Eskom's power system stabilises ahead of holiday demand

As South Africa gears up for the festive season, Eskom has announced a significant improvement in its power generation capacity, indicating a robust readiness to tackle the increased electricity demand.

With a reliable electricity supply on the horizon, the utility is bolstered by achievements stemming from its Generation Recovery Plan and comprehensive maintenance efforts implemented over the past year.

According to Eskom's latest updates, the Energy Availability Factor (EAF)—a critical measure of generation performance—has surged to 66.12% so far this December, showing a commendable rise of 8.43% from 57.69% in the same period last year.

This boost in performance is pivotal for securing energy availability in a season traditionally marked by high power consumption.

The continued strengthening of Eskom's fleet ensures that peak demand during the holiday periods will be met efficiently, supporting not only consumer needs but also contributing positively to the local economy and energy security research sectors.

Robert Wessels, Eskom's spokesperson, highlighted that the reduction in unplanned outages stands at an impressive 1,264MW year-on-year, showing a consistent decrease from an average of 11,965MW to 10,701MW between 12 and 18 December. Wessels attributed this success directly to intensified maintenance tracking and proactive recovery efforts that have bolstered reliability.

“We've consistently exceeded our benchmarks, with the EAF demonstrating improvements that will lower dependency on more costly diesel power generation,” he noted. The developments have also resulted in lower diesel expenditure for Eskom, with only R40.8 million spent last week due to unavoidable commissioning tests. This is a stark contrast to the skyrocketed costs experienced in previous years, showing clear evidence of the utility's ongoing recovery.

Moreover, a notable 217 days have passed without any interruptions to supply and the recorded load-shedding itself remains remarkably low, at just 26 hours in total since the financial year commenced. This stability is no small feat in an economy still recovering from numerous challenges.

To assure support through peak demand expected in the upcoming days, Eskom will activate an additional 4,670MW of generation capacity before the evening peak on 22 December, which will see a forecast demand of 22,207MW against a competitive generation capacity of 25,902MW.

While the strides in improving generation systems are commendable, challenges persist, including illegal connections and meter tampering that threaten infrastructure integrity. Eskom has initiated a phased programme aimed at eradicating load reduction by 2027, targeting nearly 1.69 million customers across different provinces.

This multi-faceted approach includes smart meter rollouts, enhanced community partnerships, and the reinstatement of disrupted services.

The call for community cooperation in reporting illegal activities remains crucial as Eskom seeks to strengthen its network further.

It is not just about meeting demand, but doing so safely and intelligently, by safeguarding infrastructure and promoting responsible usage of electricity.

In conclusion, Eskom's concerted efforts towards improving its capacity and reliability as it heads towards the holiday season showcase a promising return to stability.

The ongoing management of maintenance schedules, coupled with strategic interventions, signals a brighter future for energy supplies in South Africa.

BUSINESS REPORT