Eskom’s Milestone: Stabilizing Power amid Complex Challenges

TBG SA Daily Energy and Solar brief

Eskom has achieved an extended period without load shedding, providing much needed relief to households and businesses across the country. This milestone is a direct result of focused leadership under Chairman Mteto Nyati and operational improvements cantered on maintenance, accountability, and optimized asset use. These efforts have rebuilt grid stability and restored investor confidence, helping South Africa secure its first sovereign credit ratings upgrade in 20 years.

Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan has driven sustained improvements, with the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) exceeding 70% during recent months. The power system has consistently met over 97% of electricity demand, ensuring reliability and reducing reliance on costly diesel-powered generation.

While this progress is noteworthy, it is critical for business leaders to recognize the underlying challenges. Former Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga has accused the National Party government of allowing Eskom to fail by dismantling vital financial and policy frameworks. Despite Eskom issuing repeated warnings as early as 1998 about declining reserve capacity and the urgent need to expand generation, the government failed to respond adequately. The democratic government, particularly during Thabo Mbeki’s administration, delayed approvals and missed critical opportunities to build new capacity throughout the 2000s, which significantly contributed to the ongoing energy crisis.

More importantly for executives, escalating Eskom tariffs are driving consumers and businesses toward solar energy solutions at an unprecedented pace. Survey data shows that 82% of homeowners and 79% of businesses surveyed, who do not have solar, plan to install solar within the next 12 months. In addition, 93% of homeowners and 79% of businesses are realizing measurable cost savings; 54% of businesses offset the majority of their energy usage through solar. Because of this, the financial industry is stepping up its focus on solar and renewable energy and as an example, Standard Bank has set ambitious targets to mobilise over R450 billion in funding by 2028.

The shift towards distributed solar is no longer optional; it is essential for managing costs and securing energy resilience. TBG SA confirms that customized solutions are available for larger commercial systems designed for specific load requirements and budget profiles.

If your business or home has not yet made the move to solar, now is the time. Avoid escalating Eskom tariffs and reduce your reliance on an unstable grid by leveraging off-grid and other solar solutions. Contact Keith at TBG SA on 073 028 5639 to arrange a free assessment tailored to your energy needs. Take control of your energy costs and position your organization for long-term resilience through proven solar technologies.

Sources: BusinessTech, Daily Maverick, NewsDay, BG SA Internal Data