Eskom raises EAF to 67.78%, cuts diesel costs by R4.8 billion year-on-year and reduces year-to-date particulate emissions by 67% in 5 months

Friday, 11 September 2026: Eskom continues to strengthen South Africa’s energy security while delivering measurable sustainability outcomes. For the financial year-to-date period from 1 April 2026 to 10 September 2026, the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) reached 67.78%, its highest level in six years, while unplanned outages declined from 26.61% to 19.43% compared to the same period last year. Improved fleet reliability and availability have restored 3 500MW of generation capacity to the grid and reduced diesel expenditure by R4.80 billion (80.94%).

Eskom has improved its coal fleet particulate matter emissions to 0.32 kg/MWh Sent Out (SO), outperforming the current financial year target of 0.35 kg/MWhSO and improving significantly from 0.96 kg/MWhSO at the end of the previous financial year, 31 March 2026. Notably, Eskom has been performing below the relative particulate matter target of 0.35 kg/MWhSO since October 2025 because of the generation recovery plan.

This demonstrates Eskom’s continued progress in improving reliability, lowering operating costs and reducing the environmental impact of electricity generation, while delivering a more secure and sustainable electricity supply for South Africa.

Eskom has achieved significant environmental improvements through targeted emissions-reduction projects and focused operational interventions across its coal-fired fleet. Year-to-date, relative particulate matter emissions have improved by approximately 67%, reducing from 0.96 kg/MWhSO at 31 March 2026 to 0.32 kg/MWhSO. This improvement reflects sustained progress in lowering emissions while maintaining stronger plant reliability and availability. Twelve of Eskom’s fourteen coal-fired power stations are meeting their station-specific particulate matter emission targets, with targeted interventions underway at the remaining stations to further improve environmental performance and emissions compliance.

Improved fleet reliability and availability have also significantly reduced reliance on diesel-fired generation. From 1 April to 10 September 2026, diesel expenditure declined by R4.80 billion, or 80.94%, compared to the same period last year, decreasing from R5.93 billion to R1.13 billion. Over the same period, the OCGT load factor reduced sharply from 7.56% to 1.11%, reflecting the impact of improved plant performance and the contribution of additional generation capacity to the grid. These improvements have strengthened the resilience of the power system, enhanced energy security and supported economic growth and investment confidence through a more reliable electricity supply.

Eskom’s Load Reduction Eradication Programme continues to make steady progress, with approximately 1.2 million customers restored to normal supply conditions to date. As a result, only 6.5% of Eskom customers remain affected by load reduction, while seven provinces continue to remain free from load reduction. Eskom remains on track to eradicate load reduction nationally by March 2027.

South Africa has now recorded 483 consecutive days without loadshedding since 16 May 2025, reflecting the cumulative impact of improved fleet performance, lower unplanned outages, increased generation capacity and reduced reliance on emergency generation resources. This milestone demonstrates the sustained progress being made in restoring reliability, strengthening energy security and supporting South Africa’s economic growth and development.

Key Performance Highlights at a glance 

Eskom provides key performance highlights for the past 7 days, the financial year to date and since March 2023, when the generation recovery plan commenced as a key part of the Eskom turnaround. 

Energy Availability Factor (EAF)

• Between 4 and 10 September 2026, EAF was at a lower level compared to the same period last year, at 67.81% compared to 70.84%, mainly due to a higher Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF).

• The financial year-to-date (1 April to 10 September 2026) EAF has improved to 67.78%, a 6.07% improvement from the 61.71% achieved during the corresponding period last year.

• This is still the highest financial year-to-date EAF achieved in six years, reflecting the impact of sustained operational improvements and structural interventions implemented across the generation fleet. 

• Compared with the same period three years ago, Eskom’s EAF has improved by 12.6%, returning approximately 6 098MW of generating capacity to the grid. Notably, more than 50% of the coal fleet is currently operating at EAF levels between 61.4% and 96.5%. 

Unplanned outages (Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor – UCLF) 

• Between 4 and 10 September 2026, average unplanned outages decreased to 8 893MW from 8 921MW in the corresponding period last year, a reduction of 28MW or 0.32%. This improvement is nearly equivalent to the generating capacity of Grootvlei Power Station.

• Between 4 and 10 September 2026, the UCLF improved from 18.25% to 18.26%, reflecting sustained operational gains and a progressive shift from recovery to reliability. 

