Eskom's coal and nuclear power stations have been performing so efficiently that some units have been put on cold reserve, according to Group Executive for Generation Bheki Nxumalo. During a briefing on Monday, Nxumalo explained that these units are not currently in operation because demand is low, but they remain available if needed.
The utility has now gone more than 124 days without load shedding, a significant improvement attributed to the enhanced performance of its power stations. Current supply levels are comparable to those last seen in July 2018.
Nxumalo noted that excessive power supply can also pose risks to the grid, which is why cold reserve is used to manage surplus capacity, similar to how load shedding is employed to protect the grid when demand surpasses supply.
