South Africa power supply stabilises as Eskom reports 147 days without cuts

Monday 20th October 2025

by inAfrika Newsroom

South Africa power supply stabilisation continued into October as Eskom reported 147 consecutive days without loadshedding through October 9, with only 26 hours of cuts since April 1. The utility said reduced unplanned outages and higher plant availability improved energy security this financial year.

The stretch without rolling blackouts marks a break from 2023’s record cuts. Nevertheless, officials warned that generation remains tight and that maintenance must continue to consolidate gains. Therefore, Eskom is keeping emergency reserves ready and sequencing outages at large units to avoid simultaneous breakdowns.

South Africa power supply improvements stem from a recovery plan focused on reliability. Engineers have prioritized boiler and turbine repairs at coal stations, while extending life-cycle maintenance to stabilize older units. In addition, the operator has increased procurement of critical spares and tightened contractor oversight to shorten turnaround times.

Industry groups said the reprieve helps factories clear order backlogs and reduces diesel spending on backup generation. However, they urged clarity on winter 2026 readiness and on timelines for adding new capacity from renewables and gas. The grid still faces risks from delayed projects, transmission constraints and potential unit trips at legacy plants.

South Africa power supply will also depend on demand patterns. As households and businesses add rooftop solar and storage, daytime net load is shifting, which complicates ramping at coal plants. Consequently, the operator is refining dispatch to manage evening peaks and to absorb variable generation without destabilizing frequency.

Eskom said it will publish periodic updates on unplanned outage rates, energy availability factor and reserve margins. If the recovery holds, analysts expect lower reliance on costly diesel peakers and fewer short-notice alerts. For now, the data point to a more stable system—though one still vulnerable to shocks without continued maintenance and new build