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Milestones (and mishaps) in SA's electricity story
Tuesday, 14 Mar 2017 03:51:12 | Simon Royal
The Grenfell Street Power Station in operation. (Supplied: State Library of South Australia)
Electricity held the promise of a better, cleaner life, where everyone could be a marvellous housewife who could cook and clean with ease.
From its Victorian-era invention to supply a private home to larger scale power station projects — South Australians have been fascinated with electricity.
In recent times, the mix of the state's generation and supply security has been under scrutiny after a statewide blackout and outages during heatwaves.
Inventor power his own home
1885
First private use of electricity in a South Australian home.
Mr Hullett, of Port Augusta, built what is recorded to be a hydro-electric plant. In true Victorian style, he used it to illuminate his elaborate dining room.
From this early, somewhat eccentric venture, Port Augusta would play a central role in South Australia's electricity story.
Lighting up the port
March 1, 1898
The foundation stone is laid for the first public power station in the state.
The station at Nile Street, Port Adelaide wasn't considered hugely reliable, but nevertheless it allowed electric street lighting in the port well before the city of Adelaide.
The power station was closed in 1907.
New power station takes over
November 19, 1901
Official opening of Grenfell Street Power Station.
It was privately owned by the Adelaide Electric Supply Company, AESco, and when Nile Street closed in 1906, it became the sole supplier to the city and suburbs
Power trip
1909
The first great Adelaide blackout.
Normally it's the system itself that trips when there's a fault, but in this case an operator at the Grenfell Street station tripped, knocking the master switch off, plunging the city into darkness.
Mother country takes control
1921
Control of AESco shifts from Adelaide to London, as a tax saving measure.
More power generated
August 12, 1923
Osborne 'A' power station commences generation.
It supplements supply from the Grenfell Street station.
The power station is run on New South Wales coal. The operation is labour intensive with men moving the coal and ash.
The Osborne plant is long gone, but the area is still home to the Torrens Island and Pelican Point power stations.
Playford furious about monopoly
September 1, 1946
Government takes over privately owned electricity assets, establishing the Electricity Trust of SA (ETSA).
A royal commission set up by Premier Tom Playford had recommended the move in 1944.
Mr Playford was furious the private electricity monopoly wanted to raise tariffs and refused to use Leigh Creek coal in its boilers.
SA relies on NSW's coal
1947
Power rationing due to New South Wales coal strikes — South Australia was virtually entirely dependent on black coal imports from the east.
New technologies on radar
1953
ETSA investigates nuclear power and wind generation.
Port Augusta becomes state's power hub
July 23, 1954
The first of three power stations using Leigh Creek coal opens in Port Augusta. It's the start of the realisation of Mr Playford's dream of energy self-sufficiency for SA.
Port Augusta B opened in 1960, and the third and final plant, Northern, in 1985.
Torrens Island comes online
February 23, 1968
Torrens Island power station officially opened, by then premier Don Dunstan. It continues operating today, though in vastly upgraded form and remains a crucial link in the state's electricity grid.
On April 5, 1985 Torrens Island was seriously damaged by fire.
Price hike
May 1, 1971
Power prices go up, the first tariff rise South Australians had seen in 19 years.
The average rise for domestic bills was 5.8 per cent. To put that into perspective, a federal parliament reports says in the 10 years to June 2013, Australian household electricity costs rose by 72 per cent.
Nevertheless, electricity continued to be marketed as a cheap wonder fuel, promising an easier, more luxurious life.
ETSA privatised
June 3, 1999
Back to the future, and one of the most controversial moves in recent SA political history.
Electricity assets were broken into separate generation, retail and transmission entities and then leased long term to the private sector.
John Olsen's Liberal government relied on the vote of two renegade Labor MLC's, Terry Cameron and Trevor Crothers, to pass the legislation through the Upper House. Labor continues to blame the sale as a factor in SA's power troubles.
Federal renewable target
January 1, 2001
Howard government's mandatory renewable energy target (MRET) comes into operation. It sets a target of 4 per cent renewable generation of Australia's electricity supply.
Turbines begin to spin
October 4, 2003
The official opening of the state's first major windfarm at Star Fish Hill, near Cape Jervis. It cost $65 million to build.
SA sets renewable target
July 3, 2007
The Rann government introduces the SA Climate Change and Green House Reduction Act sets a state renewable generation target of 20 per cent by 2014. That's been exceeded and the target revised upwards.
Furnishes go cold
May 9, 2016
The last coal-fired generator at Port Augusta shuts down.
The Northern station had been essentially operating as a part-time generator to meet higher demand during summer.
It's owner, Alinta, decided the station was no longer economically viable. Despite long-standing concerns in Port Augusta over the potential health impacts of the plant, it's closure was met with dismay by workers and residents
Statewide power blackout
September 28, 2016
The entire state loses power, some regions for days on end, in the aftermath of a severe storm.
The blackout sparks a fury of claim and counter claim between state and federal governments, as well as partisans in both the fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors.
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