Millions of Aussies have been warned more power outages are likely as an ongoing heatwave raises electricity demands to their highest levels since June.
NSW’s limited power supply will be put to the test from Wednesday afternoon onwards as residents escape the blistering heat by turning up the aircon days out from summer.
The intensifying heatwave is expected to see temperatures in Sydney’s densely-populated western suburbs soar to as high as 40C on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sweltering conditions have struck during scheduled maintenance at three of the state’s four coal-fired power stations, which remain the state’s primary power source.
The strained power supply is expected to be at ‘risk’ on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Australian Energy Market Operator.
An urgent warning has been to issued to those who rely on electricity-powered medical equipment to have a back-up plan in case of an outage.
NSW energy and environment Minister Penny Sharpe urged households to use less power and went as far as suggesting the exact temperature to set air conditioning units.
‘On really hot days do you really need to have every single light on in the house?’ she told reporters on Tuesday.
A heatwave is set to bring temperatures up to 40C to parts of Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday
NSW’s limited power supply combined with increased demand from air conditioners could result in widespread blackouts. Pictured are beachgoers at Bondi on the weekend
‘Do you need to have your air conditioning down at 19 degrees? You don’t. But, you know, I’m not giving official advice at this point.’
It comes after several parts of Sydney, including the CBD, lost power on Tuesday afternoon.
The outages caused havoc for thousands of Aussies, including a TikTok star shopping for snacks at a CBD Woolworths.
Influencer Chichiireanus posted a video of herself and other shoppers evacuating the Pitt St Woolworths, with the usually brightly lit supermarket shrouded in darkness and an alarm going off.
‘What the hell?’ she’s heard in the video.
Energy distributor Ausgrid confirmed that more than 300 customers lost power along Sussex Street, King Street and parts of Pitt Street just after 3pm.
‘Ausgrid emergency crews worked through the afternoon to restore power across the CBD,’ an Ausgrid spokeswoman said.
‘Power was restored to all customers by 7pm.
‘The cause of the outage is a suspected underground cable fault – and was not heat related.’
Chichiireanus, who boasts nearly 13,000 followers on the popular social media channel, captioned her video with: ‘All I wanted was my salad and my funday sweets’.
‘Of course a blackout happens as soon as I’m shopping for my lunch,’ she wrote.
Minister Penny Sharpe’s comments urging households to use less power in the coming days sparked backlash from Sky News host Chris Kenny on his program on Tuesday night.
‘I expect to put a light on if I want to put a light on,’ he said.
‘You and I might suggest a modern country needs to ensure it’s got enough power when it needs it, but these people want us to stop using electricity.
‘Make up your minds people. One minute you want us all using electric cars and using electric stoves instead of gas cookers and now its switch your electricity and your appliances off.’
Shoppers evacuated the Woolworths at Pitt St during a blackout in Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday
Kenny warned that further blackouts and power shortages could have dire political consequences for Labor with a federal election looming.
‘If we get a normal summer, there’s every chance we’ll be hit by power shortages on hot days in January and February and if that happens – well, Lord help the Albanese Labor government going to an election a month or two later,’ he added.
Demand for electricity is expected to increase by at least five per cent on Wednesday, the highest since June.
While NSW was previously able to cope with sudden jumps in demand, the closure of three major coal-fired power stations over the last 12 years – in Munmorah, Wallerawang and Liddell – weakened supply.
The NSW government will decide on Wednesday morning whether to instruct staff in public buildings, including museums, to reduce power usage.
AEMO claimed ‘ongoing heatwave conditions combined with significant generation outages’ could cause more blackouts in the next 48 hours.
‘AEMO is actively managing the situation and has issued updated Lack of Reserve notices, urging industry participants to respond to projected demand requirements in the coming days,’ it said.
‘Additional measures may be necessary if supply forecasts worsen due to unexpected generation or transmission outages, or if demand rises beyond current expectations.
‘AEMO has not currently asked residents or businesses in NSW to use less energy during these heatwave conditions.’
The intensifying heatwave is expected to cause significant temperatures throughout Sydney’s densely-populated western suburbs on Wednesday and Thursday
Sydney
Wednesday: Mostly sunny day. Slight chance of a shower in the evening. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then tending north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 21. Max 34.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 22. Max 30.
Friday: Cloudy. High chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 21. Max 26.
Melbourne
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe. Winds north to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h tending north to northwesterly in the morning then becoming light in the late evening. Min 20. Max 28.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm about the nearby hills in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late evening. Min 16. Max 26.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Min 17. Max 29.
Brisbane
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Min 21. Max 29.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Min 22. Max 30.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 23. Max 29.
The NSW Government will consider on Wednesday morning whether to instruct staff in public buildings, including museums, to reduce their power usage
Perth
Wednesday: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 25 to 35 km/h becoming light in the evening then becoming easterly 20 to 30 km/h in the late evening. Min 13. Max 29.
Thursday: Sunny. Winds easterly 25 to 40 km/h becoming light in the evening then becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Min 17. Max 33.
Friday: Mostly sunny day. The chance of a thunderstorm in the northeast in the afternoon and evening. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h tending northeasterly during the morning then shifting south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon. Min 21. Max 37.
Adelaide
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Winds west to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h becoming northwesterly 35 to 45 km/h in the morning then turning west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the afternoon and evening. Min 15. Max 23.
Thursday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Winds southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning southerly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 14. Max 22.
Friday: Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then turning south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 13. Max 24.
Hobart
Wednesday: Cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h in the late evening. Min 15. Max 23.
Thursday: Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h turning east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 13. Max 17.
Friday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 12. Max 19.
Canberra
Wednesday: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late evening. Min 17. Max 29.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Min 15. Max 31.
Friday: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 16. Max 25.
Demand for electricity is expected to increase by five percent on Wednesday, the highest since June, due to high temperatures (pictured, forecast for midday Wednesday)
Darwin
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 25. Max 32.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 26. Max 33.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 26. Max 33.
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