Johannesburg – South Africa has reached a milestone not seen in eight years: a full year without load-shedding.
At 00:01 on Saturday, 16 May 2026, Eskom confirmed that the country had enjoyed 365 consecutive days of uninterrupted electricity supply, last achieved in September 2018.
The utility described the achievement as a decisive turning point from a fragile grid to a stable, high-performing power system.
Eskom Board Chairman Mteto Nyati credited the success to the generation recovery plan launched in 2023, saying employees had drawn on decades of technical expertise to restore reliability.
“South Africa now has a stable electricity platform to enable an orderly transformation of the industry,” added Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane, noting that no energy market liberalisation has succeeded without a stable incumbent.
Operational data shows sustained improvements.
The Energy Availability Factor rose from 54.56% to 65.16% between 2023 and 2026, while unplanned outages fell from 32.34% to 22.88%.
Diesel expenditure dropped sharply from R33.3 billion to R6.4 billion, reflecting reduced reliance on emergency generation.
The uninterrupted supply has saved R26.9 billion in diesel costs over three years and allowed Eskom to meet 100% of national electricity demand.
Group Executive for Generation Bheki Nxumalo said morale was at an all-time high, with consistent maintenance and improved reliability across the fleet underpinning the gains.
“Today represents the hardest-won progress in Eskom’s recent history,” he said.
The stable supply has supported energy-intensive industries, particularly ferrochrome producers, helping sustain operations and protect jobs.
It has also enabled greater integration of renewable energy during peak demand periods, strengthening system flexibility.
Financially, Eskom recorded a 2.1% year-on-year improvement in pre-tax profit and a 1.6% increase in EBITDA in FY2026, while Standard & Poor’s upgraded its credit rating for the first time in over a decade.
Looking ahead, Eskom plans to sustain these gains while preparing for the phased shutdown and repurposing of older coal-fired stations, with decisions expected in the second quarter of FY2027.
The utility also highlighted progress in targeted load reduction programmes, with over half a million households now enjoying continuous supply.
Both the Northern Cape and Western Cape have fully eradicated load reduction.
Acknowledging government support through the Energy Action Plan and NECOM, Eskom said the achievement reflects coordinated efforts to stabilise the grid and protect infrastructure.
The utility emphasised that a stable and predictable power supply is now enabling businesses to plan with certainty, supporting investment and growth across the economy.
