Victorians lose power

MORE than 145,000 customers went without power across Victoria as the state sweltered through extreme heat, putting strain on the electricity system.

The Australian Energy Market Operator confirmed yesterday it had asked electricity distributors to “load shed” through the afternoon.

By mid-afternoon the blackouts by distributors totalled almost 150,000.

“It’s all because, you know, we’re balancing the weather, additional heat is stressing the generators,” AEMO CEO Audrey Zibelman said.