confirmed in a statement released on Friday.
The utility said the achievement reflects steady improvements in plant performance and reduced levels of unplanned breakdowns, marking a dramatic turnaround from previous years.
A Sharp Contrast With Past Years
In the 2024 financial year, South Africa only enjoyed 36 days free of loadshedding. By comparison, Eskom delivered 352 loadshedding-free days in FY2025, with this year’s winter season showing one of the most stable periods in recent memory.
Eskom said it has managed to meet more than 97% of electricity demand this winter, with breakdowns currently at 8 948MW, staying comfortably below the 10 000MW threshold that typically triggers rotational cuts.
Technical Recovery and Stability
The improvement is linked to Eskom’s ongoing Generation Recovery Plan, which includes intensified maintenance and upgrades across its fleet. Between 15 and 28 August, planned maintenance averaged 6 968MW, while the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) rose to 66.15%, a sign of strengthening reliability.
Additional support has also come from Kusile Unit 6, which has been feeding 720MW into the grid since March, although it has not yet entered full commercial operation. Eskom expects the unit to do so in September 2025.
Diesel Use and Outlook
Another notable improvement has been the drop in diesel use. The open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) load factor fell to 0.16% last week, down from 0.78%, with spending well under budget.
Eskom’s Winter Outlook report (May 2025) suggested that loadshedding would not be necessary if unplanned outages stayed below 13 000MW. With just two days left in the winter forecast period, the utility says the system remains “well-positioned to maintain stability and meet demand reliably.”
The utility is preparing to release its Summer Outlook in September, with current available capacity standing at 29 132MW against a national demand of 25 797MW.
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