The New South Wales (NSW) state government issued a request to citizens urging them to “temporarily reduce non-essential use of electricity” on Dec. 14, as hot temperatures put pressure on the electricity grid.
With temperatures forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the country’s most populous state, including Sydney, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) said it expected power use to peak between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“The NSW government is also taking steps to reduce demand. The Government Energy Action Response protocol has been activated and will see NSW government agencies reduce electricity use.”
The agency said other agencies were reduce air conditioning use “where safe and feasible,” and switching off non-essential lights and equipment.
“As a precaution, the NSW government is also encouraging the community to reduce energy use between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., where it’s possible and safe to do so,” the state government said.
“With the community and the NSW government working together during hot weather, we can help minimise the risk of disruption to the energy grid,” NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said.
She said that nobody should turn off an appliance they needed.
“Instead, we’re asking households to make small changes to the way they use non-essential appliances, to make a big difference to demand on the network and power bills.
“If you can turn your air conditioning up a little bit, over about 24 [degrees, that will be] fantastic, if you can make sure you don’t use your dryers and your dishwashers and your pool pumps … that will all help.”
Ms. Sharpe said the government had spoken with water utilities to defer pumping to reduce pressure on the grid.
One unit at one of the state’s power stations was down, she said, which added further strain to the grid.
Ms. Sharpe’s office later released a statement on Dec. 14, saying the risk of low power supply for the night had “decreased slightly.” However, residents were still being asked to reduce the use of non-essential appliances.
“We’re still asking households and businesses to keep helping where safe to do so. Use air conditioning if you want to, but reduce the use of non-essentials between now and 9 p.m.”
Temperatures in Sydney topped 39 degrees celsius at around 3 p.m. on Dec. 14, while reaching a high of 37 degrees and a low of 22 degrees between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m.
Dec. 15 temperatures topped 27 degrees, while 33 degrees were forecasted for Saturday and 25 degrees on Sunday.
