Blackout fears as electricity reserves tested in extreme heat
Victoria might not have enough power to make it through heatwave conditions on Thursday and Friday with residents being asked to conserve energy to prevent blackouts across the state.
Residents are bracing for hot conditions with the temperature in Melbourne forecast to reach 36 degrees on Thursday and an extreme 43 on Friday.
The temperature will not drop below 29 overnight on Thursday and air conditioners across Victoria are expected to get a fierce workout.
Australian Energy Market Operator chief executive Audrey Zibelman told Fairfax AEMO certain large businesses may be offered an electricity discount to power down under its Reliability Emergency Reserve Trader (RERT) policy.
A decision on whether to enact the RERT system to take pressure off the electricity grid will be made on Thursday.
“These reserves give us the ability to deal with these heatwaves, that’s why we have the RERT in our back pocket,” Ms Zibelman told Fairfax.
She’s also asked residents “to be conscious to not use more energy than they need”.
Concerns over drowning risks
“The overnight minimum temperatures are nothing short of oppressive unfortunately,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Richard Russell said of the conditions expected for Victoria.
Authorities are asking people not to take risks during the hot weather, including leaving children in cars or swimming at unpatrolled beaches. Twenty people have drowned in Victoria since December 1.
“Let’s take something from these drowning deaths. Twenty people have lost their lives, that’s 20 families and friends of those people that have been impacted,” Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.
A cool change is expected late on Friday, but it will bring wind gusts of up to 80km/h, thunderstorms and an increased fire risk.
Fire crews are on stand-by while extra paramedics and ambulances will be on call to assist those struggling in the heat, Mr Crisp added.
Adelaide temperature set to threaten 80-year record
South Australians are being warned of dangerous bushfire conditions as the state prepares for a day of record-breaking heat.
Adelaide is forecast to hit 45C on Thursday, but the Bureau of Meteorology says the city’s 80-year-old record high of 46.1C is within reach.
“You wouldn’t rule it out,” forecaster Jonathan Fischer said.
The heat will intensify in the state’s regional centres, with a high of 49 expected at Port Augusta, and 47 at Port Pirie and Roxby Downs.
“Nowhere is going to escape,” Mr Fischer said.
“We will see records broken tomorrow, with many locations forecast to be near their maximum all-time record.”
But CFS state duty commander Yvette Dowling warned the soaring temperatures will lead to unmanageable bushfire conditions.
“If a fire does start with these forecast weather conditions, we’re not going to be able to control that fire,” she said.
She urged the public to avoid risky behaviour in order to minimise the bushfire threat.
“The communities are at risk, our firefighters are at risk, all emergency services are at risk tomorrow.”
National forecast
Sydney
Thursday: 28 and cloudy
Friday: 33 and partly cloudy
Saturday: 37, mostly sunny
Sunday: 34, shower or two
Monday: 32, partly cloudy
Brisbane
Thursday: 32, mostly sunny
Friday: 31, mostly sunny
Saturday: 31, partly cloudy
Sunday: 31, partly cloudy
Monday: 30, partly cloudy
Melbourne
Thursday: 36, hot and humid
Friday: 43, windy afternoon with cool change
Saturday: 27, partly cloudy
Sunday: 25, partly cloudy
Monday: 29, sunny
Perth
Thursday: 22, cloudy
Friday: 27, sunny
Saturday: 32, sunny
Sunday: 34, sunny
Monday: 34, sunny
Darwin
Thursday: 32, storms likely
Friday: 33, shower or two with storms likely
Saturday: 32, shower or two with storms likely
Sunday: 33, shower or two with storms likely
Monday: 33, shower or two with possible storm
Hobart
Thursday: 27, mostly sunny
Friday: 37, very hot and becoming windy
Saturday: 24, late shower or two
Sunday: 23, partly cloudy
Monday: 27, partly cloudy
Canberra
Thursday: 32, partly cloudy
Friday: 38, hot and sunny
Saturday: 39, hot and partly cloudy
Sunday: 34, shower or two
Monday: 31, partly cloudy
Adelaide
Thursday: 45, very hot and sunny
Friday: 31, possible late shower
Saturday: 30, possible late afternoon shower
Sunday: 27, partly cloudy
Monday: 31, sunny
With AAP
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