Energy regulators tell Coalition to create reserve of emergency power

Australian Energy Market Operator advice is to hold a reverse auction, then pass costs on to consumers to help prevent blackouts

Energy regulators want to create a new strategic reserve mechanism to ensure there is enough dispatchable power available for emergencies, like heatwaves and storms - and are proposing a reverse auction system to bring sufficient back-up power into the grid.

The recommendations are contained in a new report from the Australian Energy Market Operator to the Turnbull government, which suggests that an additional gigawatt of incremental dispatchable power will be needed in the system when the ageing coal-fired Liddell power station closes in 2022.