Welcome to our latest power outage.
6:20 approx on a Friday night 2954 customers in the dark. How many on that great Friday night XMAS party at one of the local pubs (we have 2), social clubs or one of the many take away outlets will be less than happy?
In our cashless economy how many will have paid by card and now be without service or access to a refund?
Fortunately for us we still have LPG, so cooking tonight’s salmon by LED battery head lamp was hardly a challenge. Salad on the side. If only we’d spent the extra for a big battery to go with the solar PV. The NBN went off after 90 minutes of backup from the UPS. We’ve fallen back to mobile data via Telstra, although their tower is also in the zone of total power loss. 4-8 hrs and who knows what next? The NBN Wireless tower is also in the power outage zone as are the next two nearest mobile towers.
Next update from Energex 11:00pm. Power lines down due to one of those all the more frequent intense summer storm cells. Assumes there will be a service of some type to deliver the update.
For the local butcher, Woolies and Aldi, etc it might be a busy Saturday with spoiled frozen and chilled stock to the bin!
For those thinking Distributed Energy Resources (local batteries) and residential home batteries are not the way to go. One had to ask how many batteries a Friday night’s losses might have purchased.
P.S.
Service (Power) returned approx 10 hrs later. I do wonder how all the other Friday night problems for others might have been resolved.
Our only immediate need to switch the fridge back to the mains and shut down the Honda generator. Have thought about the new breed of Lithium 230V power banks as a quieter option. Perhaps enough to run the fridge. Not enough for the house water pump, UV steriliser, etc.
Our nearby township is still out. Next update now pushed out to 5pm today. Likely without any service from the NBN as the original design relied on FTTN. The local Telstra tower appears to have stayed on line though. Also the more distant Optus site on the M1.
Most point of sale console handsets have battery backup with lasts a few hours.
Most major shopping centres/supermarkets have emergency backup supplies for power outages.
Mobile network which supports the PoS system also has emergency power supplies when there are local outages.
The only one’s which it might affect are small businesses which have a PoS system (checkouts) which doesn’t have backup supply for power interruptions. Notwithstanding this, they should still be able to process payment manually through their PoS handsets which will have battery backup. It means that for a number of items, they might need to get out the calculator to work out the total purchase price.
In Tasmania, we have frequent minor power interruptions (a few seconds to a few minutes, with longer ones up to a few hours) - one of the outcomes of high reliance on renewable energy where generation can fluctuate significantly over short times leaving shortages at times. Businesses manage with these outages. The ones who are impacted the most or those which need electricity to provide services to the customer - such as takeaway joints, pubs and restaurants.
Nothing to do with renewables when a storm takes out infrastructure. Unless one has a greater distributed adoption. In which instance keeping the lights on etc becomes a solution delivered by better use of distributed renewables. The greater the reliance on centralised generation (and the emissions of yesterdays thinking) the more vulnerable we become to disruption from damage to the network.
Perhaps, but 3,000 properties across two townships and surrounds does not a major shopping centre make. We’ll doubtless hear the full story late in the week from the local rag. Long enough past the weekends events for BAU. Lost profits of one of the best nights of the year still hurting. Consider most of the business impacts last night would have hit the eat out, take away and entertainment providers hard. The local food stores tba.
A different scenario for a relatively small scale system driven by aged hydro electric resources. It does demonstrate the flexibility of multiple small capacity generators working across the grid. Providing the rain continues to fill the dams.
Age of the hydro is irrelevant. The minor disruptions are due to fluctuating nature of generation and trying to match demand. Under and over generation can cause outages as the electrical system protects itself and its users.
A small scale system wouldn’t have made any difference. In fact it could make the situation worse as times where local supply has shortfall would be greater than a regional, statewide or east coast grid. Bigger grids have better buffer and balance as it spreads generation and demand across a bigger base.
Lightning takes out local networks as well.
Damage to small scale local network is potentially worse, as damage from a lightning strike could be more significant than a local transformer tripping as its protection.
