Eskom reports improved generation availability
On 14 August 2026 Eskom reported a year-to-date Energy Availability Factor of 67.55%, which it described as the strongest performance in six years. The utility also said unplanned outages had fallen substantially year on year and that winter peak demand was being met.
Load-reduction exposure also changed
Eskom said the Eastern Cape became the seventh province removed from its load-reduction schedule and reported a lower share of customers affected by load reduction. These are operational statements from the utility and should be tracked over time rather than interpreted as a permanent end to all supply-risk or local network constraints.
Solar and storage decisions remain site-specific
Improved national generation performance does not remove the need to evaluate local distribution reliability, tariffs, backup requirements and project economics. Melnti’s South African location and installer research will keep grid developments as context while avoiding blanket claims that every household needs, or no longer needs, a battery.