March 18, 2026
A new report has found that over the 2025-26 summer period, the coal-fired power stations in Australia's main grid had a staggering 108 outages, including 18 scheduled and 90 unplanned breakdowns. This included 22 unplanned breakdowns in NSW.
The Reliability Watch report also found that units at three out of four of NSW's coal-fired power plants overran scheduled maintenance over summer, when energy demand often peaks as households run air-conditioners. This saw each unit offline and not generating energy for more than 50 days from October 2025 to February 2026.
Across Australia's main grid, on average, 5.3 GW, or 25%, of coal fired power station capacity was unavailable at any point during the period from October 2025 to February 2026.
This report comes on top of a Reliability Watch report in December 2025 that found coal plants across Australia's main grid had 142 outages during the 2025 winter period.
Statements attributable to Dr Brad Smith, Policy Director, Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC):
"As well as breakdowns, coal fired power station maintenance is becoming significantly more problematic. If ageing coal-fired power plants can't switch back on as scheduled, how can we trust them to deliver the energy we need when we need it?"
"Eraring power station topped the list as the worst NSW coal clunker, with 11 breakdowns over summer. At the same time, Origin Energy announced it would extend Eraring's operations for a further two years.
"Far from supporting NSW through the energy transition, extending coal fired power stations drives up climate pollution and creates uncertainty for clean energy investors, right when we need them to be investing in new power sources for NSW.
"Our Reliability Watch site tracks coal station outages across the east coast and finds that when coal power station outages occur, energy prices for consumers and businesses rise.
"We found that Vales Point power station unit 5 was offline for more than 4000 hours over Summer.
"The best way to keep prices down and lights on is to get on with the renewable energy transition. We need transmission lines built on time, and better access to household solar and batteries for all, including renters and apartment dwellers".
NCC is calling for the NSW government to combat clean energy delays and help consumers achieve bill savings by:
Deliver bill savings for renters by setting energy efficiency standards for rental homes, including access to solar power
Helping business and commercial customers access battery and solar programs,
Converting aging coal power stations to synchronous condensers, so they can provide system security without burning coal
Funding conservation investment strategies in renewable energy zones, to ensure our environment is left better-off through the clean energy transition
Increasing the renewable energy target from 12 GW to 16 GW by 2030, saving consumers $110 per year
Unlock an additional 5.7 GW of clean energy in the South-West REZ through minor transmission upgrades
