GENERATORS are buzzing around town and more people than usual are outside walking their dogs and playing in the front yard with children. Two shops are open in Wonthaggi for dinner – zero lights appear to be on, but that doesn’t matter when you can still take cash payments and cook up a burger, whilst others filter through a darkened Woolies.
There is definitely a need to explore renewables and transition to them, but after today’s storm, that in some parts of the district look more like a cyclone ripped through, the biggest question is without gas how will some put a meal on the table in the future?
Let’s face it, not everyone can afford the $10,000- $15,000 it costs on average to add a battery to the home; and that is on top of the cost of solar panels.
The Victorian government last year announced a ban on reticulated natural gas for new residential developments from January 1, 2024, as part of its plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable energy. The gas ban applies to new homes, apartments, and subdivisions with existing homes and renovations encouraged to adopt electric appliances over time.
The government says that all-electric homes are cheaper, more efficient, and healthier than gas-powered ones, and that is certainly the case when zero electricity is flowing through too.
Earlier this afternoon all four units at AGL's Loy Yang A power station in the Latrobe Valley went offline.
According to the ABC it’s believed to be after Loy Yang A tripped due to two transmission towers physically collapsing, preventing them from transmitting electricity through the lines.
As for when power will be restored (as per our earlier report) according to the AusNet's Outage Tracker there is no indication yet as to what time power will be back on, and as for the latest the Outage Tracker is offline.
“Widespread power blackouts affecting thousands of households and businesses across Victoria again highlight the vulnerability of the state’s energy supplies under the Allan Government,” the Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security, David Davis MP stated this afternoon.
“Victoria is delicately poised with a major source of power at Loy Yang A offline, in need of major repair. The Victorian government was warned last year by AEMO in its August 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities.
“The Ministers appears not to have taken the necessary actions to protect Victoria’s electricity supply.
“A key responsibility of the Allan Government is to ensure a reliable, secure and affordable power supply is available.”
After a scorching day weather wise, one can now only hope the power comes back on sooner than later or the cost-of-living will get a lot more expensive quickly when all the food in the fridge and freezer goes to waste.
As for the immediate future it’s time to pull out the gas bottles and BBQ or light the gas stovetop, there's not many options on a total fire ban day.
