South Australia has vowed to go it alone in the quest for reliable and cheaper power after heatwave conditions and power shedding pulled the plug on 40,000 consumers with the fear of more cuts to come.
Amid growing frustration with the operation of the National Electricity Market, Premier Jay Weatherill says all options are on the table and the government will take dramatic action to take control of the state's energy future.
"We are going to take our own decisions, we are going to take control of our own future and our own destiny," the premier said on Thursday.
"It will be thoughtful, methodical policy-making but it will be dramatic and it will change the system and give us reliable, affordable and clean power."
Mr Weatherill said more details of SA's plans to secure energy supplies would be provided once decisions had been made, although it has already called for tenders for a new gas-fired power station.
The premier also declined to rule out completely nationalising the state's energy production despite the risks and costs of breaking contracts.
"It is not a preferred option. (But) We are ruling nothing out at this point," he said.
he premier's strong words came as Adelaide sweltered through another day of 40C temperatures, with maximums topping 47C in some regional centres, which threatened to force further load shedding.
The Australian Energy Market Operator said it was concerned for a two-hour period on Thursday afternoon when demand would spike and projected electricity supplies might not be sufficient.
Mr Weatherill also warned that Wednesday night's load shedding could be repeated.
"It could well," the premier said.
"It's in the hands of the Australian Energy Market Operator."
"Obviously, given the events of last night, they've learned some lessons and one hopes they'll be heeded."
On Wednesday night AEMO ordered load shedding across SA to cut demand by 100 megawatts which it said was necessary to avoid damage to network equipment.
About 40,000 properties lost power for about 30 to 40 minutes and the operator said it understood the cuts were frustrating to consumers.
But Mr Weatherill said the cuts were unnecessary with the Pelican Point gas-powered generator in SA not asked to turn on its second unit, which could have provided an extra 250mw.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the latest SA power crisis as a disgrace and again pointed the finger at the state's heavy reliance on renewables.
Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said SA's energy grid was a basket case and the state government's incompetence had subjected consumers to third-world conditions.
Mr Weatherill said South Australians were fed up with a lack of action from the federal government to fix the national electricity market.
"South Australians are not prepared to put up with being ridiculed and have the finger pointed at them by a federal government that has abdicated its responsibilities," he said.
