Sydney weather warning: turn off your dishwasher NOW – as heatwave strikes and blackout risk surges

NSW Premier Chris Minns has asked Sydneysiders to switch off their electrical appliances to ration electricity as the threat of heatwave blackouts looms over the state.

Minns warned Australians to delay using their dishwashers, pool pumps and washing machines between 3pm and 8pm on Wednesday as the heatwave approaches its peak.

The five-hour ‘low energy window’ also includes closing blinds, windows and doors as the NSW Government attempts to reduce energy consumption over the next 12 hours.

“Solar energy production in the energy market starts to ramp up at 3pm, right when people are returning home,” Mr Minns said.

“So if you (couldn’t use) your pool filter, dishwasher, washing machine between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., you’re helping the electricity grid.”

Mr Minns said he had been advised by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) that “there are insufficient reserves in terms of generation throughout the day”, which had led to his warning.

He said for those who did turn on the devices, electricity costs would skyrocket as coal-fired power stations in Queensland, NSW and Victoria would remain offline.

Australia’s energy regulator is warning of the possibility of power cuts as sweltering east coast residents turn on their air conditioners to beat the heat.

The energy regulator is scrambling to shore up electricity supplies after issuing a power outage warning as the east coast is hit by a late spring heatwave.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued its most serious ‘lack of reserve’ notice, predicting an electricity shortage in NSW between 3.30pm and 5pm on Wednesday.

That coincides with the peak of the state’s heatwave and forecast highs of almost 40 degrees Celsius in much of Sydney’s western suburbs, prompting people to turn on their air conditioners as they return home in the afternoon.

The statement urged the industry to generate as much power as possible and restore all available power lines to the grid to meet rising demand.

“AEMO is working with industry to manage electricity supply reliability during high-demand heatwave conditions in NSW, with major power stations unavailable due to forced and planned outages,” an operator spokesperson said.

‘In addition, AEMO wants to acquire additional reserves… to best deal with the low electricity supply forecasts this afternoon and early evening.’

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe heatwave warnings for large parts of coastal NSW, including the Sydney metropolitan area, the Hunter region and the south coast.

The energy warning coincides with the peak of the state’s heatwave, with temperatures reaching almost 40 degrees Celsius in much of Sydney’s western suburbs.

Warnings also remain in place for parts of the ACT and Queensland, including an extreme heatwave for Australia’s far north.

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen stressed there is enough electricity in reserve to get through Wednesday, adding that the system was functioning as intended.

He noted that five coal-fired power stations were out of order, of which only three were expected.

“Loss of reserves notifications are not a blackout… they are an indication that AEMO is getting more electricity into the system, which is working,” he said.

‘It is clear that AEMO is always looking for unexpected events to prepare for. They have taken all necessary protective measures at this time.”

Sydney’s city center is forecast to reach 34 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, but the western suburbs are set to suffer even worse, with 39 degrees Celsius in Richmond and Penrith and a high of 38 degrees Celsius in Parramatta.

Forecasts in Sydney’s west are more than 10 degrees above average highs in November, said Miriam Bradbury, the weather bureau’s senior meteorologist.

“While these temperatures are abnormally high, they are not expected to break any records, but it is more the duration of the warm conditions, including those warm nights, that is more important,” she said.

“It’s also worth noting that ‘feels like’ temperatures will be oppressive due to high humidity.”

Rain is forecast to fall across eastern NSW on Thursday, although warm, humid conditions will persist.