Wallerawang Power Station and Lake Wallace. (Photo by Sue Millmore, Portland Librarian)

By BRIAN ROBINS
November 28, 2009 LOW water levels will force the shutdown of the large Wallerawang power station near Lithgow over Christmas, as efforts are made to to take pressure off local water supplies. The move is the clearest impact yet of the dry weather conditions on the state’s electricity industry. A continuing lack of rain could begin to affect the state’s power supplies from late January, as electricity demand begins to rise following the summer holidays. ”Wallerawang will be able to operate for short periods, but not for long periods during high demand periods,” one electricity market trader said. At this stage the Australian Electricity Market Operator, which manages the national electricity market, has not indicated concerns about a lack of generation capacity in NSW, although this could change if the state suffers from a dry, hot summer, as is predicted. As the temperature soared last weekend, so did power demand. Extreme hot weather coupled with high winds are a combustible combination for the state’s aging electricity network. …

Shortage of water will shut power station