Eskom enters the 2026 winter season with a resilient power system, projecting a winter period of continued energy stability from April 1 to August 31, 2026
Image: Eskom
Eskom says it is entering the 2026 winter season with a resilient power system, projecting continued energy stability from April 1 to August 31.
The utility said the outlook follows a reliable summer period and reflects the successful implementation of its Generation Recovery Plan, which has moved operations into a phase of sustained stability and energy security.
Eskom recorded a 98.9% energy supply rate in the 2025/26 financial year, a significant improvement compared with two years ago, signalling stronger system performance and operational discipline.
The winter outlook is supported by improved reliability across the generation fleet. Eskom said it reduced unplanned losses by 5.2GW and added 1.1GW through demand-side management, resulting in a projected surplus peak capacity of about 6GW.
Unplanned outages are expected to average around 12GW, down from 13GW in last year’s winter outlook. Even in higher-risk scenarios of up to 14GW in unplanned losses, Eskom said the system should remain resilient, with no load shedding anticipated.
The utility has also expanded supply to more customers, connecting 67,578 new households and supplying a further 2,119 through distributed energy resources.
Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane said the country now has a stable electricity platform to support economic growth and integrate renewable energy under the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.
Group Executive for Generation Bheki Nxumalo said improved plant performance has reduced diesel reliance, saving R26.9 billion compared with the 2022/23 financial year.
Key performance gains since March 2023 include an improvement in the energy availability factor to about 65.35%, a reduction in unplanned losses by around 7.1GW, and increased planned maintenance to strengthen long-term reliability.
These gains have contributed to 341 consecutive days without load shedding.
Financially, Eskom reported a 2.1% year-on-year increase in pre-tax profit and a 1.6% rise in EBITDA for 2025/26, while its credit rating was upgraded by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings for the first time in more than a decade.
Looking ahead, Eskom said it will assess whether new generation capacity can be delivered in time to support the planned shutdown and repurposing of ageing coal-fired power stations. A decision is expected in the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.
The utility warned that delays in new capacity could pose risks to electricity supply between 2029 and 2030, while noting that only about half of renewable projects awarded since the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan have been completed.
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