Staff Writer
South Africa’s electricity generation fell by 7.9% year-on-year in July 2026, while electricity consumption declined by 2.6%, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
The latest figures show that total electricity generated by all producers amounted to 19,414 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in July, down from 21 075 GWh in July 2025.
Seasonally adjusted electricity generation decreased by 0.4% month-on-month in July, following declines of 0.7% in June and an increase of 0.9% in May.
Over the three months ended July 2026, seasonally adjusted electricity generation declined by 1.3% compared with the preceding three-month period.
Electricity distributed in South Africa stood at 18,204 GWh in July, representing a 2.6% year-on-year decline.
Seasonally adjusted electricity distribution, however, increased by 0.3% month-on-month in July, following a 0.9% decline in June and a 2.0% increase in May. Over the three months to July, distribution increased by 1.2%.
The figures also show a decline in electricity generation by South Africa’s national electricity supplier. Its generation fell by 8.8% year-on-year to 16 660 GWh in July.
The supplier distributed 15 545 GWh during the month, down 2.7% from a year earlier.
Year-to-date decline
For the first seven months of 2026, total electricity generation reached 127 161 GWh, down 7.1%, or 9 731 GWh, from the 136 892 GWh recorded during the same period in 2025.
Electricity distributed domestically declined by 3.7% to 117 373 GWh, a reduction of 4 478 GWh compared with the first seven months of 2025.
Generation by the national electricity supplier fell by 9.3% year-on-year to 108 715 GWh over the January-to-July period.
Meanwhile, electricity inflows into South Africa increased by 21.6% to 4 930 GWh, while outflows declined by 39.6% to 5 077 GWh.
Provincial distribution
Gauteng remained the largest recipient of electricity in July, receiving 5 105 GWh, although this was 4.2% lower than a year earlier.
KwaZulu-Natal received 3,329 GWh, down 1.4%, while Mpumalanga received 2 564 GWh, a 0.7% decline.
Electricity deliveries to the Eastern Cape increased by 11.6% to 912 GWh, while Free State deliveries rose by 1.0% to 932 GWh and Limpopo deliveries increased by 1.0% to 1,521 GWh.
The largest decline was recorded in the Northern Cape, where electricity deliveries fell by 29.1% to 360 GWh.
North West deliveries declined by 8.8% to 1 349 GWh, while Western Cape deliveries fell by 3.4% to 1,719 GWh.
Overall, electricity delivered to South African provinces amounted to 17 791 GWh in July, down 2.8% year-on-year.
