Australia's biggest storage dam falls to its lowest in EIGHT years after severe drought - as concerned locals worry the water is running out
- Levels at Lake Eucumbene near Canberra have plummeted to 24.39 per cent
- Operators decided to generate more electricity and rainfall has decreased
- The dam is one of 16 part of the federal government's Snowy Hydro project
- Bosses insist 1.1million customers' power supply won't be cut off due to levels
Australia's biggest hydro-electric power dam is now less than a quarter full after a major drought.
Levels at Lake Eucumbene near Canberra have plummeted to their lowest in eight years after operators decided to generate more electricity following the closure of Victoria's Hazlewood power station.
The lake drying up is worrying locals who fear there will soon be no water left - but bosses insist 1.1million customers' power supply won't be cut off.
Australia's biggest storage dam is now less than a quarter full after a major drought, raising questions about the reliability of hydro-power
Levels at Lake Eucumbene near Canberra have plummeted to 24.39 per cent this winter
'We have been very concerned for a long while,' resident Alan Basford told The Australian.
'We haven't had any rain for a long time but it's going down like mad because they are generating electricity - they are generating all the time and using water like it is going out of style.'
Lake Eucumbene is one of 16 dams in the federal government's Snowy Hydro project, which turns water from the Snowy River and some of its tributaries into electricity.
Project bosses insist they have still generated electricity when the lake is only 10 per cent full - but the dwindling levels have raised questions about the reliability of hydroelectric power.
Lakes in New South Wales have been shrinking due to low levels of rainfall in recent weeks
Power generated from the lake is only used to 'top up' electricity supplies at peak times when demand is high, such as around 7am in the morning. Pictured: A dead bird after drought
Australian Power Project chief executive Nathan Vass said: 'Much like solar and wind, it cannot be considered baseload power as it is still reliant on rain and snowfalls.'
Power generated from the lake is only used to 'top up' electricity supplies at peak times when demand is high, such as around 7am in the morning.
It is not relied upon as a first source of power, meaning even if the lake dried up, no homes would be left in the dark.
Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said: 'For more than 60 years we've successfully managed the Snowy scheme through periods of high inflows and very severe drought.
'While we have a long-term average output, we operate through cycles. We tend to generate more energy in years of tight supply and operate less (allowing for our storages to refill) in years when the market is oversupplied.
'For example, we have generated more energy recently with Hazelwood retiring, which has impacted on our overall storage levels.'
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, he added: 'While at the moment Lake Eucumbene is at 24 per cent of total storage, it's by no means the lowest levels we've operated under and there will be no impacts on consumers.
'Our storages are usually at their lowest coming into winter and we expect to see them rise when we get the spring run off later this year.'
Australian Power Project chief executive Nathan Vass said: 'Much like solar and wind, it cannot be considered baseload power as it is still reliant on rain and snowfalls.'
Most watched News videos
- Wild moment would-be mugger gets stabbed by victims
- Chinese President Xi gives Russian President Putin a rare hug
- Chilling moment man follows victim before assaulting her sexually
- Britain's 'kindest' plumber apologises after exploitation allegations
- Man grabs huge stick to try to fend off crooks stealing his car
- 'Predator' teacher Rebecca Joynes convicted of sex with schoolboys
- Gillian Keegan describes 'evidence' behind new gender education rules
- Suspected shoplifter dragged and kicked in Sainsbury's storeroom
- Moment police rescue stabbed man after being buried for four days
- Keen Suella gets cold shoulder from 'silent' Pro-Palestine protestors
- Elephant herd curls up in jungle for afternoon nap in India
- Maths teacher given the nickname 'Bunda Becky' arrives at court