Hydro dam levels alert

TASMANIA is curtailing energy exports and importing more power as low rainfall causes Hydro Tasmania’s dam storages to fall below the “prudent storage level”.

Hydro Tasmania could also opt to switch on the combined cycle gas turbine at the Tamar Valley Power Station if the situation worsens.

Rainfalls over summer and autumn were down significantly from average totals.

And despite an increase in storages over recent weeks the total energy in storage figure is now at 32.7 per cent.

The figure is still a far cry from 2016 when Tasmania was thrust into an energy crisis when Hydro Tasmania’s dam levels hit record lows of 15.5 per cent and the Basslink power cable was out of action preventing the state from importing energy.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff assured Tasmanians their energy security was “not at risk” and Hydro Tasmania was taking a very conservative, measured and prudent approach.

But Labor Leader Rebecca

White said the government had not learned from the 2016 crisis.

“The dam levels are low again, they’ve been pumping Tasmanian power to the mainland at a time where Tasmanians are paying more for their power here than they should be,” Ms White said.

“Draining the dams to try and cash in on that, that is not in the community’s best interest and now the Minister should provide an update on Tasmania’s energy security because this is an issue that affects every single business, every single household and the whole economy.”

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast rainfall on Tasmania’s West Coast – where most of Hydro Tasmania’s dams are – to continue to be below average from August through to October.

Hydro Tasmania said the state’s energy storage position remained secure and it was working closely with the state government to manage the situation.

Generation Manager Jack Penny said Tasmania’s energy security framework was introduced following the 2016 energy crisis to help manage storage security.

“We’ve had the driest summer to autumn period on record and unseasonable low rainfalls in July, so our storages are lower than usual at this time of year,” Mr Penny said.

“Dropping below the PSL is not cause for alarm – storages crossed the threshold in 2019, and Hydro Tasmania adjusted its operations accordingly to maintain water storages.

“This is exactly how the energy security framework is supposed to operate.”

However, Hydro Tasmania is preserving storages and sending less power across Bass Strait and importing more.

“If required … the Tamar Valley Power Station can be brought online,” he said.

Energy Minister Guy Barnett said after one of the driest winters on record, Hydro was managing its water resources.

“This is a sensible and conservative approach that will ensure dam levels are maintained … [it] will result in Basslink being used more to maintain its storage levels,” he said.