Australian Energy Regulator takes court action over SA 2017 blackout, when gas-fired Pelican Point stayed idle
Fresh from taking wind farms to court over SA’s 2016 statewide blackout, the energy regulator is now going after the owner of the gas-fired generator — key to 90,000 homes losing power in 2017.
The owner of the gas-fired generator at Pelican Point is being taken to court for not telling the Australian Energy Market Operator the plant could have been switched on in February 2017.
The lack of information was key to a blackout affecting 90,000 customers.
The blackout was unnecessary because if Pelican Point had been working, there would not have been a shortfall in generation.
Fresh from taking legal action earlier this month against wind farms over SA’s 2016 statewide blackout, the Australian Energy Regulator on Tuesday announced it had begun proceedings against French company ENGIE, owner of Pelican Point.
In the 2017 blackout, AEMO ordered load shedding that should have affected about 30,000 customers — but a software issue tripled that to 90,000.
“The AER alleges that Pelican Point did not disclose to AEMO that one of the generators at its Pelican Point Power Station was capable of being made available on 24 hours’ notice,” AER chair Paula Conboy said.
“We allege that until late in the afternoon of February 8, 2017, AEMO was unaware it had the ability to issue a direction to Pelican Point to make the full capacity of Pelican Point power station available.
“As a result, AEMO’s ability to manage power system security was impaired.
“Accurate generator capacity information is critical for AEMO to manage power system security including, if necessary, by issuing directions.
“As we head into summer, it is important that generators provide AEMO with timely and accurate information about their capability to ensure that AEMO can manage system security and keep the lights on for Australian consumers and businesses.”
On February 8, 2017, temperatures in Adelaide were high, wind generators were providing less power than anticipated, there were outages at several gas and diesel-fired power stations and the Victorian interconnector was at maximum capacity.
AEMO told SAPN to load shed but incorrect data reading of the load led to software turning off three times as many customers as intended.
A spokesperson for ENGIE said the company “rejects these allegations and will defend the claims”.
“We will not be making further comment while the matter is subject to legal proceedings,” the spokesperson said.
The AER is seeking declarations, penalties and costs.