NSW might be up for a summer season of electrical energy shortages and potential energy invoice will increase with a possible El Nino climate occasion set to ship temperatures hovering, the state vitality minister has warned.
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe mentioned a El Nino summer season was a priority the federal government was “watching very carefully”.
“El Nino is worrying all of us, whether it’s bushfires, or it’s increasing heat and load on the energy system,” she mentioned on Thursday.
“There’s a lot of work being done by AEMO and the federal government, and the state and territory ministers to prepare for summer and to make sure that projects that need to get completed are being completed and how we manage the grid.
“It’s going to be challenging.”
Asked about whether or not households could be requested to scale back their vitality consumption throughout peak intervals of excessive warmth, Ms Sharpe mentioned it was an eventuality.
“I certainly hope that isn’t the case but we need to prepare for all eventualities and that’s what we’ll be doing,” she mentioned.
On Thursday, a quarterly replace from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) confirmed the closure of the AGL-operated Liddell coal energy station in April inflated wholesale costs, with common prices in NSW rising by $148 per MWh because the earlier quarter.
The report mentioned this was on account of greater demand for electrical energy, a seasonal lower in photo voltaic era, and a discount within the state’s coal capability.
However, the brand new 1100 megawatts of vitality from new photo voltaic, wind and battery sources additionally offset a number of the rising prices.
Although these rising prices received’t instantly influence shoppers, it might have an effect on future energy payments if vitality suppliers cross on these prices.
The influence of Liddell’s closure on the vitality market has additionally prompted additional questions across the extension of Origin’s Eraring Power Station which is slated to shut in August 2025.
While Ms Sharpe couldn’t be moved to touch upon a possible extension, she promised the federal government would “keep the lights on”.
“We simply don’t want coal-fired power open for one day longer than it needs to be. We’ll work with Eraring,” she mentioned.
Although she acknowledged the closure of Liddell energy station Ms Sharpe additionally urged households to verify in the event that they have been eligible for rebates.
“We understand that this is a really difficult process. We’ve got a number of programs in place to try and support that,” she mentioned.
“My main message is that if you’re eligible for rebates, make sure you apply for them, so you get support for your bills.”
Under the federal government’s $485m focused Energy Relief Fund, pensioners, Health Care Card holders, and households on revenue help can obtain a $500 rebate.
The authorities has additionally elevated it’s disaster help funds to $500 for each gasoline and electrical energy payments, by way of its Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme. The funds might be claimed twice per monetary 12 months.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
