Eskom announced that loadshedding will remain suspended this weekend, marking 205 consecutive days without interruptions since March 2024.
Story Summary:
- Eskom has suspended loadshedding for 205 consecutive days and is on track to achieve the longest uninterrupted power supply in five years.
- Planned maintenance continues this weekend to prepare for winter 2025, with some generating units expected to return to service by Monday.
- Eskom projects a stable power supply this summer but has not ruled out the possibility of loadshedding during the winter of 2025.
Weekend loadshedding schedule starting Friday, 18 October 2024
The power utility has reported improvements in operational performance, particularly in reducing unplanned outages.
Ongoing planned maintenance is part of Eskom’s efforts to sustain this positive trend.
The planned maintenance this weekend involves over 5,798MW of generating capacity.
This maintenance is critical in preparing Eskom’s power stations for the winter of 2025.
According to Eskom, 1,880MW of capacity is expected to return to service by Monday, which will further improve the grid’s stability.
Here’s a look at the provisional weekend loadshedding schedule starting Friday, 18 October 2024:
Date | 05:00 – 16:00 | 16:00 – 20:00 | 20:00 – 00:00 | 00:00 – 05:00 |
Fri 18 Oct 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
Sat 19 Oct 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
Sun 20 Oct 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
What is the state of the power system?
Eskom reports that the power system has seen gradual improvements in efficiency, with a year-to-date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of 63%.
This marks a significant increase compared to the same period last year when the EAF was just 55.5%.
Top-performing stations such as Kusile and Duvha have maintained an EAF above 70%, contributing to the suspension of loadshedding.
Unplanned outages have reduced significantly, standing at 10,649MW today, which is 2,351MW lower than the summer forecast for 2024.
Eskom’s focus on strategic maintenance and the use of peaking stations during evening demand peaks has played a key role in managing electricity supply.
The utility also reported a 66% reduction in diesel costs compared to last year, saving R12.06 billion through more efficient operations.
Will Eskom implement loadshedding this season?
While loadshedding is expected to remain suspended through the summer, Eskom has not ruled out its return during the winter of 2025.
The completion of key projects, such as Kusile Unit 6 and Koeberg Unit 2, scheduled for December 2024, will be crucial in determining the power system’s readiness for the high demand in winter.
Eskom’s planned maintenance strategy aims to bolster the reliability of its power stations for the colder months, but the utility’s ability to avoid loadshedding in winter will depend on the continued performance of its infrastructure and the stability of the power grid.