A local system could also take longer to return to service. If say there was a significant number of local networks out, which would occur in a storm, this would require crews to attend each network to identify the damage/action taken to return the network to service. The local network first visited may return to service potentially the same time as the traditional distribution network. Those local networks visited last could be out for some time. Yes, the network companies could employ (multiples of magnitude) crews to overcome durations of outages, but this would come at significant cost.
“Doom preppers” - perhaps not to that extreme but be prepared for …… is a popular advertising theme. Various government agencies and service orientated businesses.
The intent of the OP included comment on some of the many ways we are affected or vulnerable to loss of electricity services. At community and a personal level.
A greater number had a less limiting experience with the recent Optus system failure. There was much discussion of why it was not the end of the world because there were other options - Telstra being one. And some well meaning advice one should not rely on a single network or carrier. Not necessarily well received because it is a cost some can afford and others would not.
The situation with electricity supply is more pressing. There is only one network. Electricity enables much more than communication. It powers our lives, at home, at work, our retail shops, and many other services. On a Friday night it also hit hard all those businesses and locals trying to make a living or having a good time out.
A further point intended from the OP was about improving the ability of users to manage through major power outage events. The centralised system we now have fails, we fix it, it fails again. There are many causes.
Is the current system design fit for purpose?
It’s a simple question that goes well beyond the technical. It’s also - a source of investor wealth, of regular public interest and plaything with political preference. For those looking to the next decades, our future depends on making it work for us.
And an ode to the BOM, it’s worth considering.
Gun shy of not missing a storm warning,
Many are raised,
Quite a few are withdrawn,
A new climate is dawning.
Uncertainty!
Robust legislation protected customers from outages without notice, Mr Bhojani said.
At the end of the day many companies just go through the motions, sometimes make tick boxes to follow, and never test or review or train their staff. Double checked check lists? Perhaps too hard for them? Legislation cannot make them do any of it, nor can fines restore power yet if the fines are sufficient so dividends need to be cut, share prices drop, and executive bonuses go, maybe they will pay more attention.
All independent of storms, save for the political kind.
As an aside - considering events under a business’ control. The QLD Wet Feather - no pun on the fact it can rain a lot up here.
For all other events.
There is a question as to the resilience of the existing systems. Are they less reliable because of design choices and decisions on maintenance, or are natural acts always going to dominate supply reliability? In particular outside the major urban centres where resources to remedy faults and repair damage are more limited. And the likelihood of loss much greater.
Regional Queensland and NSW will standout for the greater number of customers at risk. Although the regional customers in the other states will know similar concerns. The NT?
The system security and reliability standards are defined in the National Electricity Rules and also by the AEMC’s Reliability Panel. Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and network businesses operate the system in line with these standards.
They aren’t a choice of a network operator nor a generator.
It is possible to improve reliability/security, however, each minor increase in reliability/security standard comes at considerable cost. These costs would be passed onto the user.
Community Batteries are being trialed in SE Qld. I think they come with benefits including local energy security and reliability. While local networks can be taken out by storms, the resilience comes from the benefit that surrounding networks continue to function and keeping those other local communities up and running. Centralisation of power production and distribution is usually more fraught with larger risk to large areas when transmission or generation faults occur. The US EPA looks at some of the environmental problems that arise from centralisation
"When we think of energy systems, getting electricity from power plants to people’s homes across the US, we tend to think of centralized energy as the only available method. In centralized energy, the power plant is at the center of the process, with services radiating outwards through power lines and cables to provide energy to businesses and properties.
While this particular model has served America for decades, it isn’t without its faults. That’s where decentralized energy comes in. By providing power from numerous sources across the board, you aren’t stuck if a single power line goes down or a power plant fails. Instead, you’re relying on the many instead of the few, providing a real failsafe that the average big power plant can’t achieve (my bolding).
AND
“With the introduction of solar panels and renewable energy to homes across the US, it’s more realistic than ever before for decentralized energy to become the standard. With many homes generating enough power for their homes plus extra, it only makes sense that a wider grid based on this system can provide power to many through a collective system. Less chance of catastrophic outages and less reliance on one source of power overall. (my bolding)”
A further article on the benefits and issues of both systems (largely supports decentralisation)
What is the thrust of this thread? It reports a power outage but then …?
