NSW heatwave sparks energy shortfall warning, residents urged to reduce electricity from 5pm to 9pm

NSW residents enduring a blistering day have been asked to delay using non-essential appliances on Thursday night, and turn up the temperature of their airconditioning.

NSW residents have been asked to consider increasing airconditioning thermostats, and delay using non-essential appliances on Thursday night, as a brutal heatwave strains the state’s energy supply.

A heatwave warning from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is currently in place, with temperatures in western Sydney set to hit 40C, and the mercury rising to 37C in Sydney.

The high temperatures has caused the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to forecast a forecast Lack of Reserve 2 (LOR2) for NSW, which warns of a “significant reduction” in predetermined electricity reserve levels, with electricity usage expected to peak between 5pm to 9pm.

NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe implored households to help ease the strain on the energy network by limiting their non-essential energy usage during Thursday’s peak, however stressed it was a “precautionary measure”.

This included a plea for residents to turn up the temperature on their airconditioning.

“If you can turn your airconditioning up a little bit, over about 24 is fantastic,.” she said.

Temperatures are set to hit 40C, as Sydney battles a heatwave. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Ms Sharpe also asked people to turn off their pool pumps between 5pm to 9pm, or delay starting their dishwashers, dryers and washing machines until tomorrow morning.

“Every small bit of action that we take will make it much easier to make sure that the grid stays on and there’s not a problem,” she said.

“No one is forced to do any of this. We’re just simply saying, when you go home tonight, if you don’t need to use your dryer, or you don’t need to put the dishwasher on until tomorrow morning, just please do that.”

Although hot days create extra strain on the electricity grid, Ms Sharpe said she had also received information an unit at a NSW coal-fired power station had “gone out”.

While is wasn’t “unusual activity,” it contributed to the issue, on a day of high energy demand.

She said there were also financial benefits to households reducing their energy consumption.

“It’s also good for people to know that even just increasing your airconditioning by one degree can save you 10 per cent on your bill,” she said.

“So there’s actually a hip pocket part of this as well.”

Energy Minister Penny Sharpe asked people to limit their non-essential energy use on Thursday. NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

While there is no impact to consumers predicted at this time, AEMO’s warning issues a call to generators to feed more energy supply into the grid, or for large commercial consumers to reduce their energy usage.

Government agencies have also been asked to reduce their electricity use, including switching off non-essential lights, and reducing their airconditioning where safe and feasible.

Ms Sharpe warned NSW may experience further energy supply shortfalls as the summer progresses. The government will be analysing how reductions in energy usage during peak periods can impact demand on the grid, using Thursday night as an example.

“We’re going to have hotter days over the summer, and particularly when we head into February when everyone is back at work, and we’re no longer on school holidays,” she said.

“Three or four days of hot weather will make it very tough for people, so partly this is about working through those issues today… and looking at what else we can do as things actually get a bit more challenging.”

Originally published as NSW heatwave sparks energy shortfall warning, residents urged to reduce electricity from 5pm to 9pm