- Eskom reports that its financial year to date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) reached 63.54% for the period from 1 April to 18 June 2026, up from 63.24% the previous week and significantly higher than 58.08% recorded during the same period in 2025.
- The increase represents a year on year improvement of 5.46% but it is still below the 70% target it set back in 2023. Read more
Eskom also highlighted progress in its Load Reduction Elimination Programme. Approximately 886,717 households, representing around 52% of affected customers, have been restored to normal electricity supply. The utility aims to eliminate load reduction in seven provinces by October 2026, with Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal expected to follow in 2027 as network upgrades continue to address localised constraints and overloading.
Between 12 and 18 June 2026, average unplanned outages declined to 10,640 MW, down by 4,622 MW from 15,262 MW recorded during the corresponding period last year. Eskom said the reduction is nearly equivalent to the generating capacity of Kusile Power Station.
The utility’s Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor improved to 22.19% from 31.83% a year earlier, representing a reduction of 9.49%. Planned maintenance levels remained elevated, with the Planned Capacity Loss Factor averaging 10.94% compared with 8.09% during the previous financial year. Eskom said the higher maintenance levels support environmental compliance, improved reliability and long term sustainability.
An additional 3,867 MW of generation capacity is currently held in cold reserve due to excess capacity available on the system.
Eskom plans to return 3,223 MW of generation capacity to service ahead of the evening peak on 22 June 2026. Evening peak demand is forecast at 26,387 MW against available generation capacity of 31,533 MW.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