In a past life I occasionally had to do disaster analysis - what can happen, how likely is it to happen, what impact will it have, what can be done if it happens, and is it worth preparing for it? That last question is the crux. In the case of power failure, is it worth having a backup? For many situations, the answer is no. Grin and bear it.
We in Newcastle had a 6 day outage in the April 2015 storm. We cooked on a camp stove, went to bed early, showered at another house with gas hot water. Inconvenient, but what is the cost of inconvenience - in monetary terms we may have lost fifty dollars of food in the fridge, and spent a bit more for non perishable goods and torch batteries. Certainly less than the cost of the cheapest backup generator. And that was an extreme event.
Power outages are a fact of life and that risk analysis should be done. It is unlikely the average household needs any sort of backup beyond a few candles and a camp stove. Candles are a good option as they do not go flat over time like batteries do, but having a few torches is useful if one can remember to replace the batteries.
If it is deemed necessary to have power, a battery bank and backup generator are good options. The battery bank may be adequate for short interruptions or, if solar charged, when the sun is shining. The generator can be used to recharge the batteries (noisy for short intervals) and heavy loads (running the washing machine). The extra expense and maintenance requirements mean that most households can’t justify this. As an adjunct to a solar/battery system it may be economic - be aware that some solar/battery systems don’t work when the mains are off so it needs to be catered for in the initial installation.
Recommendations regarding candle safety and why perhaps battery powered LED lanterns would be best for lighting (means a few batteries on hand perhaps)
"The best way to prevent candle-related fires is to discontinue their use in your living space. The second best form of prevention is to follow these candle safety tips:
Extinguish all candles before leaving your house, going into another room, leaving the room or when going to sleep. For this reason, keep candles out of bedrooms. Keep candles away from items that can catch fire such as clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, decorations or anything else flammable.
Make sure candles are placed on a stable piece of furniture in sturdy holders that won’t tip over. Candles should fit in the holders securely and holders should be made from material that can’t burn.
Use flashlights for temporary lighting in power outages, not candles. Keep plenty of fresh batteries on hand during thunderstorm seasons.
Make sure the candleholder is big enough to collect dripping wax.
Don’t place lit candles in windows, where blinds or curtains can close over them.
Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
When purchasing or using candles, consider what would happen if the candle burned low. Could it burn the candleholder or decorative material nearby?
Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and container candles should be extinguished before the last one-half of an inch of wax starts to melt.
Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.
Keep candles a minimum of one foot in all directions from flammable and combustible items such as curtains or bedding. Make sure curtains cannot be blown over the candle by wind.
Trim wicks prior to each use. Candlewicks should be trimmed to within one-fourth of an inch from the top of the candle.
Place burning candles away from drafts and vents.
Avoid burning candles for more than four hours at a time.
Avoid walking while holding a burning candle. Do not move a glass container when the wax is liquid.
Secure candles in holders made of glass, ceramic, metal or other noncombustible material."
Information and safety tips courtesy of State Farm, the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association.
Similar problems with camp stoves. They are not intended for indoor use and may create unacceptable levels of carbon monoxide in enclosed spaces. Unfortunately most people don’t give a thought to disaster preparation so may not act sensibly when they occur. Perhaps we need a national ‘prepare for disaster’ day - check your smoke detectors, review your will, test your backup generator, ensure important documents are in a safe place, new batteries for your torches, check your gutters, update your first aid kit etc.
One day, we will have modernised our power supply and distribution from the 19th-century centralised power plant and transmission lines where each link in the chain is a potential single-point-of-failure blackout waiting to happen, to a distributed system, which is almost free and almost impossible to black out. Once we are able to share energy between zillions of points of redundancy, and energy supply and cost is a non-issue, we will forget about energy and free up that part of our brain to think about whatever our politicians say we should worry about (unless we also upgrade to genuine democracy by then, which we are likely to do at some stage).
Getting power back on will take days and for some far longer. Flooding, road damage and fallen trees all creating access delays. Longer away from the largest centres of population.
Not common enough, unfortunately. Most people don’t seem to be aware of the possibilities that are so close to being realised, otherwise they would be demanding it en masse.
