Pool pumps and air-conditioning will put the electricity network to the test as the city sweats through to the end of January.
Pool pumps and air-conditioning will put the electricity network to the test as the city sweats through to the end of January.
By Catherine Strohfeldt
January 20, 2025 — 3.51pm
Brisbane residents are set to sweat through the end of January as hot, humid conditions intensify this week.
Senior meteorologist Livio Regano said humid wind from Queensland’s north-west would drive temperatures up, making conditions “uncomfortable again”.
“Brisbane city is expecting a top of 35 on Wednesday and Thursday and probably a 37 on Friday – that’ll be our hottest day,” he said.
“The nights will get really, really warm [with] a minimum of 24 forecast for Friday morning and Thursday morning.”
The Bureau of Meteorology was expected to issue another heatwave warning for much of Queensland later in the week.
Regano said areas inland would suffer the most, and the south-west could experience the hottest January since 2014, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-40s.
Ipswich was expected to reach 37 degrees by Wednesday.
“If you’re right on the coast, you’ll get a sea breeze to tap to the heat a little bit, especially if it gets in early, it’ll take the last few degrees off in the afternoon,” he said.
“So, take for example a place like Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast – they won’t get any higher than probably 35 or 36, which is still very hot for a coastal location.”
Advertisement
The hot weather comes a year after peak demand for electricity in Brisbane caused power outages.
Loading
Temperatures topped 35 degrees in Brisbane on January 22 in 2024, and electricity provider Energex experienced greater demand for poweer than at any other time in 2023-24, 8.8 per cent higher than the previous peak.
That led to outages in Camp Hill, which the then Labor government blamed on unforeseen home renovations, new pools and air-conditioning.
Energex recently noted it also coincided with overcast conditions, when less power was produced by rooftop solar, complicating the network’s ability to respond.
“There has been considerable volatility in Queensland economic conditions, weather patterns and consumer behaviour, which all have a strong impact on peak demand,” Energex said in its annual forecasting document.
Loading
In times of highest demand, Energex would take control of some pool pumps and air-conditioning units remotely under an arrangement with customers who benefited from cheaper tariffs.
An Energex spokesman recommended residents used energy-intensive appliances “efficiently” through the hot summer months.
“Some people are unaware their air-conditioners have internal filters that, when clogged, make the appliance labour much more than they should,” he said.
He added Energex had “additional crews on standby, back-up generation in place and reschedule planned works where needed”.
Regano said while January was typically the hottest summer month, February could bring other issues in the form of more rainfall and high humidity.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Catherine Strohfeldt is a reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via Twitter or email.
Loading
Discover more from World Byte News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
