Sales of backup generators and home batteries are soaring as Australians brace for potential power outages, with rising temperatures and concerns over the reliability of the national grid.
SmartChannel, a leading retailer of generators and batteries, has reported a significant increase in demand over the past three months, with a 60 percent rise in sales of its Outbax generators and an even sharper increase in inquiries for VoltX home batteries. This surge in interest reflects growing concerns among residents about power reliability, particularly as extreme weather events and aging infrastructure raise alarms.
“People are becoming more aware of the risks of power outages, as well as the pressures on the energy grid,” said Ankur Ashta, representative for SmartChannel. “There’s a clear shift toward energy independence, as more households seek self-reliant solutions.”
Despite the fears, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) described power generation reserves in New South Wales (NSW) as “manageable” on Tuesday, though it warned that power supplies remain vulnerable over the next few days. The agency pointed to outages and breakdowns at several large generating units as factors contributing to ongoing risks.
AEMO also issued alerts for insufficient spare generation reserves in Queensland on Wednesday and Thursday. CEO Daniel Westerman noted that agreements with major energy users to reduce their consumption could be activated to ensure sufficient power for households.
The current concerns come amidst a slow transition to clean energy, with aging coal-fired power plants heading for closure and storage capacity lagging behind to compensate for the variability of wind and solar power.
Peter Nash, a resident from Narara on the NSW Central Coast, is among those preparing for potential blackouts. “I’ve got my petrol-powered generator ready to go. If the grid goes down, I’ll still be able to live normally,” he said, anticipating the need to use it as temperatures soar.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts extreme heat across the east coast of Australia, with temperatures set to hit 40 degrees Celsius in Richmond, northwest of Sydney, on Wednesday, and high 30s in some parts of Brisbane. As air conditioning demand spikes, AEMO warned that power shortages could lead to rolling blackouts if generation fails to meet demand.
AEMO spokeswoman confirmed, “Ongoing heatwave conditions, combined with significant generation outages in NSW, remain a risk. We are actively managing the situation, issuing updated Lack of Reserve notices, and urging industry participants to prepare for the coming days. Additional measures may be necessary if unforeseen generation or transmission failures occur, or if demand exceeds expectations.”
SmartChannel’s Ashta pointed out that the uncertainty surrounding power supply is driving consumers to invest in backup power solutions, with many households opting for generators to ensure they are not left in the dark during extreme weather or unexpected power outages.
“Generators are a reliable choice for our customers,” Ashta added. “As long as you have fuel, they can run indefinitely, which makes them a preferred option during these uncertain times.”
While AEMO has downgraded some of the warnings for power shortages in NSW and Queensland, several mid-level alerts for insufficient generation reserves remain in place. The agency is working with industry players to minimize blackout risks, including recalling generating units and transmission lines from scheduled maintenance.
In NSW and Queensland, grid operators Powerlink and Transgrid are collaborating with AEMO to maximize transmission capacity. Powerlink has also reviewed planned outages on its network to optimize the flow of electricity across the grid.
The current power shortages highlight the ongoing challenges in Australia’s energy sector, with the closure of coal plants looming and the slow rollout of renewable energy solutions. Last year, NSW extended the life of Origin Energy’s Eraring coal generator by two years to 2027 to help meet demand, while investment in new clean generation capacity remains heavily dependent on government subsidies that are set to expire within the decade.
Louisa Kinnear, head of the industry body for energy suppliers, emphasized that a review of energy market rules, announced by the government this week, will need to address how best to secure future investment in renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar, while maintaining grid stability.
Meanwhile, a new warning from consultancy EnergyQuest suggests that gas shortages in NSW and Victoria are expected over the coming years, potentially forcing the two states to rely on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet their energy needs.
As summer’s heat continues to test the nation’s energy grid, Australians are increasingly looking for ways to protect themselves from the threat of blackouts, with generator and battery sales reflecting growing anxiety about the reliability of the power supply.
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