Pretoria, 10 June 2025 – New data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) shows that electricity generation in April 2025 was flat, matching levels from April 2024. The country’s energy output saw a modest uptick in monthly performance but continues to face broader declines across rolling quarters.
Key Highlights
1. Generation Stagnation
- April 2025 saw generation exactly level with the same period in 2024 (0.0% year-on-year), indicating limited expansion in electricity supply (statssa.gov.za, m.facebook.com).
- Seasonally adjusted output rose slightly by 0.1% compared to March, following March’s 0.9% gain. However, this quarterly growth fell off by 2.4% over the past three months .
2. Continued Decline in Consumption
- Electricity consumption dropped significantly, showing a 2.8% year-on-year decrease in April 2025 (statssa.gov.za).
- On a monthly basis, consumption edged up by 0.4% seasonally adjusted, following a 1.2% gain in March. Yet overall consumption shrank by 2.2% over the most recent quarter .
3. Energy Sector in Context
- A recent Facebook update from Stats SA highlights the slight monthly rebound: “Electricity generation increased by 0.1% in April compared with March. Generation was flat y/y” (m.facebook.com).
- This lukewarm performance suggests continued challenges in ramping up supply, despite modest short-term improvements.
- Stagnant generation and declining consumption may reflect ongoing economic subdued demand or deeper structural issues within electricity infrastructure.
- The consistent contraction over rolling quarters highlights lingering pressures affecting both supply and demand.
- While month-on-month stability offers a glimmer of hope, a sustained recovery will depend on addressing systemic inefficiencies and boosting capacity reliability.
- May and June 2025 data, expected in the coming weeks, will be critical for identifying sustained trends.
- Upcoming reserve margin and energy availability factor (EAF) updates will shed further light on grid resilience.
- With renewable energy capacity on the rise, its impact on the overall energy mix requires continual monitoring.
Stats SA’s April 2025 electricity release makes clear that while April matched last year’s output, recent quarterly declines in both generation and distribution signal persistent challenges. The sector remains in a holding pattern, with only marginal improvements month-on-month. A steady rebound in energy production and demand remains critical for South Africa’s economic growth and load-shedding mitigation strategies.
Data sourced from the prelimiary Stats SA report P4141 (“Electricity generated and available for distribution, April 2025”) released two months ago (crses.sun.ac.za).