After years of scheduled power interruptions affecting businesses, households and the wider economy, the country has now recorded 490 consecutive days without national load shedding, dating back to 16 May 2025.
Eskom’s generation performance has also improved during 2026. Unplanned outages have declined, generation capacity has returned to the grid and reliance on emergency diesel generation has fallen substantially.
For businesses, this creates a more predictable operating environment. However, electricity remains an important consideration when assessing commercial and industrial property.
The focus has shifted from managing scheduled national power cuts to understanding electricity capacity, local reliability, energy costs, backup power and the energy infrastructure available at a specific property.
South Africa has recorded 490 days without national load shedding
As of 18 September 2026, South Africa had recorded 490 consecutive days without national load shedding.
Eskom reported that available generation capacity continued to exceed expected demand. Its financial year to date Energy Availability Factor reached 67.96% between 1 April and 17 September 2026, the highest financial year to date EAF recorded in six years. This compares with 62.17% during the corresponding period in 2025.
The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor also improved to 19.23%, which Eskom reported as 6.92 percentage points lower than the corresponding period in the previous year.
Compared with three years ago, Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor has improved by 12.8%, with approximately 6,202 MW of generating capacity returned to the grid.
Eskom also reported 8,716 MW in cold reserve because of excess capacity, providing additional system capacity above expected demand.
These figures indicate that the improvement is not simply about the absence of scheduled load shedding. The performance and availability of South Africa’s national generation system have also strengthened.
Emergency Generation Has Declined Substantially
Another important change is Eskom’s reduced reliance on emergency diesel generation.
Between 1 April and 17 September 2026, Eskom’s diesel expenditure fell by R4.8 billion, or 80.95%, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Over the same period, Open Cycle Gas Turbine generation declined by approximately 85.33%. Eskom reported that its financial year to date OCGT load factor fell from 7.25% to 1.06%.
The reduction in emergency generation reflects improved generation fleet performance and greater available capacity on the national electricity system.
For businesses, this creates greater certainty around day to day operations. Companies can plan production, staffing, technology requirements and property needs with less reliance on scheduled national power interruptions.
However, national generation performance is only one part of the electricity picture.
Load Shedding VS Load Reduction
Load shedding is a national demand management measure used when available electricity generation is insufficient to meet national demand.
Load reduction is targeted at specific areas where local electricity networks are under pressure. Eskom has linked load reduction to issues including illegal connections, electricity theft, meter tampering and overloaded infrastructure.
A property can also experience a local electricity interruption without either national load shedding or load reduction taking place. Network faults, damaged equipment, maintenance, storms and infrastructure failures can all affect electricity supply to individual properties.
This distinction is particularly important when assessing commercial and industrial property.
National electricity performance does not necessarily tell a business how reliable the electricity supply will be at a particular building.
Local Electricity Reliability Still Matters in Gauteng
As of 18 September 2026, approximately 247,617 Eskom customers remained affected by load reduction, representing 3.4% of Eskom’s customer base.
Seven provinces were already free from load reduction, while the remaining affected customers were in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal.
Eskom has stated that it is targeting the elimination of load reduction for all Eskom customers by March 2027. More than 1.4 million customers had already been restored to normal supply conditions under the Load Reduction Eradication Programme.
For businesses operating in Gauteng, this makes property specific electricity due diligence particularly relevant.
A commercial or industrial property should not be assessed solely on national electricity statistics. Businesses also need to understand the local electricity network, supply arrangement and infrastructure serving the property.
What Improved Electricity Reliability Means for Businesses
Offices depend on electricity for information technology, communications, lighting, security and access control.
Retail businesses may rely on electricity for refrigeration, point of sale systems, lighting and security.
Warehouses and logistics facilities can require electricity for security systems, automation, material handling equipment and operational technology.
Manufacturing businesses can have substantially greater electricity requirements, particularly where machinery, production lines or specialised equipment depend on continuous power.
The importance of electricity therefore varies according to the business.
A property that works well for one occupier may not provide sufficient electrical capacity for another.
