South Africa Nears Six Months Without Load Shedding as Power System Stabilizes

South Africa Approaches Six-Month Milestone Without Load Shedding

For many South Africans, the spectre of rolling blackouts has long been a painful reality. But as of mid-October 2025, the country has gone 154 consecutive days without load shedding, a remarkable milestone that signals a notable improvement in Eskom’s power system performance.

Steady Improvements in Generation

According to Eskom, the stability comes thanks to sustained improvements in generation performance, particularly a reduction in unplanned losses. Between August and September 2025, the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) – a key measure of generation reliability – exceeded 70% on 22 separate occasions.

“September 2025 marked a major achievement, with an average EAF of 70.27%,” Eskom reported. “From 1 to 16 October, EAF stands at 62.76%, a year-on-year improvement despite a slight week-on-week dip due to planned maintenance.”

Eskom’s ongoing maintenance and plant upgrades are critical to ensuring long-term reliability while preventing unexpected outages.

Diesel Costs Under Control

The utility has also made strides in controlling operational costs. Diesel generation from Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) plants generated 1022.35GWh between April and mid-October 2025, at a cost of R6.066 billion – considerably lower than last year, when the same period cost R263 million at a higher load factor.

“Diesel expenditure remains consistently below budget, reducing the strain on Eskom’s finances,” the parastatal noted.

Load Reduction Still Necessary in High-Risk Areas

Despite the improved stability, Eskom cautions that localized load reduction remains necessary in certain areas to protect critical infrastructure. Illegal electricity connections, meter tampering, and theft have compromised parts of the network, causing overloads and damage that, in severe cases, can spark explosions or extended outages.

“These measures are about safeguarding public safety and preventing equipment failure, even as the national grid remains stable,” Eskom explained.

Looking Ahead: Infrastructure Upgrades and Smarter Grid

Eskom is optimistic about eliminating load reduction entirely within 12 to 18 months. This will involve:

• Addressing 640,000 illegal connections across the country.

• Installing smart meters for better monitoring and billing accuracy.

• Cracking down on illegal electricity vending.

• Expanding access to free basic electricity in priority areas.

Additionally, Eskom plans to return 3,890MW of generation capacity to service ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 20 October, further bolstering grid reliability.

Public Reaction

On social media, South Africans celebrated the prolonged absence of load shedding, sharing stories of uninterrupted business operations, smoother commutes, and the simple relief of not having to plan daily life around blackouts. Many users called it a long-awaited breath of relief for families and businesses alike, highlighting the positive economic and social impact of a stable power supply.

A Cautious Optimism

While Eskom’s milestone is a welcome change, experts caution that the real test lies in sustaining these improvements during the high-demand summer months. Planned maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and curbing electricity theft will be critical to ensuring South Africans can enjoy continuous power well beyond this historic six-month mark.

{Source: The Citizen}

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