There'll be blackouts this summer if nothing is done, AEMO report warns
6 years, 4 months ago

There'll be blackouts this summer if nothing is done, AEMO report warns

ABC  

Victoria and South Australia are at a high risk of forced blackouts this summer if no action is taken, according to the latest report by the Australian Energy Market Operator. Key points: There is a risk of load-shedding blackouts this summer as companies switch off power due to system risk The AEMO has sourced emergency energy to keep up with demand this summer and prevent blackouts Emergency energy cost Victorians and South Australians almost $52 million last summer The AEMO has released its summer outlook plan, which outlines the actions taken to prepare Australia's electricity grid for the summer ahead. The report stated that last summer emergency energy cost taxpayers in Victoria and South Australia almost $52 million. But the AEMO said the total cost of emergency electricity was expected to be lower this summer than last, despite predicting it would need a similar level of energy resources to manage the identified risks.

Energy Summer Australia Risk South Grid Victoria South Australia Peak Demand Aemo Rooftop Solar Panels Blackouts Emergency  therell  summer  energy  aemo  grid  australia  report  south  solar  risk  warns  blackouts  emergency  supply

History of this topic

Australia’s energy operator wants emergency powers to switch off rooftop solar. What does it mean for households?
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Australia’s energy operator wants emergency powers to switch off rooftop solar. What does it mean for households?

ABC  

If you're one of the 4 million Australian householders or business owners with solar panels on your roof, you may have been greeted with a rude shock at the start of this week. More precisely, those circumstances would arise when there is so much rooftop solar in the system that it's threatening to overload the grid. It's not entirely clear …

Energy market operator warns of potential blackouts across the state, with NSW and Sydney expected to swelter
4 months, 1 week ago

Energy market operator warns of potential blackouts across the state, with NSW and Sydney expected to swelter

ABC  

NSW is facing heightened blackout warnings with both temperature and energy demands forecasted to soar in the coming days. A severe heatwave impacting the eastern inland of NSW will peak across Sydney through Tuesday and Wednesday when temperatures across the western suburbs are expected to hit close to 40 degrees Celsius — the hottest spring weather seen in four years. …

The Bright Side: There's light on the horizon for hefty power bills
5 months ago

The Bright Side: There's light on the horizon for hefty power bills

ABC  

When it comes to getting solar panels, the cost can seem pretty daunting for the average household. But better subsidies, cheaper capital, and greater efficiency mean the average Australian could soon be saving thousands off their power bills. What started as two friends having a sunrise ocean dip has exploded into a rite of passage for hundreds of young people …

There's light on the horizon for hefty power bills
5 months ago

There's light on the horizon for hefty power bills

ABC  

When it comes to getting solar panels, the cost can seem pretty daunting for the average household. But better subsidies, cheaper capital, and greater efficiency mean the average Australian could soon be saving thousands off their power bills. What started as two friends having a sunrise ocean dip has exploded into a rite of passage for hundreds of young people …

The federal government is making a billion-dollar bet on Australian-made solar panels. Some aren't convinced it'll pay off
9 months, 1 week ago

The federal government is making a billion-dollar bet on Australian-made solar panels. Some aren't convinced it'll pay off

ABC  

In short: The federal government hopes $1 billion in funding can transform Australia's tiny solar industry into a global competitor. Leading economists have poured substantial doubt on the idea — and argue cheap Chinese solar panels are an advantage as Australia builds industries like green hydrogen. And when the government's own Treasury Department put together a "national interest framework" for …

Booming renewable energy generation halves wholesale power prices across national grid
1 year, 2 months ago

Booming renewable energy generation halves wholesale power prices across national grid

ABC  

Rapid growth in renewable generation slashed the wholesale cost of power in the national energy grid late last year, and dramatically reduced reliance on coal-fired power. Key points: ​​​​​Power supplied by large-scale renewables and rooftop solar soared in the last three months of 2023 The influence of renewables on the grid will only grow Renewables are more regularly pushing the …

Australia at heightened risk of blackouts this summer with 'extreme' demand for power pushing grid to the brink
1 year, 4 months ago

Australia at heightened risk of blackouts this summer with 'extreme' demand for power pushing grid to the brink

ABC  

A scorching hot summer could see demand for electricity spike to a once-in-a-decade high, we're being warned, increasing the risk of blackouts, and forced power outages across the country. "This year's summer forecast is for hot and dry El Niño conditions, increasing the risk of bushfires and extreme heat, which could see electricity demand reach a 1-in-10-year high across the …

How to save on winter energy bills as electricity prices and cost of living surge
1 year, 10 months ago

