Meta Description: What is Eskom’s energy availability factor in 2026? Year-to-date EAF was 66.97% in early August, with a best day of 82.04%. See what the number means and conflicts.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
Short Answer
Eskom’s year-to-date energy availability factor (EAF) was 66.97% in early August 2026, according to the coverage reviewed. The best daily reading was 82.04% on 26 July. For the year to March 2026, EAF was about 65.35%, though one account gives 65.16%. Higher EAF means more of the fleet is available to generate.
Key Takeaways
- Year-to-date EAF was 66.97% as of early August 2026.
- The best daily EAF was 82.04% on 26 July.
- For the year to March 2026, EAF was about 65.35% (Daily Investor), against 65.16% in another account, a small conflict.
- From 1 April to 25 June, EAF was 63.81% against 58.31% a year earlier.
What EAF Measures
The energy availability factor is the share of Eskom’s generating capacity that is available to produce electricity, after accounting for planned maintenance and unplanned breakdowns. A higher EAF means more units are ready to run. It is a measure of plant availability and not of how much electricity is used or sold. Eskom and analysts use it as a main indicator of fleet health.
The Numbers in Order
Year to March 2026
Daily Investor reported about 65.35% for the year to March 2026. Another account gives 65.16%. The difference is 0.19 percentage points, which may reflect rounding or a different data cut. The sources do not resolve it, so both are given.
1 April to 25 June
EAF was 63.81% for the period from 1 April to 25 June 2026, compared with 58.31% in the same period a year earlier, according to the coverage reviewed. That is an improvement of 5.5 percentage points on the comparison. The period includes the start of winter, when demand is high.
Year to date in early August
Year-to-date EAF was 66.97% in early August. This is higher than the figure for the year to March and for the April to June period, which suggests the July readings were strong.
Best day
The best daily reading was 82.04% on 26 July. A single good day shows what the fleet can do under favourable conditions, but it is not representative of the average.
Reading the Trend
The figures point upward across the periods reported. The year-to-date figure of 66.97% in August exceeds the 65% range for the year to March. But the periods overlap and differ in length, so they are not a clean time series. The sources reviewed do not give a full monthly series, so this article avoids drawing a firm trend line.
Why EAF Matters to Load Shedding
When more plant is available, there is less chance of a national supply shortage. The long period without load shedding reported elsewhere in this series, 441 days as of 4 August, is consistent with improved availability. EAF is one factor among others, including demand, diesel use for peaking plants and the contribution of independent producers, and the sources reviewed do not apportion the credit.
Limits of the Measure
- EAF does not show how much electricity is actually delivered to customers.
- It does not show the state of the distribution networks, where many outages originate.
- A high EAF in winter has a different meaning from the same figure in summer when demand is lower.
Competing Views
Eskom and the government cite rising EAF as evidence that the turnaround is working. Sceptics note that 66.97% remains below the levels targeted in earlier plans and that maintenance backlogs persist. The sources reviewed do not include the formal targets, so this article does not state them.
A Worked Reading of the Comparison
To see why the year-earlier comparison matters, consider the two April-to-June figures. A fleet that was 58.31% available and is now 63.81% available has gained 5.5 percentage points. Expressed against the earlier figure, that is an improvement of roughly 9.4% (5.5 divided by 58.31). This arithmetic uses only the two reported numbers and does not account for differences in demand, weather or maintenance schedules between the years, so it is an indication and not a precise measurement of performance.
How to Verify the Figures
- Check Eskom’s weekly system status reports and media statements.
- Note whether a figure is daily, year-to-date or for a financial year.
- Compare the same period across years, as the sources do for April to June.
What We Still Do Not Know
- EAF after early August 2026.
- The official target for 2026.
- The breakdown of planned versus unplanned outages.
What to Watch Next
Watch for Eskom’s summer outlook and the next month’s EAF reports, which will show whether the improvement holds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Eskom’s EAF in 2026?
66.97% year to date in early August.
What was the best day?
82.04% on 26 July.
How did April to June compare with last year?
63.81% against 58.31%.
What does EAF mean?
The share of generating capacity available to produce power.
Does a high EAF guarantee no outages?
No, local network faults can still cause outages.
Sources
- Daily Investor: Eskom energy availability factor, year to March 2026
- Eskom: system status and EAF updates (2026)
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