After years of uncertainty and rolling blackouts, South Africans may finally be heading into a winter with no load shedding.
Eskom says it expects a stable power supply throughout the colder months, projecting that no load shedding will be needed between 1 April and 31 August 2026. The outlook marks a significant shift for the country’s electricity landscape, especially during a period typically associated with peak demand and grid strain.
The power utility shared the update during its latest State of the System briefing, pointing to sustained improvements across its generation fleet and overall system performance.
Eskom says it has a more stable power system
According to Eskom, the grid has entered a more stable phase following the implementation of its Generation Recovery Plan. What was once a crisis response strategy has now become part of its day-to-day operations, helping maintain a consistent electricity supply across the country.
Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane said the utility now has a solid foundation to build on, including the ability to gradually integrate renewable energy in line with South Africa’s long-term energy plans.
“We now have a stable platform to operate and grow from,” he said.
Diesel costs drop sharply
One of the clearest signs of improvement is a major reduction in diesel usage. Eskom previously relied heavily on diesel-powered generators to keep the lights on, often at enormous cost.
That reliance has now eased, with diesel spending down by around R26.9 billion. The savings are largely due to improved plant performance and better maintenance practices.
Eskom’s Generation Executive, Bheki Nxumalo, said these gains were only possible because the system is now more stable.
“Every megawatt we return contributes toward economic growth,” he said.
What’s driving the improvement
Eskom highlighted several key performance gains behind the improved outlook:
- The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) increased from about 54.5% in 2023 to roughly 65.3% in 2026
- Unplanned outages dropped significantly, decreasing by about 7.1GW
- Planned maintenance increased, strengthening long-term reliability
These improvements have already had a real impact, with the country reaching more than 340 consecutive days without load shedding.
While load shedding may be off the table for now, Eskom is continuing efforts to eliminate load reduction, a separate issue linked to infrastructure overload and illegal connections.
Progress is already visible. The Northern Cape and Western Cape have been removed from load reduction schedules, and more than 340 000 customers nationwide are no longer affected.
A major part of the solution includes installing over 600 000 smart meters to improve monitoring and manage demand more effectively.
Eskom expects that by September 2026, about 60% of affected feeders will be cleared, with the rest to follow by 2027.
