NSW and Victoria are facing a higher risk of blackouts during peak times this summer after major delays in renewables projects. Australia’s Energy Market Operator (AEMO) will today put out a call for emergency power supplies to minimise the risks – as the commissioning of new transmission lines, battery, wind and solar projects lag behind schedule. The new energy market update, which says electricity stop-gaps in NSW and Vic have deteriorated, comes a week after the Albanese Government’s renewable-centric Federal Budget and the announcement of a $300/household rebate towards electricity, along with its commitment to gas. AEMO chief Daniel Westerman said that while “new generation and storage capacity continues to increase, project development and commissioning delays are impacting reliability throughout the ­horizon”.