Electricity generation in South Africa decreased by 7.1% year-on-year in August 2026, as reported by Statistics South Africa. The preliminary data indicates that seasonally adjusted generation fell by 0.2% month-on-month in August, building on declines of 0.4% in July and 0.7% in June. Over the three months leading up to August, generation was 0.9% lower compared to the previous three-month period. From January to August 2026, the year-to-date electricity generation reflected a consistent decline of 7.1%.
Electricity Distribution Also Declines
In August 2026, electricity consumption also experienced a decline, dropping by 1.1% year-on-year. However, when adjusted for seasonality, distribution rose by 0.3% from the previous month, following a similar increase in July and a smaller decrease in June. For the three months to August, seasonally adjusted distribution was up 0.3% compared to the preceding quarter. The year-to-date change from January to August 2026 in distributed electricity was reported at -3.4%, with total distribution for the initial eight months of 2026 amounting to 135,006 gigawatt-hours, compared to 139,723 gigawatt-hours for the same time frame in 2025.
During August 2026, total electricity generation across all producers amounted to 18,816 gigawatt-hours. The national electricity supplier alone generated 15,913 gigawatt-hours and distributed 14,869 gigawatt-hours. Notably, inflows into South Africa reached 690 gigawatt-hours while outflows were 611 gigawatt-hours.
In comparing year-on-year figures for August 2026, total generation by all producers fell by 7.1%. Inflows increased sharply by 72.0%, while outflows decreased by 53.9%. The national supplier specifically saw a 9.2% decrease in generation and a 2.4% decline in distribution.
Provincial electricity deliveries in August included 1,676 gigawatt-hours to the Western Cape and various allocations to other provinces, totaling 17,278 gigawatt-hours, which is a 1.2% reduction year-on-year.
Survey Details
The preliminary collection rate for the August 2026 survey, which encompassed 24 enterprises involved in electricity generation and distribution, was recorded at 92.3%. In contrast, the revised collection rate for July 2026 was at 100%. The next release, which will address electricity data for September 2026, is scheduled for November 5, 2026.
Why It Matters
This decline in electricity generation and distribution is significant as it highlights the ongoing challenges facing South Africa’s energy sector. Understanding these dynamics is critical for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers who are all directly affected by changes in electricity availability and pricing.
