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Energy market operator warns of possible power outages across the state, with heatwave expected in NSW and Sydney

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Energy market operator warns of possible power outages across the state, with heatwave expected in NSW and Sydney

NSW is facing increased power outage warnings as demand for both temperatures and electricity is forecast to soar in the coming days.

A severe heat wave hitting eastern New South Wales will peak in Sydney on Tuesday and Wednesday, when temperatures in the western suburbs are expected to reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius – the hottest spring weather in four years.

Penrith will experience five days in a row with temperatures above 35C for the first time in the spring.

Sydney’s east will be slightly moderated by afternoon ocean breezes, although minimum temperatures above 20C and maximum temperatures above 30C will still warrant a low-intensity heatwave warning for the coast.

A long streak of hot days is the result of a near-stationary high pressure system in the Tasman Sea that is pushing stagnant northerly airflow south of Australia’s tropics.

A map of New South Wales shows a yellow heat wave moving along the east coast, affecting Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle.

A low to severe heatwave is forecast for eastern NSW this week from Monday to Wednesday before gradually easing. (ABC News)

Worries about power outages

Warm temperatures are expected to increase demand for electricity as state residents turn on air conditioners and fans to cool down.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued a shortfall in reserves (LOR) forecast for Tuesday to midday Wednesday.

Australia’s electricity system operates with some level of extra energy, which acts as a buffer in the event of a threatened blackout.

AEMO issues an LOR when this reserve is reduced, warning that load shedding may be required if the market response is inadequate.

The latest notice is LOR 3, the highest risk level.

Image of a map of New South Wales showing red and orange heat zones in Sydney, Newcastle, Orange, Dubbo, Tamworth and Moree.

Temperatures will rise to 30 degrees in inland NSW including Western Sydney on Tuesday afternoon. (ABC News)

An AEMO spokesperson said hot weather factors “combined with major power generation outages are leading to a poor outlook for electricity supplies in NSW”.

“AEMO has alerted the energy industry and is working with power plant operators and transmission utilities to improve electricity availability,” the spokesman said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government had received “early reports that the network may be under pressure”, promising to update the community about potential supply disruptions “as quickly as possible”.

“There is no simple answer: we need to manage the network,” he said.

AEMO said it would intervene and take action to maintain electricity supplies “if the market response remains inadequate.”

Image of a map of New South Wales showing red and orange heat zones in Sydney, Newcastle, Orange, Dubbo, Tamworth and Moree.

Temperatures will reach a high of 40C across eastern NSW on Wednesday afternoon as hot northwest winds bring tropical heat to the coast.

(ABC News)

In addition to hot weather and power demand, AEMO has to contend with the failure of four coal-fired power stations, including one at the state’s largest coal-fired power station at Eraringa near Lake Macquarie.

Typically, heat waves end abruptly after a cool southward transition.

But help will come slowly this week for the power grid and NSW residents in the form of a streak of rain and storms.

The band is already inundating far south-west NSW and will gradually move east towards the coast from Thursday to Sunday, eventually causing widespread rainfall of 25 to 100mm across the state – enough to cause pockets of flash flooding in several regions.