South Africa’s Electricity Generation Up 5.6%, Consumption Rises 4.8% in May 2024

South Africa experienced notable increases in electricity generation and consumption in May 2024, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The figures reveal significant year-on-year growth in both the production and distribution of electricity across the nation.

Key Highlights

• Electricity Generation: Up 5.6% year-on-year in May 2024.
• Electricity Consumption: Increased by 4.8% year-on-year in May 2024.

Detailed Breakdown

Electricity Generation

In May 2024, South Africa’s electricity generation rose by 5.6% compared to the same month last year. However, there was a slight month-on-month decline of 0.5% from April 2024. The seasonally adjusted electricity generation also showed a 1.1% increase over the three months ending in May 2024.

Table A – Key Growth Rates in Electricity Generation

Month	Year-on-Year % Change	Month-on-Month % Change	3-Month % Change
Dec 2023	4.4%	1.1%	2.6%
Jan 2024	0.8%	-1.8%	0.0%
Feb 2024	4.2%	1.6%	0.0%
Mar 2024	0.0%	0.0%	-0.8%
Apr 2024	5.7%	1.2%	1.2%
May 2024	5.6%	-0.5%	1.1%

This growth in generation was driven by a combination of factors, including improved efficiency in power stations and a reduction in load shedding.

Electricity Consumption

Electricity consumption in South Africa also showed robust growth, with a 4.8% year-on-year increase in May 2024. The month-on-month figures indicated a slight decline of 0.6% from April 2024, but the three-month period ending in May 2024 saw a 0.2% increase.

Table B – Key Growth Rates in Electricity Distribution

Month	Year-on-Year % Change	Month-on-Month % Change	3-Month % Change
Dec 2023	4.6%	1.8%	2.6%
Jan 2024	1.5%	-1.1%	0.8%
Feb 2024	5.0%	0.5%	1.1%
Mar 2024	-0.7%	-0.7%	-0.6%
Apr 2024	6.2%	1.8%	0.5%
May 2024	4.8%	-0.6%	0.2%

The consumption increase was partly attributed to higher demand from both residential and industrial sectors as the economy continues to recover post-pandemic.

Regional Distribution

Electricity distribution across various provinces also showed mixed results. Gauteng, the most populous province, saw a 2.1% year-on-year increase, while the Western Cape experienced an 11.3% rise, the highest among all provinces.

Table – Volume of Electricity Delivered to Provinces (Gigawatt-Hours)

Province	Jan 2024	Feb 2024	Mar 2024	Apr 2024	May 2024	May 2024 Year-on-Year % Change
Western Cape	1,623	1,543	1,635	1,592	1,677	11.3%
Eastern Cape	674	662	704	718	742	5.8%
Northern Cape	529	508	526	439	467	5.7%
Free State	834	798	865	878	928	9.4%
KwaZulu-Natal	3,087	2,959	3,219	3,152	3,324	4.9%
North West	1,698	1,595	1,773	1,661	1,730	-10.3%
Gauteng	4,027	3,896	4,196	4,327	4,589	2.1%
Mpumalanga	2,516	2,340	2,506	2,496	2,682	4.0%
Limpopo	1,719	1,626	1,802	1,728	1,746	6.1%
Total	16,708	15,928	17,227	16,991	17,884	3.3%

Year-to-Date Performance

From January to May 2024, the volume of electricity generated increased by 3.2%, and the volume distributed rose by 3.3% compared to the same period in 2023.

Table – Year-to-Date Volume of Electricity (Gigawatt-Hours)

Category	Jan-May 2023	Jan-May 2024	% Change	Difference (GWh)
Total – all producers
Generated	90,359	93,293	3.2%	2,934
Inflow into South Africa	4,405	4,536	3.0%	131
Consumed in power stations	6,883	7,357	6.9%	474
Outflow from South Africa	4,558	4,411	-3.2%	-147
Distributed in South Africa	83,322	86,061	3.3%	2,739
Eskom
Generated	78,479	80,785	2.9%	2,306
Inflow into South Africa	4,405	4,536	3.0%	131
Consumed in power stations	6,423	6,891	7.3%	468
Outflow from South Africa	4,558	4,411	-3.2%	-147
Distributed in South Africa	71,902	74,018	2.9%	2,116

Conclusion

The positive trends in both electricity generation and consumption indicate a recovering and growing economy. Continued efforts in improving infrastructure and efficiency in power stations are crucial for sustaining this growth and meeting the increasing demand for electricity across South Africa.