Yesterday, the 26th January 2026, 10.00pm AESDST. In South Australia, the spot electricity price was $20,300MWh, Twenty thousand, three hundred dollars per MWh and remained at that price for about an hour. Before falling to $550MWh, where it remained for some time.
The other States were NSW $68MWh, Qld $233MWh Vic $89MWh and Tas $115MWh.
It was caused by the demand, being greater than the supply. SA supply was batteries 0%, gas 64%, solar 0%, wind 36%. The interstate connecter to Victoria’s Brown Coal making the difference and reaping the benefit of the high price
WHO CAN AFFORD THIS RIDICULOUS SPOT PRICE? IT SHOWS THE INTEGRITY OF THE SA GRID IS IN DOUBT
It is a fact stability of the Grid is of extreme importance. It has to be maintained at 240v and 50Hz frequency, at every second of the day. If the amount of electricity required, (that is the demand of what required to be drawn out, is not matched almost instantly by increased generation. A five second drop in voltage will trip automatic switches and cascade into causing blackouts.
Equally if a surge of power from perhaps a huge number of rooftop solar panels coming online at the same time, is allowed into the Grid. Which causes a sudden spike in voltage, which will trip automatic switches and cause a cascade of tripping switches, leading to blackouts.
And it has happened previously. South Australia 4th June 2024 9.05pm EST. Batteries 0%, Gas 97%, Diesel 3% Solar 0%, Wind 0%.
IT IS FOOLISH TO PLAY WITH AN ELECTRICITY GRID, IT MAY BE ONLY FIVE SECONDS FROM DISASTER.
Another reason why our petition: TO STOP THE CLOSURE OF ALL THE AUSTRALIAN COAL FIRED POWER STATIONS AND TO KEEP THEM RUNNING IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
This includes Eraring NOW 2029, Yallourn NOW 2032), Bayswater in 2033, with Loyang A in 2045 and all other coal fired power stations.
And no consideration of them being closed be considered until assured supplies of base load electricity 24/7 is available from coal, gas or uranium powered generators. Even if this requires the coal fired generators be compulsory acquired by the relevant Government, in the National interest and to maintain the supply of base load electricity 24/7 that is essential to STOP the Grid from collapsing.
OUR PETITION TO KEEP OUR COAL FIRED POWER STATIONS RUNNING. Is educating everyone of how important coal fired power stations are to keeping the Grid from crashing.
https://www.change.org/p/blackouts-will-be-devastating-they-must-be-avoided-at-all-costs
YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR PETITION WITH DONATIONS WILL BE REPAID WITH BASELOAD ELECTRICITY FOR THE NEXT CRITICAL FIFTEEN TO TWENTY YEARS. Be it $10, $20, $50 or $100 please make a donation and keep our petition in the public eye. AND KEEP THE BLACKOUTS AT BAY. The more signatures we get the more wins will keep coming and the coal fired power stations will be kept running. Promote the petition on Change.org and share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp or Email.
KEEP INFORMED BY DAILY MONITORING THE AEMO DATA DASHBOARD. And alert your friends to watch the AEMO dashboard, the more know what's happening the better.
Particularly at 7pm and 7am (Or a time that suits you?) watch (and record) the mix of coal, gas hydro, batteries, solar and wind generation and the prices per MWh for each State on the AEMO dashboard.
Example: Eastern States 7th January 2026 8.10pm AESDST. Batteries 11%, Biomass 0%, Black Coal 40% Brown Coal 12%, Gas 13%, Hydro 14% Diesel 0% Solar 1%, Wind 9%. 8.10pm a time when solar has almost gone for its daily 16 hours (lack of fuel), zero production period. Unreliable wind is all over the place averaging 9%, but ranging from a pathetic 4% in NSW, up to 16% in SA. With the strong possibility of wind droughts, dropping wind’s contribution to an overall 5 or 6%.
To underline the importance of our coal fired generators 7/1/26 8.10pm AESDST. In NSW coal is producing 70% Solar 1%, Wind 4%, Qld coal 59%, solar 0% wind 11% Vic Brown coal 45%, solar 1%, wind 10%. SA batteries 18%, gas 59%, solar 3%, wind 16% and Tas hydro 81%, wind 12%.
WITHOUT COAL AUSTRALIA WOULD BE BLACKED OUT.
STOP PRESS: WHAT CAN HAPPEN. South Australia 4th June 2024 9.05pm EST. Batteries 0%, Gas 97%, Diesel 3% Solar 0%, Wind 0%.
SA RENEWABLES CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA WITH BATTERIES, SOLAR AND WIND PRODUCING NO ELECTRICITY, ZERO, NOTHING
We are up to 4,561 signatures, let’s increase it by many more, everyone’s future depends on it. Continue to spread the word, to all family, friends, anyone you meet, particularly discuss it with shop and business owners. Ask the question, “How do you plan to cope when the blackouts come? The possibility is too awful to contemplate.
WE MUST KEEP THOSE COAL FIRED GENERATORS GOING, TO KEEP OUR SOCIETY FROM HAVING BLACKOUTS, POWER RATIONING AND EXHORBITENT ENERGY PRICES.