Australia swelters as blackouts threaten

AUSTRALIA: Soaring temperatures, a potentially catastrophic fire danger and possible blackouts across the state — NSW is set to swelter through a scorching heatwave in coming days.

With temperatures tipped to rise to highs of 48C, the Rural Fire Service expects total fires bans and extreme or severe fire danger warnings will be in place across most of the state.

Sydney’s CBD is expected to record 38C today while 44C is forecast for western Sydney.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is forecasting a record demand for power between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.

Electricity demand could also jump by 50 per cent in western Sydney, according to Endeavour Energy, which will place emergency crews on stand-by in case of network faults.

Energy Minister Don Harwin has encouraged sweaty residents to save energy by turning the air con up to 26C, adjusting fridge temperatures, switching off unused electrical appliances and turning off lights where it’s safe to do so.

‘‘The NSW government is doing everything we can to ensure a power outage is avoided but we encourage the community to reduce their energy use where possible,’’ Harwin said.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has urged residents in bushfire-prone areas to have evacuation plans in place and to keep track of the organisation’s website or the Fire Near Me app for updates.

‘‘If the forecast eventuates we’re likely to see catastrophic fire danger develop in some areas including the Hunter,’’ he said.

The weather bureau is predicting 39C in the city and 45C in the west on Saturday with lower maximums likely on Sunday.

NSW Health has advised people to stay hydrated, limit physical activity, avoid alcohol and sugary drinks and try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.

Relief will be in sight for some parts of the state on Sunday morning with a predicted cool change.

It’s just as bad in other parts of Australia.

Victoria will continue to swelter throughout today, with several towns expected to reach temperatures into the low to mid 40s.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Newham said conditions in northern Victoria classified as a ‘‘severe heat wave’’.

He says while records haven’t been broken during this heat wave, temperatures have been ‘‘very high‘‘, particularly Mildura’s Wednesday overnight temperature of 31C and yesterday’s high of 46.9C.

State Health Commander Paul Holman has reminded Victorians to ‘‘remain vigilant’’ during the coming days, keeping an eye on elderly people and young children, who are less able to regulate their body temperatures in extreme weather.

And in South Australia, heatwave conditions will continue to push the state’s energy network to limit with demand for power among the highest on record.

The state dodged a second night of widespread power blackouts yesterday but the stress on the system will persist.

On Wednesday up to 90,000 properties across Adelaide and parts of regional SA — more than double the original estimate of 40,000 — had their power cut when the Australian Energy Market Operator ordered SA Power Networks to reduce demand by 100 megawatts.

The latest blackouts, also known as load shedding, prompted the state government to vow to go it alone in the quest for reliable and cheaper power.

Amid growing frustration with the operation of the National Electricity Market, Premier Jay Weatherill said all options were on the table and the government would take dramatic action to take control of the state’s energy future.

‘‘We are going to make our own decisions, we are going to take control of our own future and our own destiny,’’ the premier said yesterday.

‘‘It will be thoughtful, methodical policy-making but it will be dramatic and it will change the system and give us reliable, clean power.’’ — AAP