HYDRO Tasmania’s latest projections show the state’s energy levels could drop to as low as 12 per cent.
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Hydro CEO Steve Davy said inflows would need to continue to be about 55 per cent of the historical average for storages to go that low.
He said levels were expected to bottom out at 13.5 per cent if the state received average rainfall in coming weeks.
Energy storage levels as of Monday were 13.9 per cent, a record low for the state.
The new projection comes after Basslink revealed further delays in repairing the undersea interconnector meant it was likely to return to service in June.
Mr Davy said there was nothing to indicate rainfall in the coming months would be lower than average, but stressed Hydro’s energy supply plan allowed for further adverse outcomes.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the amount of projections about where storage levels might end up was “getting beyond a joke”.
“Initially the government told us in January that lake levels would bottom out at 16 per cent, then it got to 13.6 per cent, now it seems that the figure is 12 per cent,” he said.
“Given we are seeing levels drop by .7 per cent during weeks without significant rainfall, it’s hard to see how 12 per cent will be rock bottom.”
Hydro said 200 megawatts of diesel generation set to be active by the end of April will cost about $22 million a month to run.
Mr Davy told ABC Radio on Wednesday that Hydro’s energy supply plan allowed for the generators to be run if the state received lower than expected rainfall.