Grid beats heat

[AussieMark]

QUEENSLAND'S electricity network passed its first test of the summer yesterday as the Sunshine State's residents sought refuge from sizzling temperatures in airconditioning.

A record volume of power was sucked out of the state's electricity grid yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared by up to 8C above average.

In the southeast, demand for power peaked about 3pm at 3826mw, just below the record peak of 3835mw recorded on February 23 this year.

But despite recent concerns about a lack of investment by Energex in its network, there were only minor outages reported yesterday – all blamed on routine problems.

Energex chief executive Gordon Jardine said the corporation had spent $85 million since last summer on an accelerated capital works program installing 600mw of extra network capacity – almost 16 per cent above last summer's record demand.

"The demand for energy is rapidly increasing in the region, driven largely by the increased use of domestic airconditioners as well as high population growth in the southeast corner," Mr Jardine said.

"This phenomenon is common to many sub-tropical regions around the world."

Powerlink Queensland's acting chief executive Simon Bartlett said the state's high voltage transmission network had reliably met yesterday's record demand of 7963mw, reached at 4pm. The previous record demand was 7928mw.

The sweltering conditions came after a day of storms and wild weather on Monday, which left 40,000 homes across Brisbane without power, a multimillion-dollar damage bill, and a clean-up expected to take days.

Temperatures were above normal in most of the state, with the highest temp- erature, 41C, recorded at Emerald.

In the southeast, maximum temperatures soared to between 6C and 9C above the average. Brisbane hit 37.6C, Amberley 37.3C and the Gold Coast 38C.

However, while the southeast's airconditioned suburban shopping centres filled quickly with city folk scrambling for a cool spot, it was the state's regional areas that bore the brunt of the heat.

In central Queensland, most towns reached almost 40C.

Toolara, near Gympie, cracked 40C, while in the state's north, Croydon, Charters Towers and Collinsville peaked at 39C.

On the Sunshine Coast, a toddler suffered superficial burns when he was seared by metal playground equipment which had heated up in the scorching temperatures.

The boy, 23 months, had been playing on a multi-gym beneath green shadecloth at Jessica Park at Kawana Waters when he was burnt just after midday.

His mother and aunt took him to a nearby medical centre and he was transferred by ambulance to Nambour General Hospital, where he was treated for minor burns to his legs, feet and hands where he had touched the metal.

Weather bureau forecaster Gavin Holcombe said yesterday's high temperatures were caused by a low pressure system that developed off the southern NSW coast, dragging with it hot westerly air across the interior of the continent.

Mr Holcombe said fresh to strong southeasterly winds would make for a cooler change today, with temperatures expected to return to normal.

A maximum of about 30C is forecast across the southeast corner, with some showers expected.