Rainfall drop, cable failure leave Tasmania scrambling for electricity

By Peter Hannam
Updated February 4 2016 - 2:13pm, first published 1:33pm
Hydro Tasmania's Gordon Dam - when Lake Gordon was full. Photo: Peter Mathew
Hydro Tasmania's Gordon Dam - when Lake Gordon was full. Photo: Peter Mathew
The Basslink cable before it was laid 10 years ago. Photo: Nicole Emanuel
The Basslink cable before it was laid 10 years ago. Photo: Nicole Emanuel
La Trobe Valley cooling towers: demand for brown-coal-fired electricity has dropped in the past month or so. Photo: Supplied
La Trobe Valley cooling towers: demand for brown-coal-fired electricity has dropped in the past month or so. Photo: Supplied

A record dry spring and the failure of the main power link to the mainland have forced Tasmania to turn to expensive gas and even diesel generators to meet electricity demand.

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