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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Peter Hannam

Big electricity consumers in Queensland cut use to avoid blackouts as NSW faces shortages

An electricity transmission tower is seen in the foreground of the Brisbane CBD skyline.
Queensland and New South Wales are facing potential power blackouts. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Some of Queensland’s biggest consumers agreed to cut their power use on Monday to help the grid avoid blackouts, and similar requests could be made in New South Wales on Tuesday if regulators maintain forecasts for potential electricity shortfalls.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) on Monday afternoon started talks with big consumers under its Reliability and Emergency Reserve Trader (Rert) scheme to head off a gap projected at one stage to be 1,454 megawatts in Queensland at 5.30pm.

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