Diesel generators will pump up to 100 megawatts of power into Victoria's energy grid as back up in case of extreme heatwaves this summer.
The Australian Energy Market Operator says the generators would be used during the third or fourth day of a heat wave when people ramp up their air conditioning.
AEMO will announce its complete reserve plan for summer by the end of the month, including deals with energy-intensive businesses to reduce consumption during peak times.
Victoria has been preparing for a tight energy market over summer, with the closure of the Hazelwood coal-fired power station affecting how much power is available.
Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said the diesel back up has happened before, and taxpayers won't foot the bill.
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"This occurs on a regular basis when an extreme summer is forecast and last took place in 2014 under the previous Liberal government, when Hazelwood was still in operation," she said in a statement.
Opposition energy spokesman David Southwick, however, says the state government is failing to provide a secure system.
"On the one hand they keep telling us that we have enough energy supply, we don't have to worry, and now we're told today that we need emergency stop-gap measures of these diesel generators just to keep the lights on," he told 3AW.