When assessing commercial or industrial property, businesses should therefore consider more than the building, location and rental or purchase price. Electricity infrastructure can affect whether a property is suitable for current operations and whether it can support future expansion.
What Businesses Should Check Before Choosing a Property
Electricity capacity should form part of commercial property due diligence, particularly for businesses with significant energy requirements.
Before purchasing or leasing a property, businesses should establish:
• Who supplies the property with electricity
• What electrical capacity is currently available
• Whether additional capacity can be obtained
• Whether the property has experienced recurring local outages or load reduction
• What backup power infrastructure is installed
• The capacity of any generators, batteries or inverters
• The size and output of any solar PV installation
• Who owns the energy equipment
• Whether the equipment is maintained and under warranty
• Whether the existing infrastructure can support future expansion
These checks can help businesses avoid selecting a property that appears suitable based on its location and physical specifications but cannot support its actual operational requirements.
Solar Power Has a Broader Role Beyond Load Shedding
The role of solar power in the South African commercial property market is also changing.
During the height of load shedding, many businesses invested in solar photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage primarily to maintain operations during scheduled power interruptions.
With national load shedding absent since May 2025, the reasons for investing in onsite energy are becoming broader.
GreenCape’s 2026 Renewable Energy Market Intelligence Report identifies behind the meter solar PV and battery energy storage as important areas of the South African renewable energy market. Its national market snapshot estimates 2.6 GW of behind the meter solar PV capacity for businesses, alongside 0.19 GW of battery energy storage capacity.
The report identifies several drivers for this market, including energy resilience, electricity costs and decarbonisation pressures. This means that solar PV and battery storage can form part of a wider business energy strategy rather than functioning solely as emergency backup.
The practical value of an energy system depends on factors such as solar capacity, battery capacity, electricity consumption, operating hours, available roof or land space, ownership, maintenance and the property's electrical infrastructure.
The Electricity Conversation Has Changed
South Africa’s electricity environment in 2026 is substantially different from the period when scheduled load shedding was a routine operational consideration for businesses.
National load shedding has been absent for 490 consecutive days. Eskom’s financial year to date Energy Availability Factor reached 67.96% by 17 September 2026, while its Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor declined to 19.23%. Diesel expenditure also fell by R4.8 billion compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
For businesses, however, the importance of electricity has not disappeared.
The focus has become broader.
Commercial and industrial property decisions increasingly need to consider not only whether electricity is available, but whether the property's capacity, reliability, cost and energy infrastructure are appropriate for the business operating there.
For buyers and tenants, electricity infrastructure forms part of property due diligence.
For owners and sellers, accurate energy information can help communicate a property's capabilities.
The end of national load shedding marks an important change in South Africa’s business environment. It does not remove the need to understand the electricity and energy characteristics of the property on which a business operates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Africa still experiencing load shedding in 2026?
No. South Africa has recorded 490 consecutive days without national load shedding as of 18 September 2026. Local electricity interruptions and load reduction remain separate issues.
When did load shedding last occur in South Africa?
The last national load shedding occurred on 16 May 2025.
What is the difference between load shedding and load reduction?
Load shedding is a national response to insufficient electricity generation. Load reduction is targeted at specific areas where local electricity networks are under pressure, including areas affected by illegal connections, electricity theft, meter tampering and overloaded infrastructure.
Does the end of load shedding mean businesses no longer need backup power?
Not necessarily. The need for backup power depends on the business, the reliability of the local electricity network, the property's infrastructure and the operational consequences of an electricity interruption.
Is solar power still useful for businesses after load shedding?
Yes. Solar PV and battery energy storage can support energy resilience, electricity cost management and broader business energy strategies independently of national load shedding.
Commercial and industrial property in Gauteng
Newpoint Property Group provides specialist commercial and industrial property services across Gauteng, assisting businesses, property owners, landlords and investors with property sales, leasing and valuations.
Whether you are assessing new premises, preparing a property for sale or reviewing an existing commercial or industrial asset, Newpoint can help you understand the property's position within the current market.
Speak to Newpoint Property Group about your commercial or industrial property requirements, or request a free professional property valuation.
