The media is now reporting that Electra Net, operator of the high voltage transmission infrastructure has had to install a "kill switch" to isolate the Prominent Hill mine, Olympic Dam and Roxby Downs. Apparently with the withdrawal of Port Augusta power station, reliance was placed totally on the interconnector, and at times of low wind and moderate to high power demand the system is unable to cope. More telling, is that they say no credible consideration was ever given to the limitations those factors imposed.
In today's news the Whyalla steelworks have lost confidence in the states ability to supply power, and are in talks to generate their own power using waste process gases and natural gas. To get through the troubles they have sourced generators from WA, Q'land and NSW.
Way to go SA.
