South Africa hits 300 days without load shedding
South Africa reaches 300 days without loadshedding as Eskom reports improved plant performance and a major drop in power outages.
South Africa has reached 300 consecutive days without load shedding, marking a major milestone in the country’s power recovery.
Eskom confirmed the achievement was reached at midnight on 12 March 2026. The power utility said the improvement reflects stronger performance across its generation fleet.
An Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of about 65.85% for the financial year has helped maintain stability on the grid.
Unplanned outages have also fallen sharply. Between 6 and 12 March, outages averaged 7 224MW, compared with 15 382MW during the same period last year.
This represents a 53% decrease, according to Eskom.
The improved performance has also reduced reliance on diesel-powered generators. For the current financial year, diesel spending is R8.58 billion lower than during the same period last year.
Eskom said the progress reflects gains from its Generation Recovery Plan.
The power system currently has a comfortable buffer between supply and demand. Peak demand is expected to reach 23 858MW, while available capacity is forecast at 27 652MW.
Nearly 200 000 Eskom customers freed from load reduction
Almost 200 000 Eskom customers across South Africa are also no longer affected by load reduction during peak demand periods.
The power utility says 199 160 customers have benefited after certain electricity feeders were removed from the programme.
Load reduction is used in areas with high electricity theft, illegal connections or overloaded infrastructure. It helps protect the power network and prevent system failures.
The improvement comes as Eskom works toward eliminating load reduction entirely by 2027.
Power system remains stable
The uninterrupted run is particularly significant after several years of severe load shedding (rotating power cuts) that disrupted homes, businesses and economic growth.
Eskom’s summer outlook previously projected no load shedding until the end of March 2026.
The utility said continued maintenance and improved plant reliability have strengthened grid stability.
Additional generation capacity of 3 330MW is also expected to come online before the evening peak on 16 March.
Eskom said the focus now remains on maintaining reliability while continuing long-term improvements to the generation fleet.
This article has been sourced from various publicly available news platforms around the world. All intellectual property rights remain with the original publishers and authors. Unshared News does not claim ownership of the content and provides it solely for informational and educational purposes voluntarily. If you are the rightful owner and believe this content has been used improperly, please contact us for prompt removal or correction.
