SA power: Blackouts from load shedding may reoccur, AEMO says
The mercury soars, airconditioners are turned on -- and victoria goes dark, AEMO has warned. Photo: ABC
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has said it cannot give a guarantee that it will not again order load shedding of the kind that left 90,000 properties without power during a recent heatwave in South Australia.
The admission came after the market operator released its official report yesterday stating electricity load shedding in the state last week was three times the level ordered, effectively resulting in an extra 60,000 properties being left without power than ordered.
Load shedding occurs when the AEMO directs power companies to start switching off customers’ power supply because the power system is at risk.
Customers in SA were without supply on Wednesday last week for up to 40 minutes in the evening, after a day of extreme temperatures when power demand outstripped power supply.
At the time of the load shedding request, the Heywood and Murraylink interconnectors between South Australia and Victoria were importing more power to SA than was allowed under operating limits.
Power distributor SA Power Networks has said its automated load shedding software failed to work correctly.
Power system ‘developed for a different century’
AEMO executive general manager of stakeholders and information Joe Adamo said the operator did not “want to get into a blame game”.
“There is never ever a good time or any time for the lights not to be on – whether it is for four minutes or 40 minutes. Loading shedding is the absolute last resort,” Mr Adamo said.
He said the system was complex and needed to evolve to improve “managing forecasting and managing the complexity of intermittent generation”.
“We all need to work together to try to develop what is an evolution of a power system that was developed for a different century,” he said.
“I’m certainty not going to be saying we can give guarantees that this won’t happen again.”
He said the closure of Victoria’s Hazelwood Power Station would pose further risks for South Australia and Victoria.
“Victoria will have even reduced reserves and you know, we have a heatwave in Victoria and South Australia at the same time, and it will be quite challenging.”
SA Power Networks spokesman Paul Roberts said software failed during the load shedding process and checks had been put in place should a load shedding request be received in the near future.
He also said the software was being examined.
“We understand people wouldn’t want to be shed unless it is really necessary thing,” Mr Roberts said.