• For the financial year to date (1 April to 10 September 2026), UCLF has reduced to 19.43%, which is 7.18% lower than the same period in the previous year. 

Average unplanned outages have been reduced by 7 026MW over the past three years, declining from 16 212MW to 9 186MW.

Planned maintenance (Planned Capacity Loss Factor – PCLF) 

• Between 4 and 10 September 2026, planned maintenance remains aligned with Eskom’s reliability and sustainability objectives, with the PCLF averaging 13.83%, significantly higher than 9.99% in the corresponding period last year. 

• For the financial year to date (1 April to 10 September 2026), planned maintenance was at an average of 5 965MW, accounting for 12.6% of total generation capacity, higher than the 11.18% (5 219MW) over the same period in the previous year. 

• Three years ago, planned maintenance was at an average of 4 402MW, accounting for 9.37% of total generation capacity. 

Diesel usage 

• Between 4 and 10 September 2026, diesel was deployed selectively during peak demand periods and to maintain required reserves in line with the South African Grid Code.

• For the financial year-to-date (1 April to 10 September 2026), OCGT generation stands at 146.81GWh, approximately 85.33% lower than the corresponding period last year.

• The continued low utilisation of OCGTs reflects improved fleet performance and reduced reliance on diesel-fired generation to meet electricity demand. 

• The financial year‑to‑date OCGT load factor stands at 1.11%, lower than the 7.56% recorded over the same period last year, reflecting a significantly reduced reliance on diesel-powered generation and remaining well below the target annual load factor of 3%.

• Comparing the annual spend for the financial year ended March 2023 to the annual spend for the financial year ended March 2026, diesel expenditure reduced by R23.0 billion. 

Eskom continues to maintain additional system capacity, with 6 019MW in cold reserve due to excess capacity, providing further assurance of system adequacy.

Today’s evening peak is forecast at 24 485MW, against available capacity of 28 992MW. We expect 2 845MW to come back online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 14 September 2026. 

The power system status and Summer Outlook will be shared during September.

Progress in ending load reduction

More than 1.2 million customers removed from load reduction as seven provinces remain load reduction-free and 72% of targeted households have returned to normal supply; load reduction impact falls to 6.5%

Although the power system remains stable and generation capacity continues to exceed demand, illegal connections and meter tampering persist in certain localised areas, driving infrastructure damage and posing serious safety risks. Eskom continues to implement load reduction as a temporary, targeted measure in high-risk areas to protect both communities and the electricity network.

To address these challenges sustainably, Eskom has launched a phased programme to eliminate load reduction by 2027. The programme targets 971 feeders and will benefit approximately 1.69 million customers across all provinces, out of Eskom’s total customer base of 7.2 million. Key interventions include the rollout of smart meters, the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), and the expansion of Free Basic Electricity (FBE) support.

These measures will be accompanied by targeted customer education initiatives.

Progress on Key Interventions

Smart meter rollout:

To date, 513 022 smart meters have been installed on load reduction feeders, reaching approximately 89% of the 577 347 target for high-priority areas. Approximately 82% of these installations are concentrated in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, where network pressure is highest. The rollout remains focused on high-loss areas impacted by illegal connections, infrastructure overloading and electricity theft.

Despite ongoing stakeholder engagement, including work with ward councillors, public meetings and media platforms, resistance in some areas continues to affect progress. These include safety incidents, intimidation and work stoppages, resulting in delays, with more than 122 000 planned installations impacted to date.

Feeders removed from load reduction:

Seven of South Africa’s nine provinces have been completely removed from load reduction.

A total of 571 feeders have been removed from load reduction, representing approximately 59% of the 971 target.

• 163 feeders in Limpopo and Mpumalanga (exceeding the target of 150), with both provinces achieving full elimination.
• 244 feeders in Gauteng (40.4% of the target of 604).
• 14 feeders in the Eastern and Western Cape (100% of the target), with both provinces achieving full elimination.
• 135 feeders in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal (67.4% of the target of 193), with the Free State achieving full elimination.
• 15 feeders in the North West and Northern Cape (exceeding the target of 9), with both provinces achieving full elimination.

Customers benefiting:

An estimated 1 222 430 customers are no longer impacted by load reduction, representing approximately 72% of the 1.69 million customers targeted under the programme. This includes 670 785 customers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga; 268 902 in Gauteng; 29 812 in the Eastern and Western Cape; 202 703 in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State; and 50 228 in the North West and Northern Cape.