The diesel generator at Snuggery could be taken out of mothballs due to forecast electricity shortfalls this summer.


It has three turbines which each generate 25 megawatts and are regarded as a back-up supply in times of blackouts.


Owner French energy company Engie announced six months ago the Snuggery plant and another at Port Lincoln would be de-commissioned due to lack of profitability and closed in 2028.


Last month Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis successfully sought rule changes that would give the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) power to bring the decommissioned Snuggery and Port Lincoln generators back online.


The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) granted the ministerial request, allowing AEMO to contract the plants as “emergency out-of-market reserves”.


“Without sufficient backup electricity reserves South Australia could face potential load shedding during severe cases of reliability shortfalls, particularly during extreme weather events,” the AEMC’s statement said.


The unmanned Snuggery power station was erected in the 1970s by the State Government agency ETSA.