Johannesburg: Eskom is set to host a state of the system media briefing on Monday as the winter period sets in, with a stable power system ready to meet the upcoming demands. ‘The power system remains stable, supported by adequate emergency reserves that are strategically deployed when necessary to manage periods of peak demand. This proactive management contributes to the overall reliability and resilience of the electricity supply,’ the power utility said on Friday.
According to South African Government News Agency, planned maintenance activities are ongoing as part of efforts to prepare for the anticipated winter peak demand, while also ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and environmental requirements. For the year-to-date (01 April to 01 May 2025), an average of 6,928MW-equivalent to 14.82% of total generation capacity-has been under planned maintenance. This reflects a 3.4 percentage point increase compared to the same period last year.
The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF), which measures unplanned outages, stands at 28.26% for the financial year-to-date (01 April to 01 May 2025). This reflects an improvement of approximately 1.6 percentage points compared to 29.82% recorded during the same period last year. Additionally, reliance on diesel usage is expected to decline as maintenance activities wind down and additional units return from long-term repairs during the winter months, increasing available generation capacity.
A total of 2,850MW will be returned to service before the evening peak on Monday, 05 May 2025, to further stabilize the grid. The power utility added that while load shedding remains suspended and electricity demand continues to rise, the public should help to prevent transformer overloads and related equipment failures, which can result in explosions and prolonged outages.
This can be achieved by avoiding illegal connections, purchasing electricity only from Eskom-accredited vendors and ensuring that customers take responsibility for regularising their electricity usage. Eligible households are encouraged to register for free basic electricity with their local municipalities. Any illegal activity impacting Eskom’s infrastructure should be reported to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp on 081 333 3323.
With the winter period setting in, Eskom requests the public to continue to use electricity efficiently. Monday’s briefing is set to take place at Eskom’s Megawatt Park offices in Johannesburg.
Source: South African Government News Agency