This year, South Africans are experiencing less loadshedding despite having the same energy availability factor as last year.The country has also experienced fewer unexpected power failures compared to last year. However, an increase in planned maintenance outages has offset this improvement.
Instead, alternative sources of electricity, such as rooftop solar and commercial installations, are supplementing the national power utility’s electricity generation,‘It is quite clear that demand for Eskom’s electricity is declining and has been for several years. This does not mean the country is using less electricity. It just means it is not coming from Eskom,’ says Yelland.
Yelland says this trend is poised to accelerate in the wake of increasing electricity costs, which could strengthen businesses’ search for alternative sources of electricity.Relax with a two-night luxury West Coast stay near Elands Bay for just R1 999 . Daily breakfast included. Get the dealDue to this, the utility will have to compete with private energy providers while ongoing reforms work in favour of the private sector and open the competition on ‘a level playing field’, says Yelland.
This does not mean that Eskom will be privatised, but that its assets would likely be financed, operated and maintained by private companies, Yelland adds.