Victoria hits new winter record for electricity demand

A persistent cold weather system, lingering morning fog and low cloud kept temperatures low and reduced rooftop solar generation, driving electricity demand to record winter levels yesterday.

At 6:30pm (AEST), Victoria recorded a new winter maximum operational demand record of 8,955 MW, surpassing the previous record of 8,818 MW set on 25 June 2025.

Yesterday morning, demand reached 8,666 MW at 9:00am (AEST), setting a new morning peak operational demand record for the state – 184 MW higher than the previous record set on Monday.

These records reflect a broader trend, with increasing electrification, fuel switching, and load growth driving higher winter demand. In fact, 19 of Victoria's top 20 winter operational demand days have occurred in the past three winters, with six of the top 10 already recorded this winter.

The cold conditions are forecast to continue with further records possible.

These events highlight the critical role of system planning and operational readiness in maintaining a reliable electricity supply as demand continues to grow across Australia's energy systems.