YoY production and consumption of electricity decreases

Both electricity production and consumption decreased in December, according to Statistics SA.

Electricity production decreased by 0.3% year-on-year (y/y) in December 2015 and electricity consumption decreased by 1.5%.

Total electricity generation was 2% lower in 2015 compared to 2014. The 2% decrease in annual electricity production followed a decrease of 0.6% in 2014 and a decrease of 0.6% in 2013.

Total electricity consumption was 1.5% lower in 2015 compared to 2014. The 1.5% decrease in annual electricity consumption followed an increase of 0.2% in 2014 and a decrease of 0.4% in 2013.

Seasonally adjusted electricity generation increased by 1.6% in December 2015 compared to November 2015.

This followed month-on-month changes of 0.8% in November 2015 and -0.1% in October 2015. Seasonally adjusted electricity generation increased by 2% in the three months ended December 2015 compared with the previous three months.

Seasonally adjusted electricity distribution increased by 0.8% month-on-month in December 2015, following month-on-month changes of 0.1% in November 2015 and 0.7% in October 2015. Seasonally adjusted electricity distribution increased by 1.9% in the three months ended December 2015 compared to the previous three months.

Eskom CEO Brian Molefe said on Wednesday there would be no load shedding for the rest of summer and going into winter.

Eskom’s unplanned maintenance decreased by 10% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to 17.69% for the same period of 2014. Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) usage has decreased by 66% from October 2015 to January 2016.

Eskom chairperson Baldwin Ngubane said the commercial operation of Medupi’s unit 6, which came online in August 2015 had contributed to improved performance of the power grid.

Carin Smith, Fin24