South Africa: Power Supply Stable For More Than Seven Months – Eskom

South Africa’s power supply has remained stable for more than seven months, with minimal load shedding recorded during the current financial year, state-owned power utility Eskom has said.

In a statement issued on Friday, Eskom said the country has experienced 231 consecutive days without prolonged load shedding, marking one of the longest periods of sustained electricity supply stability in recent years.

The utility reported that only 26 hours of load shedding were recorded during April and May, which it attributed to short-term generation constraints.

Eskom said it plans to bring 5,585 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, January 5, 2026, as part of ongoing measures to maintain grid stability.

According to the utility, the improved performance reflects progress made under its Generation Recovery Plan, including enhanced planned maintenance, improved energy availability factors, and stricter operational discipline across its power stations.

Eskom noted that unplanned outages had declined compared to previous years, allowing the power system operator to manage demand more effectively, even during periods of higher electricity consumption.

Eskom added that it remains focused on ensuring adequate capacity to meet demand, particularly during peak periods.

Despite the progress, the utility cautioned that the power system remains vulnerable and urged continued support for energy-saving measures to help maintain stability.

Eskom noted that although the system remains stable and generation capacity continues to exceed demand, festive-season weather conditions led to a sharp rise in faults across its distribution network.

Reported incidents increased by about 40 percent compared with the same period last year.

While electricity supply has been restored in most affected areas, some communities remain without power due to severely damaged infrastructure.

Eskom said its teams have been working throughout the period and continue efforts to restore supply safely and as quickly as possible.

As a temporary measure, the utility said it is maintaining load reduction in high-risk areas to protect communities and the electricity network.

The power company also raised concerns about illegal connections and meter tampering, warning that the practices continue to damage infrastructure and pose serious safety risks.