The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) has encouraged Canberra’s electricity consumers to be mindful of the strain placed on the Territory’s electricity supply during the current hot weather conditions.
Deputy Director-General of EPSDD, Geoffrey Rutledge said that while the ACT had one of the most reliable electricity networks in the country, higher temperatures and extreme weather events were putting stress on the electricity grid.
“There is currently enough energy in the electricity system to service the ACT,” Mr Rutledge said.
“However, by pulling together and reducing our energy use, we can help to provide a ‘buffer’ for the system, decreasing the likelihood of electricity supply shortfalls and supporting our community during heatwave events.”
He said there were many simple actions householders and businesses could take, apart from turning off the fan or air conditioning.
He said tips for residents included turn off unnecessary lighting; restricting air conditioning to 26°C or higher; minimising the use of cooking equipment; consolidating refrigeration and turning off unnecessary fridges; and avoiding the use of dishwashers, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners and second TVs.
Tips for businesses included turning off advertising lighting and unnecessary exterior lighting; turning off heating appliances for swimming pools or spas; turning off appliances usually left in standby mode; turning off computer hard drives and screens unless in use; and turning off water heating systems and urns.
Mr Rutledge said that if an electricity supply shortfall eventuated, it could result in ‘rotational load shedding’.
“Load shedding occurs when the electricity supply to customers is interrupted because demand is higher than the supply the system is able to generate at that particular time,” he said.
“During load shedding selected residential areas would be switched off for a period of up to two hours on a scheduled basis.”
