Coal plant shutdowns won’t short electricity supply: market operator

A recent spate of coal plant closures won’t raise the risk of power blackouts, according to a new report by the energy market operator that is set to fire up election debate over the role of the fossil fuel in the electricity grid.

Origin Energy announced in February it would close the massive Eraring coal-fired power plant at Lake Macquarie up to seven years ahead of schedule, as early as August 2025. Eraring employs 400 people and is located in the marginal NSW Hunter electorate, held by Labor on a three per cent margin.The Australian Energy Market Operator on Thursday released an updated Electricity Statement of Opportunities report, which forecasts risks of energy supply shortfalls, to factor in the loss of Eraring.

AEMO’s general manager of system design, Merryn York, said energy generation, storage and transmission projects that are planned or in progress by industry and state and federal governments “would meet or exceed the reliability standard” required to ensure secure energy supply. The government views Hunter, and neighbouring seats of Paterson and Shortland as winnable and is targeting the many voters who work in the coal industry, by arguing they won’t contribute to the sector’s demise.Outgoing Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon survived in the 2019 election but saw a huge 9 per cent swing against him in the formerly safe seat.

While AEMO’s report forecasts if there will be sufficient reliability in the grid to avoid blackouts, it does not model the price of electricity bills.

micksfoley The state opposition controlled upper house wedging the Andrews government on the future of workers at Yallourn W power station. Funny workers on federal awards come under the federal government jurisdiction. Step up LNP.

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Power companies say expect higher electricity bills within monthsCoal prices are increasing as European countries scramble to reduce their reliance on energy sourced from Russia, and it threatens to create new cost-of-living pressures to test the government and opposition ahead of the federal election. auspol ...after the election so Albanese can be blamed for this, the fuel price rises and interest rate increases foreshadowed now. Hang on, Australia has massive coal reserves and we export a lot. Time to end this lunacy of exporting our resources then paying some overseas country to import coal back AlboMP RichardMarlesMP ScottMorrisonMP JoshFrydenberg SkyNewsAust newscomauHQ 7NewsAustralia abcnews I think the holier than though globalist eco warrior EU might have some trouble meeting the emissions reduction targets. Hope they take a break from lecturing other countries.
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