Blackout warnings were issued because coal and gas-fired generators reacted to soaring prices for fossil fuels by withdrawing power supply from the grid.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is required under law to issue warnings no matter if the power is not available or if it is just waiting to be fired back up.
Since Monday AEMO has been using its statutory powers to make what were previously rare interventions in the electricity market and forcing power companies to re-start their units to bring more electricity back into the grid.
“Despite electricity shortfalls forecast in Queensland and NSW last night,AEMO successfully directed generators,which hadn’t bid into the market,to be available,” the market operator said in a statement on Tuesday night. “As such,there was sufficient electricity supplied to meet consumer demand.”
Electricity supply will remain tight,but regulators are confident of avoiding blackouts and Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen advised people not to turn off their heaters and other necessary devices.
“I’m very pleased that we have been able to avoid so far ... any blackouts,” Bowen said on Wednesday. “AEMO advises me that will likely continue to be the case and we will be able to avoid any load shedding events or any blackouts.
“Of course that is subject to any unexpected outages in the system.”