Soaring heat across South Australia followed by thunderstorm warning prompts energy warning

THE heat, coupled with a severe weather warning for thunderstorms, has forced the national electricity grid operator to limit the amount of power being pumped into SA from Victoria in a move to ensure the state’s power security.

THE heat, coupled with a severe weather warning for thunderstorms, has forced the national electricity grid operator to limit the amount of power being pumped into SA from Victoria in a move to ensure the state’s power security.

The Australian Energy Market Operator put SA on high alert for possible power shortages, ensuring the State Government’s diesel generators were on standby to prevent load shedding as yesterday’s conditions were feared to be more problematic than Thursday.

But the generators did not end up being used as there was enough power supply to meet demand without them.

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Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said despite incredibly high demand yesterday, the state’s power system coped “extremely well” - and much better than states to the east.

“This is exactly why we launched our $550 million energy plan - to stand up for South Australians and improve grid security,” he said.

“So far this summer there have been fewer lack of reserve warnings for SA than for either NSW or Victoria which means our power supply has been more reliable than the coal-reliant grids in the eastern states.”

The constraint was set at 4.20pm and would remain in place until further notice.

Despite the resiliance of South Australia’s electricity network more than 5000 homes and businesses were without power on Friday evening.

More than 800 properties in North Adelaide were blacked out just after 5pm on Friday.

The power was restored just over an hour and a half later and the blackout is thought to have been caused by an underground cable issue.

More than 2,000 properties in the northern suburbs were also without power for more than an hour with power restored before 9pm.

More than 1100 houses in the south western surburb including Mount Osmond, Glen Osmond and Beaumont remain without power.

Businesses and pubs in North Adelaide were forced to close their doors on a night owners say would have been one of their busiest of the week.

Pubs and restaurants down Melbourne St in north Adelaide closed after more than 800 premises blacked out. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/Fyxy5MVrio

— Mitch Mott (@MitchMottTiser) January 19, 2018

Co-owner of Lion Hotel Tim Gregg said it was hard to have to ask customers to leave after the lights went out.

“It is disappointing when you have got people booked in for a meal and you can’t call them because their details are in a system which doesn’t work when the power is out,” Mr Gregg said, sitting in the darkened and empty restaurant area which would have been just starting to fill if the power was on.

“We has to ask people to leave because of OH and S issues.

“It is lucky that it was between lunch and dinner service but the bar would be losing in the thousands of dollars.

Mr Gregg said he had more than 40 staff who were at a loose end until the power comes back on.

The restaurant area would serve hundreds of meals on a Friday night.

“We are anticipating being able to reopen when the power comes back on,” Mr Gregg said.

“The fridges are all sealed to keep in the cool ... but we will have to review it when the power is back.”

Following a day of soaring temperatures across the state, the Bureau of Meteorology on Friday afternoon issued a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds in the Eastern Eyre Peninsula district and parts of West Coast, Riverland, Murraylands and North West Pastoral districts.

The scorching temperatures have also forced more than 50 people to emergency rooms across the state with heat-related illness as temperatures soared above 40C for the second day in a row.

Some businesses with power thriving while others are having to turn customers away as more than 800 homes and businesses are left without power on and around Melbourne St in North Adelaide. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/evsxubKJO9

— Mitch Mott (@MitchMottTiser) January 19, 2018

Of the 51 people presenting at emergency departments yesterday, 15 of those were admitted to hospital for further treatment and observation.

Temperatures in Adelaide peaked at 43.7C on the outskirts of the CBD just before 1pm, higher than the initial estimates of 41C.

Temperatures in the north of the state crept above the 45C mark with Wudina recording the highest temperature in the state with 47.4C at 2.30pm on Friday.

Port Augusta and Whyalla sweltered through temperatures of 46.5C and 46.4C respectively while both Lameroo and Tarcoola reached 46C.

Tour Down Under riders jumped directly in the sea at the end of the third day in Victor Harbor. Picture: Brenton Edwards/AFP Photo

South Australia isn’t in for much relief over the next week with temperatures predicted to stay above 30C on all but one day until the mercury peaks at 40C on Australia Day.

As the temperatures soar and relief from the heat appears short lived, SA Dog Rescue are asking for much needed donations of clam shell swimming pools, water and towels to help them care for more than 70 animals in their care.

“We want to help keep them as cool and comfortable as possible,” volunteer Olivia Bee said.

“Some of these animals have come off death row or have been donated. We take older dogs as well and try and give them a new home.

“We really are for the underdog.”