A severe heatwave impacting the eastern inland of NSW will peak across Sydney through Tuesday and Wednesday.The energy industry has been alerted about the blackout threat and is working with power station operators to boost electricity availability, a spokesperson said.
Penrith is on track to swelter through five consecutive days above 35C for the first time on record during spring. A low intensity to severe heatwave is predicted across eastern NSW from Monday to Wednesday this week before gradually easing.The high temperatures are expected to increase demand on the grid as the state's residents switch on air conditioners and fans to cool off.
The AEMO issues a LOR when that reserve reduces, warning that load shedding may be required if market responses are inadequate.According to an AEMO spokesperson, the hot weather factors "combined with major generation outages, are causing tight electricity supply forecasts in NSW". Temperatures on Wednesday afternoon will peak at 40C across the eastern inland of NSW, as hot north-westerly winds carry tropical heat to the coast.Aside from the hot weather and electricity demands, the AEMO has to contend with four coal generation units being out of operation, including one in the state's biggest coal power plants at Eraring near Lake Macquarie.However this week's relief for the power grid and NSW residents will arrive slowly in the form of a band of rain and storms.