Eskom’s recent Power Alert confirms that loadshedding, which has been suspended for 72 consecutive days, will remain suspended through the weekend starting Friday, 7 June 2024.
Weekend loadshedding schedule starting Friday, 24 May 2024
This marks a significant period of stability in power supply, driven by sustained improvements in Eskom’s generation performance and strategic maintenance efforts.
Reduction in Unplanned Outages
Eskom’s Generation Operational Recovery Plan, initiated in March 2023, has significantly reduced unplanned outages.
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The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) decreased to 28.37% from 35.5% compared to the same period last year.
This 7.5% improvement indicates a more stable and reliable power supply.
The reduction in unplanned outages means fewer unexpected disruptions in electricity, contributing to the continued suspension of loadshedding.
Planned Maintenance and EAF Improvement
Eskom’s planned maintenance of 4,121 MW is consistent with its winter maintenance plans, ensuring that necessary repairs and upgrades are performed without unexpected interruptions.
The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has also seen a notable increase, reaching 61.0% year-to-date, an 8.3% improvement from the previous year.
The weekly EAF has moved from 57.0% to 65.0%, spotlighting better performance and fewer outages.
This improvement is primarily due to a decrease in unplanned outages, which averaged 12,500 MW in May 2024.
Strategic Utilisation of Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs)
OCGT usage has significantly decreased, with Eskom spending R1.52 billion to produce 221.02 GWh from 1 April 2024 to 30 May 2024.
This is a stark reduction from the R7.1 billion spent in the same period last year.
The OCGT load factor has also dropped to 2.18%, compared to 28.05% last year.
This strategic use of OCGTs helps maintain a stable power supply while reducing operational costs.
Here’s a look at the provisional weekend loadshedding schedule starting Friday, 31 May 2024:
| Date | 05:00 – 16:00 | 16:00 – 20:00 | 20:00 – 00:00 | 00:00 – 05:00 |
| Fri 7 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Sat 8 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
| Sun 9 June 24 | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* | Suspended* |
Winter 2024 outlook
Eskom’s winter outlook, published on 26 April 2024, remains in force.
The generation performance continues to surpass the winter forecast, which anticipated unplanned outages at 15,500 MW and loadshedding limited to Stage 2.
Currently, unplanned outages average at 12,500 MW, 3,000 MW less than anticipated.
Additionally, 3,500 MW of generating capacity is planned to be returned to service by Monday, 3 June 2024.