How to save on winter energy bills as electricity prices and cost of living surge

ABC  

Energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis are putting a squeeze on Aussie households. Keep the heat in Chris Barnes from Choice says the cheapest heater "is the one you don't run in the first place". "It does cost more up-front to buy it and install it but it's going to deliver a lot more heat energy for the electricity it …

SA's blackout costly for businesses, households as work continues to restore power days after severe storm
2 years, 4 months ago

SA's blackout costly for businesses, households as work continues to restore power days after severe storm

ABC  

South Australian businesses are counting the costs of the ongoing blackout, as authorities work to restore remaining outages as quickly as possible. Key points: Thousands of South Australians remain without power due to Saturday's storms Authorities say power should be restored before the weekend A damaged interconnector with Victoria should be restored by Sunday night Vincent Violante, who owns a …

AEMO's plan to fix the broken energy system seems so simple, but it's likely to be anything but
2 years, 9 months ago

AEMO's plan to fix the broken energy system seems so simple, but it's likely to be anything but

ABC  

Woven throughout a blueprint for Australia's energy system is a term that needs little explaining — urgent. Finally, and perhaps most critically, AEMO is calling for the urgent construction of five high-voltage transmission lines required to bring so much of the planned renewable energy capacity to the people who use it. Few people with knowledge of the energy system would …

Queensland power prices have been capped and there's concern about blackouts. What you need to know
2 years, 9 months ago

Queensland power prices have been capped and there's concern about blackouts. What you need to know

ABC  

Fears about blackouts due to a shortage of electricity did not eventuate last night but Queensland and NSW consumers are warned the threat has not passed. This morning AEMO said that, as a consequence of the price cap, "some generators revised their market availability in New South Wales and Queensland for today". "AEMO will take further actions to improve electricity …

Federal government optimistic east coast blackouts can be avoided today
2 years, 9 months ago

Federal government optimistic east coast blackouts can be avoided today

ABC  

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen is confident the east coast can avoid blackouts and load shedding today, despite further dire warnings about demand for electricity outstripping supply. Key points: Households in NSW and Queensland have been urged to be conscious of their electricity use Chris Bowen said authorities were working to avoid outages He warned Australia was in for a …

Queensland power blackouts averted as AEMO directs generators to protect network
2 years, 9 months ago

Queensland power blackouts averted as AEMO directs generators to protect network

ABC  

After warning Queenslanders of possible blackouts, the Australian Energy Market Operator has said it was using its powers to direct electricity generators to avoid shortfalls. Key points: The AEMO energy price cap saw energy generators decrease their supply of energy to the market But generators have been directed by the AEMO to provide sufficient power generation to cover the shortfall …

AEMO calls for funding hike as renewable energy levels send management costs soaring
3 years, 2 months ago

AEMO calls for funding hike as renewable energy levels send management costs soaring

ABC  

Costs incurred by the body that keeps the lights on across Australia's major electricity systems are skyrocketing as surging levels of renewable energy increasingly challenge the security of the grid. Key points: AEMO has asked for a 66 per cent increase in funding to manage WA's main electricity grid The proposal mirrors the situation on the east coast, where costs …

SA's statewide blackout was five years ago — here's how energy supply has evolved since then
3 years, 6 months ago

SA's statewide blackout was five years ago — here's how energy supply has evolved since then

ABC  

Among the more surreal and enduring images from South Australia's infamous statewide blackout are the photos of electricity transmission towers collapsed and contorted in foggy fields. Elon and Tesla build a giant battery Within six months of the blackout, Tesla boss Elon Musk famously declared his company could install a battery farm capable of "fixing" SA's power system within 100 …

Australian Electricity Market Operator predicts stable supply despite closures of coal-fired power stations
3 years, 7 months ago

Australian Electricity Market Operator predicts stable supply despite closures of coal-fired power stations

ABC  

New battery storage and gas-powered generators have helped bring more reliability to the electricity grid on Australia's east coast, with no issues for electricity supply forecast over the next five years. Key points: The manager of the country's electricity markets has dropped its warning that Australia faces a power supply shortage AEMO says the closure of coal plants in coming …

Electricity companies get green light to charge rooftop solar owners for exporting power to grid
3 years, 7 months ago

Electricity companies get green light to charge rooftop solar owners for exporting power to grid

ABC  

Power companies will soon be able to charge Australians with rooftop solar panels for exporting electricity to the grid, under new rules introduced by the Australian Energy Market Commission. AEMC chief executive Benn Barr said households selling their excess power back into the grid are putting increasingly unmanageable strain on a system that was not set up to be two-way. …

