Eskom Celebrates Over 70% Diesel Savings After Seven Months of Load-Shedding-Free Power, but Cautions About Persistent Network Overloading
Eskom has successfully reduced its diesel expenditure by over 70% year-on-year, resulting in savings of more than R14 billion. This milestone is a direct result of the utility’s ability to avoid load-shedding for over seven months (226 consecutive days). Eskom credits its generation recovery plan for this achievement, which has allowed for significant improvements in its operations and efficiency.
The reduction in diesel costs comes from the enhanced performance of Eskom’s coal fleet, with diesel savings reaching R14.6 billion—approximately 70.3% less than the R20.8 billion spent during the same period last year. Eskom expects these savings to continue in the coming months as its operational efficiencies continue to improve and strengthen the electricity supply.
In addition to diesel savings, Eskom has seen a notable decrease in unplanned outages, which has enabled more planned maintenance. Over the past seven days, unplanned outages have dropped to 10,127 MW, down from 16,892 MW during the same period last year. This reduction has ensured that Eskom can meet the country’s electricity demand more effectively, while conducting necessary maintenance without compromising power supply.
However, Eskom warns that network overloading remains an issue in certain areas, due to illegal connections, vandalism, meter tampering, and theft. To prevent further disruptions and ensure public safety, Eskom urges customers to refrain from engaging in illegal activities and to buy electricity only from authorized vendors. Any illegal activities should be reported to Eskom’s Crime Line at 0800 112 722.
