Electricity consumers in Queensland cut use to avoid blackouts as NSW and Victoria face shortages
Some of Queensland’s biggest consumers agreed to cut their power use on Monday to help the grid avoid blackouts, and similar requests could be made in New South Wales and Victoria on Tuesday if regulators maintain forecasts for potential electricity shortfalls.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) on Monday afternoon started talks with big consumers under its Reliability and Emergency Reserve Trader (Rert) scheme to head off a gap projected at one stage to be 1,454 megawatts in Queensland at 5.30pm.
Later notices trimmed that supply shortfall to be about 1,147MW, with officials confident there would not be a blackout. But supply could be tight for days to come, with periods of shortfalls forecast for New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland on Tuesday, although some were later cancelled.
NSW initially had a forecast shortfall of 409MW at 7pm on Tuesday although the Aemo notice nudged more generators into the market and the risks had eased by later on Monday.
In a statement, Aemo said: “Despite there being sufficient physical generation capacity in Queensland today, Aemo is taking steps to address a critical electricity supply shortfall presently forecast for 6pm to 8pm AEST today.”
“To maintain power system security and reliability, Aemo is using its powers under the national electricity rules, including to direct generators, to alleviate lack of reserve conditions.”
Only two weeks into winter, the season has already been a trying one for regulators and Anthony Albanese and the new federal government.
A short-lived gas shortage in Victoria and soaring wholesale power prices linked mainly to the ongoing poor performance of coal-fired generators suggest the winter will be marked by soaring bills and regulators having to
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