Amid fears of blackouts,Kean told residents to minimise energy usage between the peak of 5.30pm and 8.30 on Wednesday if they could safely do so.
As NSW comes under pressure over how it can alleviate supply issues,it emerged the government appointed a “full suite of advisers” to consider a pitch from Origin Energy to extend the life of its ageing Eraring power station. The deal would have cost the state $239 million and kept the Central Coast station operating for an extra two to three years,previously confidential documents reveal.
The documents show the seriousness with which the NSW government was considering prolonging the life of the coal-fired Eraring station,which provides 20 per cent of NSW’s energy.
However,the deal – which was still being discussed in December – did not proceed and Origin Energy revealed in February it would bring forward the closure of its station by seven years to 2025.
Instead of taking over Eraring,Kean announced the government would develop a super battery,which will be the biggest in the southern hemisphere and act as a shock absorber for incidents such as lightning strikes and bushfires.