Eskom has offered assurances that the power system is more stable and predictable than it has been for the past five years in light of a strong recovery in the energy availability factor, a decline in unplanned breakdowns, more predictable planned maintenance and the return or introduction to service of some 4 400 MW of capacity when compared with the previous year. The improvements, CEO Dan Marokane says, have had positive economic spinoffs in the form of improved investor confidence, and have also contributed to South Africa’s first credit rating upgrade in two decades.