Johannesburg: South Africa has marked more than 200 consecutive days without an interruption in power supply, showcasing the stability of Eskom's power system. The power utility reported that the nation has experienced 231 consecutive days of uninterrupted supply, with only 26 hours of load shedding recorded in April and May during this financial year. According to South African Government News Agency, the power utility announced on Friday that it continues to meet electricity demand, supported by sustained and measurable improvements in generation performance, even amidst the heavy rainfall experienced in December 2025. The Generation Recovery Plan has been delivering clear results, strengthening the generation fleet, improving reliability, and enhancing Eskom's overall operational resilience. The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) stood at 69.14% in December 2025, marking a significant year-on-year improvement of 12.57% from the 56.57% recorded over the same period in 2024. Year-to-date, the EAF has increas ed to 64.35%, with the fleet achieving or exceeding the 70% benchmark on 49 occasions. This improvement affirms a sustained recovery and reinforces confidence in the stability and security of the national electricity supply. Eskom attributed these advancements primarily to the reduction in unplanned outages, a reflection of the effectiveness of the Generation Recovery Plan and disciplined maintenance execution. Between 26 December 2025 and 1 January 2026, average unplanned outages declined to 6,822MW, less than half of last year's level of 12,328MW. Over the same period, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) further declined to 14.06%, a significant improvement from the 26.12% recorded during the same period last year. Planned maintenance aligns with Eskom's maintenance schedule, supporting ongoing efforts to enhance plant reliability, improve operational stability, and strengthen long-term fleet performance. The ongoing improvement in EAF has reduced Eskom's reliance on expensive diesel generation, all owing a stronger focus on more cost-effective primary energy sources. Eskom plans to bring 5,585MW of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 5 January 2026. Eskom's Summer Outlook, published on 5 September 2025, covers the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026 and projects no load shedding due to sustained improvements in plant performance from the Generation Recovery Plan. Despite the stable power system and generation capacity exceeding demand, Eskom reported a sharp increase in faults across its distribution network due to adverse festive season weather, with incidents rising by about 40% compared to the previous year. While supply has been restored in most areas, some communities remain without electricity due to severely damaged infrastructure. Eskom teams are working diligently to restore supply safely and quickly. Eskom also highlighted challenges such as illegal connections and meter tampering, which continue to damage infrastructure and pose safety risks. As a temp orary measure, Eskom is maintaining load reduction in high-risk areas to protect communities and the network. To address these challenges sustainably, Eskom has initiated a phased program to eliminate load reduction by 2027. The program targets 971 feeders and aims to benefit approximately 1.69 million customers through interventions such as smart meters, Distributed Energy Resources, and expanded Free Basic Electricity support. Progress includes the installation of 73,523 smart meters, with the goal of installing 577,347 meters by March 2026. Additionally, 70 feeders have been removed from load reduction, benefiting nearly 95,989 customers across various regions. Eskom is committed to harnessing technology, upgrading infrastructure, and partnering with communities to ensure a safer, smarter, and more reliable power network for South Africa.