Blackout risk grows as power grid engineers refuse outages
Control room staff at AEMO are refusing to approve power network outages in a pay dispute.
Control room staff at AEMO are taking indefinite action in a pay fight with AEMO, the body that runs the country's two biggest power markets. AEMO control room staff have voted for indefinite bans on assessing and approving non-critical planned outages and halted daily meetings with power operators.
AEMO argues the bans could cause "catastrophic" risks and blackouts. The Fair Work Commission has partly suspended the action.
The engineers want pay rises of 4.2 per cent this year and next, with a floor linked to inflation. AEMO has offered 4.2 per cent flat.
Staff say executives have taken bigger bonuses while workers face a pay squeeze, and more than 100 staff recently backed a suggestion that the chief executive consider resigning.
- 4.2 per cent annually
- Staff demand
- 4.2 per cent flat
- AEMO offer
- More than 100
- Staff support for CEO departure
Why it mattersDisruptions to power grid operations risk blackouts and energy shortages that could affect millions of Australians.
AustraliaAustralians could face blackouts or energy supply disruptions if the dispute escalates, and power costs may rise as AEMO passes wage increases to consumers.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
