Eskom announces that load shedding scheme remains suspended after 72 days of suspension

Eskom announced today that load shedding will remain suspended until further notice due to further gradual improvements in the reliability of the power generation fleet.

Load shedding has currently been suspended for 72 consecutive days. The last time South Africa experienced such a long load shedding suspension was during the period from 05 December 2021 to 02 February 2022.

The strategic step under the Generation Operational Recovery Plan to improve the reliability of our power plant fleet for winter 2024 through increased planned maintenance during the summer months of 2023/24 to an average of 8,000 MW and between December 2023 and January 2024, where we achieved an average of 18% of generation capacity under maintenance, continues to deliver results.

The winter forecast published on 26 April 2024 assumed a likely scenario of unplanned outages at 15,500 MW and load shedding limited to Phase 2 – this forecast remains valid.

Our power generation capacity continues to exceed the winter forecast for this year. The current average of unplanned outages is 11,300 MW, 3,000 MW less than expected.

Key performance highlights:

• • Reducing unplanned downtime:

• 1. 1. 1. • 1. • The unplanned capacity loss factor (UCLF) decreased to 28.0% in the fiscal year to date (1 April 2024 to 6 June 2024), a decrease from 35.7% in the same period last year (1 April 2023 to 6 June 2023).
                • This reduction in the UCLF represents an improvement of approximately 8% in the current fiscal year (April 1, 2024 to June 6, 2024) compared to the same period last year.

• • The currently planned maintenance of 4,653 MW is in line with our maintenance plans for this winter.

• • Improving the sustainable energy availability factor (EAF)

• 1. 1. 1. • 1. • Year-to-date EAF (April 1, 2024 to June 6, 2024) increased to 61.1%, a significant improvement of ~8% compared to the same period last year (April 1, 2023 to June 6, 2023), when EAF was 53.2%.
                • The weekly EAF increased from 57.0% at the beginning of the fiscal year to 63.8% from April 1 to June 6, 2024.
                • The improvement in EAF is primarily due to a decrease in unplanned outages of generating units, which averaged 12,700 MW in May 2024.

Strategic use of open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs)

• OCGT usage remains significantly lower compared to the same period over the last two years.

• From 1 April 2024 to 6 June 2024, Eskom spent R1.71 billion on OCGTs and produced 246.91 GWh, approximately 77% less than from 1 April 2023 to 6 June 2023, when it spent R7.4 billion to produce 1,210.23 GWh.
• From 1 to 6 June 2024, Eskom spent R0.15 billion on OCGTs and produced 21.89 GWh. This figure is high due to the weather-related increase in demand, but is within Eskom’s published winter forecast and budget for the 2025 financial year, which runs from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. During the same period last year, from 1 to 6 June, Eskom’s spend on diesel was 10% lower.
• The OCGT capacity utilization rate for the period from May 1 to 31, 2024, at 2.27%, remained significantly below the previous year’s figure of 28.22% for the same period.
• The OCGT load factor for the period from June 1 to 6, 2024 was 4.45%, slightly lower than the previous year’s figure of 4.73% for the same period.

A total of 3,020 MW of generation capacity is to be put back into operation by Monday, June 10, 2024.

Eskom’s evening peak demand this evening, Friday 07 June 2024, is 29,704 MW.

Prevent network overload and danger to life

As electricity demand increases and temperatures drop with the onset of winter, the problem of grid congestion has resurfaced in some areas due to electricity theft. This theft is widespread and includes illegal connections, theft of network equipment, vandalism, meter bypassing and tampering, unauthorised grid operation and purchasing electricity from illegal suppliers.

To prevent risks to life, load reductions during the load shedding suspension and sudden power outages, Eskom urges its customers to reduce their consumption, ensure that the electricity they use is legally connected and purchased from legal suppliers, and report illegal activities to the Eskom Crime Hotline on 0800 112 722.

Eskom will provide an update next Friday, 14 June 2024, or promptly communicate any material changes as they occur.