An historically dry Tasmanian summer and autumn has led to the state’s dam levels dropping below a “prudent” threshold for the first time in three years.
Key points:
The specter of low dam levels looms large in the minds of Tasmanians who recall the 2016 energy crisis
Dam levels are at 32.7 per cent, lower than usual and below Hydro Tasmania’s “prudent storage level”
An industry figure says Tasmania’s reliance on hydro-electricity meant the state was largely immune from network issues affecting the mainland
The state’s energy storages are at 32.7 per cent, lower than usual and below Hydro Tasmania’s prudent storage level.
It is the first time storages have gone below the prudent storage level — introduced after the 2016 energy crisis where dam levels plunged below 13 per cent due to dry weather and an extended outage of the Basslink undersea cable — since 2019.
Hydro Tasmania generation manager Jack Penny said storages were lower due to the state experiencing its driest summer to autumn period on record, plus unseasonably low July rainfalls.
He said dropping below the prudent storage level was “not cause for alarm”.
Hydro Tasmania’s methodology for calculating energy security.(Supplied: Hydro Tasmania)
“Storages crossed the threshold in 2019, and Hydro Tasmania adjusted its operations accordingly to maintain water storages,” Mr Penny said.