Solar panels, cooler summer drive power prices into negative territory in South Australia
3 years, 11 months ago

Solar panels, cooler summer drive power prices into negative territory in South Australia

ABC  

South Australia's high uptake of renewables has led to another national energy milestone, with record low daytime wholesale prices in the first three months of the year. Key points: Daytime wholesale prices were consistently in negative territory in SA That was driven by renewable energy, but gas generators were needed to help stabilise the grid Wholesale prices across the country …

Australians with rooftop solar panels could soon be charged for exporting power into the grid, under proposed changes
4 years ago

Australians with rooftop solar panels could soon be charged for exporting power into the grid, under proposed changes

ABC  

Australians with rooftop solar panels could soon be charged for exporting electricity to the grid, under new rules being recommended by the Australian Energy Market Commission. Key points: The Australian Energy Market Commission says surplus solar electricity generation is causing "traffic jams" in the grid It says removing the ban on charging for energy exported into the grid will create …

Solar panels switched off by energy authorities to stabilise South Australian electricity grid
4 years ago

Solar panels switched off by energy authorities to stabilise South Australian electricity grid

ABC  

Energy authorities in South Australia have used their new power to remotely switch off thousands of household solar panels for the first time, making the intervention when electricity demand plunged over the weekend. Key points: SA's spot demand for electricity recently dipped to "near-record minimum levels" AEMO was forced to intervene, instructing ElectraNet to stabilise the grid That resulted in …

Australians are missing out on $500 million in electricity savings by failing to shop around
4 years, 1 month ago

Australians are missing out on $500 million in electricity savings by failing to shop around

ABC  

The price of electricity is falling, but households are missing out on $500 million in savings by failing to switch to a cheaper deals, new analysis shows. Key points: South Australians can save up to $200 a year by seeking out the best power prices Consumers should check Government website Energy Made Easy to compare energy prices Moves are being …

Electricity provider authorised to switch off rooftop solar in SA in emergencies
4 years, 7 months ago

Electricity provider authorised to switch off rooftop solar in SA in emergencies

ABC  

Authorities in South Australia will have the power to deliberately "trip" existing rooftop solar panels in rare circumstances to prevent another statewide blackout, with similar emergency powers being sought for use in Victoria and Queensland. Key points: Rapid take-up of solar panels has shifted demand on the electricity grid South Australia, Victoria and Queensland face a heightened risk of blackout …

Power granted to switch off household solar in SA to prevent statewide blackout
4 years, 9 months ago

Power granted to switch off household solar in SA to prevent statewide blackout

ABC  

Electricity grid operators will seize the power to remotely switch off new solar panels in South Australia amid warnings the state's solar boom is putting the grid at risk of another statewide blackout. Key points: Solar's popularity has put SA at risk of another statewide blackout, the Government says Grid operators will be granted the power to switch off new …

Energy operator wants to remotely switch off rooftop solar systems amid 'uncontrolled growth'
4 years, 11 months ago

Energy operator wants to remotely switch off rooftop solar systems amid 'uncontrolled growth'

ABC  

Australia's electricity grid operator wants the power to remotely switch off or constrain the output of new rooftop solar systems, as it finds ways to manage South Australia's world-leading levels of "invisible and uncontrolled" solar output. Key points: Up to 85 per cent of SA's power demand could be met by solar by 2025 This high reliance poses challenges to …

Falling power use due to coronavirus risks system overload and blackouts, experts warn
4 years, 11 months ago

Falling power use due to coronavirus risks system overload and blackouts, experts warn

ABC  

Falling demand for electricity caused by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic could leave Western Australia's main electricity system at risk of a solar power overload within months, experts have warned. Industry figures say the slump threatens to reduce the demand for electricity from the grid to a level where output from the region's 300,000 household solar panels could …

Solar power contributes to cheaper energy but also 'critical' grid instability, warns ESB
5 years, 1 month ago

Solar power contributes to cheaper energy but also 'critical' grid instability, warns ESB

ABC  

The security and reliability of Australia's power grid is now at a "critical" status, according to a report out this morning from the Energy Security Board, even as power prices start falling. Key points: Electricity prices are forecast to fall more than 7 per cent within a couple of years The Government's Energy Security Board warns that the grid is …

Power prices set to rise and blackouts increase as bushfire seasons become more ferocious
5 years, 2 months ago

Power prices set to rise and blackouts increase as bushfire seasons become more ferocious

ABC  

Australian consumers can expect higher power prices and more frequent power blackouts as fire seasons get longer and blazes more intense. Key points: Rising insurance premiums for power utilities are "undoubtedly" going to be passed on to consumers AER regulations allow for costs for rebuilding infrastructure damaged to be recovered from customers The energy regulator AEMO has called for an …

