Queensland and New South Wales are being warned of possible blackouts with an expected power outage tonight.
Key points:
- AMEO energy price cap causes power generators to reduce their energy supply to the market
- Lack of supply has wider implications for system stability and security of electricity supply throughout the Eastern market.
- If not managed properly, blackouts could affect other states in the national energy grid
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued a “lack of reserve” forecast, meaning that demand is likely to exceed supply in both states.
Queensland residents are being asked to save electricity or face states from 5pm to 11pm.
The people of New South Wales have to save energy by 8pm.
If demand exceeds what is being generated, there will be a load drop to protect the network.
It comes as a result of rising energy prices, which saw AEMO set an energy price cap on Sunday, limiting the wholesale price of energy to 300 megawatts per hour.
AEMO said in a statement that the price cap had seen power generators reduce their energy supply to the market.
A warning has been issued for the lack of a reserve 3 market for Queensland from 5pm to 8.30pm tonight, indicating “a deficit in the balance between supply and demand” on the network and means a statewide shutdown risk during those times.
AEMO said consumer supplies have not yet been affected in either state and that it would “take available action to offer a further reduction in supply or demand, to maintain the security of the electricity system.”
AEMO said the market will be notified when the energy price cap is raised.
Households can manage their electricity consumption by:
- considering the number of rooms that are heated with air conditioners
- turn off computers, televisions, and other appliances in standby mode
- turning off the pool pumps and second refrigerators
Commercial companies can manage their electricity use by:
- taking into account the amount of indoor and advertising lighting used
- turn off water heating systems and urns, except for the preparation and cleaning of food and beverages
- turn off advertising lighting and any unnecessary outdoor lighting
Source: Powerlink
It is possible to see “several states turn black”
Powerlink CEO Paul Simshauser said in a statement that there was an unusual combination of unexpected generator outages plus cool winter temperatures and high demand for electricity.
“By carefully managing the use of electricity at home and in your workplace, the community can help ensure that the safety of the electrical system is maintained in Queensland,” Simshauser said.
Dr. Liam Wagner, an associate professor of energy economics at the University of Adelaide, said a shortage of supplies was a real concern.
“This has broader implications for system stability and security of electricity supply in the Eastern market,” he said.
He said that if not managed properly, the blackouts could affect other states in the national energy grid.
“If there were sudden disruptions of large coal generators, we could see several states turn black,” Dr. Wagner said.
Posted 54 minutes ago, 54 minutes ago, Monday, June 13, 2022 at 6:03 AM, updated 12 minutes ago, 12 minutes ago, Monday, June 13, 2022 at 6:45 AM