How to ensure Australia is summer-ready
HOW TO AVOID SUMMER BLACKOUTS
* Summer readiness plan. AEMO is working with government and industry to better understand unplanned outages at old coal-fired plants.
* Transmission upgrades. A lot of work is going into transmission infrastructure especially in NSW.
* More dispatchable power. AEMO says 215 megawatts of supply is needed to ensure NSW only as a one-in-ten year risk of a significant blackout in 2023/24.
* Better reliability standard. AEMO wants to ensure each region has enough power to to meet peak demand requirements 90 per cent of the time - a standard used internationally.
* Three-year strategic reserve. AEMO says the inability to procure reserves over three years is adding to risks and costs on consumers in Victoria.
* Wholesale demand response. AEMO and the Australian Energy Market Commission are looking at incentives for customers to help reduce demand at peak times.
* Closure notice. A longer period than three years notice is needed for generators closing plants.
* Information. Greater sharing of information will improve decision making.
(Source: AEMO 2019 Electricity Statement of Opportunities.)