Australians warned of power outages as electricity grids won't cope with scorching temperatures
5 years, 7 months ago

Australians warned of power outages as electricity grids won't cope with scorching temperatures

Daily Mail  

Residents on the east coast of Australia are being warned to prepare for power outages if the upcoming summer turns out to be as hot as predicted. Residents on the east coast of Australia are being warned to prepare for power outages if the upcoming summer season turns out to be as hot as predicted The report states a key …

Electricity demand in WA set to fall for first time, AEMO forecasts, as solar power takes over
5 years, 9 months ago

Electricity demand in WA set to fall for first time, AEMO forecasts, as solar power takes over

ABC  

The body that runs the national wholesale electricity market is forecasting demand for electricity from households and businesses in WA will fall for the first time as the extraordinary uptake of solar panels reshapes the power system. Key points: "Operational consumption" of power is set to fall almost 4 per cent by 2027-28 At the same time, the share of …

Australia's obsession with cheap solar is derailing the market, insiders say
5 years, 10 months ago

Australia's obsession with cheap solar is derailing the market, insiders say

ABC  

Rooftop solar industry veterans say Australia has become a dumping ground for poor-quality solar products and some are questioning the regulatory oversight of household rooftop solar installers and products. Key points: An audit found 1.2 per cent of rooftop solar installations have been inspected by the Clean Energy Regulator The regulator's inspections found one in six solar installations were "substandard", …

Australia’s energy crisis: Heatwave-struck residents hit with $1.1BILLION power bill
6 years, 2 months ago

Australia’s energy crisis: Heatwave-struck residents hit with $1.1BILLION power bill

Daily Mail  

Heatwave-struck residents across two Australian states were hit with a $1.1 billion bill for just 48 hours' worth of energy last week. Heatwave-struck residents across two Australian states were hit with a $1.1 billion bill for just 48 hours' worth of energy last week Although electricity prices are worked out in advance through hedging contracts, experts have said that consumers …

What caused the blackouts in Melbourne, and do Victorians need to get used to power cuts?
6 years, 2 months ago

What caused the blackouts in Melbourne, and do Victorians need to get used to power cuts?

ABC  

More than 200,000 Victorians lost power on Friday as the state's electricity supply buckled under extreme heat. Victoria's Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said most affected customers had their power interrupted for no more than an hour, but some parts of the state experienced outages of up to two hours. Mr McConnell said Hazelwood's closure had "not particularly" contributed to the …

Extreme heat shouldn't cause blackouts in SA and Victoria despite pressure on system: AEMO
6 years, 2 months ago

Extreme heat shouldn't cause blackouts in SA and Victoria despite pressure on system: AEMO

ABC  

The energy market operator says households in Victoria and South Australia are unlikely to suffer unplanned blackouts today, despite extreme temperatures across both states putting the power system into a "very tight situation" to keep up with demand. Key points: The energy market operator has forecast a tightening of energy supply reserves It could bring in emergency power resources to …

Electricity distributors warn excess solar power in network could cause blackouts, damage infrastructure
6 years, 5 months ago

Electricity distributors warn excess solar power in network could cause blackouts, damage infrastructure

ABC  

With almost 1.8 million Australian homes and businesses relying on power from rooftop solar panels, there is a fight brewing over the impact of solar energy on the national electricity grid. Key points: Andrew Dillon of Energy Networks Australia says the way customers are charged has to change Economist Bruce Mountain says solar power is threatening power distribution models ENA …

Energy Market Operator issues mixed blackout forecast for SA, Victoria during summer
7 years, 6 months ago

Energy Market Operator issues mixed blackout forecast for SA, Victoria during summer

ABC  

The Australian Energy Market Operator says the South Australian Government's energy plan will help alleviate the risk of unplanned blackouts this summer, but is warning the risk of such blackouts is significantly higher across the border in Victoria. Without the SA Energy Plan and the operator's own emergency measures, AEMO estimates the likelihood of blackouts in South Australia this summer …

South Australian power stations will prevent blackouts this summer, SA Government says
7 years, 8 months ago

South Australian power stations will prevent blackouts this summer, SA Government says

ABC  

South Australia will bring temporary back-up power generators online to prevent blackouts this summer, before they are merged into a permanent Government-owned power station. In an announcement today, the SA Government said the hybrid turbines would initially be installed at two locations, the Adelaide desalination plant site in Lonsdale and the General Motors Holden site in Elizabeth. Fast facts: Nine …

Power prices: Australia has a gold-plated electricity grid that consumers can't afford
7 years, 8 months ago

