Johannesburg: Eskom has announced that its power system remains stable and is prepared to meet the anticipated increase in electricity demand as industries resume operations following the festive break. According to South African Government News Agency, this stability demonstrates improvements in Eskom's generation fleet and the effectiveness of its Generation Recovery Plan, which aims to secure the nation's energy future. The utility has reported gains in its Energy Availability Factor (EAF), with the year-to-date EAF increasing to 64.55%. Eskom's fleet has reached or surpassed the 70% EAF mark on 55 occasions. These improvements are attributed to reduced unplanned outages, reflecting the success of the Generation Recovery Plan and disciplined maintenance efforts. Between January 2 and January 8, 2026, average unplanned outages decreased to 7,705 MW from the previous year's 13,876 MW, marking an improvement of 6,171 MW. During the same period, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) dropped to 16.02%, a significant improvement from the 28.82% recorded last year. Planned maintenance levels have also improved, with the Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) at 9.32%, down from 14.72% in the previous financial year. Eskom's reduced reliance on expensive diesel generation has allowed a greater focus on more cost-effective primary energy sources. Currently, 7,305 MW is in cold reserve due to excess capacity and lower demand during the holiday season. The utility reported that no diesel was used for three consecutive weeks, resulting in a R2.959 billion reduction in diesel spending compared to the same time last year. South Africa has experienced over 200 days without load shedding, with only 26 hours of load shedding occurring in April and May 2025. However, despite the stable power system, adverse weather and fires in the Eastern Cape have increased faults in Eskom's distribution network. The utility is working to restore power safely and efficiently while addressing illegal connections and meter tampering issues . Eskom urges communities to report illegal connections, use electricity responsibly, and protect infrastructure to ensure continued stability and security of the national electricity supply.