There would no person in Tasmania more happy to hear raindrops falling on their rooftop than Energy Minister Matthew Groom.
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Outwardly at least, the state government has been steely-eyed in its resolve that it had the state’s “energy crisis” in hand, and that there was never a need to panic.
And given the parlous situation with the state’s catchment areas of Hydro power just a few weeks ago, it’s hard to believe there weren’t a few furrowed brows and sweaty palms in state government HQ.
But to coin a phrase from footballing circles, a week is a long time … when it comes to rainfalls.
Launceston, for example, is nearing record rain levels for the month to date.
Just under 115 millilitres of rain has fallen so far this month in Launceston. The long-term monthly average is just 62mm, while the wettest May ever recorded is 152.9mm in 2007. We’re not too far off that figure now, and with more rain expected, we could well set a new record for May.
In year-to-date figures, we’ve had a decent dumping of 372.2mm so far in 2016 in Launceston. This time last year, that figure was just 205.3mm. The average is 228mm.
It’s certainly been wet and it has certainly fallen at the right time for the state government.
At last count, the state’s dam levels were now at 20 per cent, and while that’s still well below what would be considered a decent level, it’s a much better look than the 12 per cent we were at just a few weeks ago.
In a sign of confidence, in our energy production capabilities, Bell Bay Aluminium announced yesterday that it had an agreement with Hydro Tasmania to increase its production back to full over the next few weeks.
The state’s largest energy consumer cut back its power consumption in February in response to what many described as a the “perfect storm” that hit Tasmania – seriously low dam levels and the outage of the Basslink cable.
Bell Bay Aluminium general manager Ray Mostogl told a senate inquiry in April that the production cut of 10,000 tonnes would cost the company $22 million in lost revenue.
The return to full production will be welcome news to both the company and its workforce – and a now not-so nervous state government.