Power prices: Australia has a gold-plated electricity grid that consumers can't afford

ABC  

The Australian energy system stands as a monument to vested interests. Key points: The majority of a grid owners' income is guaranteed by the regulators' valuation of the network The Australian network is valued at $US75b, compared to the entire US network valued at $US100b When the grids' earnings fall, prices can go up to cover the shortfall It is …

SA power: Government introduces bill giving Energy Minister power over AEMO
8 years ago

SA power: Government introduces bill giving Energy Minister power over AEMO

ABC  

The South Australian Government has introduced legislation to give the Energy Minister the power to direct electricity generators to turn on when required — a move it says would have prevented the September statewide blackout. Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the powers would have also prevented the statewide blackout on September 28 as he would have ramped up generation in …

South Australia's power woes expose deeper problems with nation's energy security
8 years ago

South Australia's power woes expose deeper problems with nation's energy security

ABC  

Australia is rapidly stumbling into a major energy crisis, and there's little evidence to suggest the federal and state governments can agree on the solutions to fix it. In short, the sudden and unexpected closure of ageing coal plants at Hazelwood in Victoria this month and Port Augusta in South Australia last year are putting enormous pressure on power supply. …

SA power woes to spread nation-wide, starting with Victoria, Australian Energy Council warns
8 years, 1 month ago

SA power woes to spread nation-wide, starting with Victoria, Australian Energy Council warns

ABC  

The Federal Government needs to take urgent action to improve its energy policies before the rest of Australia falls victim to the type of large-scale blackouts experienced in South Australia, the Australian Energy Council has warned. About 90,000 South Australian homes and businesses were blacked out Wednesday when the Australian Energy Market Operator issued a load-shedding order to avoid potential …

Solar power growth modelling flawed, energy tariffs could soar: UWA study
8 years, 1 month ago

Solar power growth modelling flawed, energy tariffs could soar: UWA study

ABC  

West Australian consumers could face huge power price hikes in the coming years unless the State Government starts to factor in the exponential growth of renewable energy, a new study has found. Report author Bill Grace from the University of Western Australia said the nation's energy regulator — the Australian Energy Market Operator — had greatly underestimated the future uptake …

Renewable energy mix played role in SA blackout, third AEMO report confirms
8 years, 3 months ago

Renewable energy mix played role in SA blackout, third AEMO report confirms

ABC  

South Australia's renewables-heavy power mix was a factor in the statewide blackout in September, a new report by the Australian Energy Market Operator has confirmed. The interconnector failure left the state islanded from the national power grid and prompted a massive and rapid fluctuation of frequency, forcing all generators across South Australia to go offline. Second interconnector one option to …

South Australian blackout costs business $367m, fears summer outages on way, lobby group says
8 years, 3 months ago

South Australian blackout costs business $367m, fears summer outages on way, lobby group says

ABC  

South Australia's state-wide blackout in September cost businesses $367 million, according to the state's peak business lobby. Key points: Median cost of the blackout on SA businesses was $5,000 Business SA concerned about further blackout over summer Lobby group wants PM and premiers to listen to chief scientist about energy sector Business SA's survey found almost a third of the …

Blackout affects thousands in SA, blamed on supply loss in Victoria
8 years, 4 months ago

Blackout affects thousands in SA, blamed on supply loss in Victoria

ABC  

About 200,000 South Australian homes and businesses lost power overnight due to an outage affecting the interconnector from Victoria. Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said it was another example of SA's "energy crisis". "These one-in-100-year and one-in-1,000- year events are coming thick and fast here in South Australia at the moment and that's because this Government does not have a working …

SA blackout: Wind farm industry 'hung out to dry' by energy market operator AEMO
8 years, 4 months ago

SA blackout: Wind farm industry 'hung out to dry' by energy market operator AEMO

ABC  

The organisation that manages the national electricity market has been accused of leaving wind farms "hung out to dry" after the recent statewide blackout in South Australia. He acknowledged that easing the pressure on the interconnector would have been a good idea, but said he understood AEMO's hands were tied as it had not declared a "credible contingency". "AEMO may …

South Australian blackout: When the lights go out, it's a sign the electricity grid isn't working well
8 years, 5 months ago

South Australian blackout: When the lights go out, it's a sign the electricity grid isn't working well

ABC  

The blackout of an entire state is rare. And the Australian Energy Market Operator's preliminary report has not yet determined why the whole of South Australia went to "black system" at 4.18pm local time on Wednesday September 28. Power operator knew storm was brewing The AEMO report says that the energy market operator was expecting "severe weather" on Wednesday September …

Discover Related