Power plant failures push state's energy grid close to the edge in November heat

Victoria's strained energy network is about to face its first real test of the summer – several days before summer has even started.

Victoria's late November heatwave has stretched energy capacity to its limit. 

This week's mild November heatwave and the recent failure of two coal-fired power units in the Latrobe Valley have drained the state's energy grid of reserve supply and pushed it towards the danger zone for blackouts.

The Australian Energy Market Operator issued two notices Wednesday afternoon forecasting a lack of reserve in the energy grid as the temperature soars towards the mid-30s on Thursday and Friday afternoons.

The level one alerts are a signal that there is a shortage of back-up energy, meaning any further unanticipated loss of capacity or spike in demand has the potential to cause blackouts in parts of the state.

Read Adam Carey’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Power plant failures push state's energy grid close to the edge in November heat.”