Residents in the Queensland city of Mount Isa sweltered through a run of heatwaves. Temperatures soared above 38 degrees Celsius. There was little relief at night. Night temperatures regularly hovered above 22C. Air conditioners were being run harder and for longer than usual.
Nurse and mother Robyn Palmer said "We're sleeping now with no doona cover, just a sheet. We sort of laugh at it, because if you don't, you'll cry. You can't have babies overheating and for us adults it's really uncomfortable." Robyn's power bill was $1800 for the quarter.
Ergon is the only energy supplier in the area. Ergon says residential power use in Mount Isa was up by 10 per cent compared to last summer.