Shadow Minister for Energy Peter Debnam said today Morris Iemma and Ian Macdonald need to be honest about the reasons behind the rolling blackouts the people of NSW are experiencing.

Shadow Minister for Energy Peter Debnam said today Morris Iemma and Ian Macdonald need to be honest about the reasons behind the rolling blackouts the people of NSW are experiencing.

Reports indicate 1400 homes in Cammeray, Naremburn and Mosman on the North Shore were blacked out last night and power outages were also experienced at Avalon and Ashfield.

“Last nights’ outages were on the back of blackouts plunging almost 3000 homes across Paddington, Woollahra, Hunters Hill, Galston, Gladesville, Fairlight, St Leonards, Cammeray, Eastwood, North Sydney, Rockdale and Epping into darkness on Monday night,” Mr Debnam said.

"These blackouts highlight Labor’s failure over 12 years to invest in the state’s electricity network," he said.

“Monday nights’ blackouts were blamed on separate electrical incidents and today we’re told that underground cabling is to blame for last nights’ power outages.

"Regardless of the day-to-day excuses on blackouts it is clear the Iemma Government cannot guarantee the people of NSW the electricity network can cope with the winter peak demand.

“Last summer the people of NSW had to deal with rolling blackouts due to increasing summer peak demands, now in the cooler weather residents are again experiencing power outages.

“Morris Iemma has done nothing to address the energy crisis facing NSW.

"Blackouts have a tremendous impact on families and small businesses in particular with many forced to dispose of spoiled goods.

“What’s really needed is more investment in the electricity network in NSW both in generation and in distribution and also some honesty from the Iemma Government because the problems occur on the hot days and on the very cold days,” Mr Debnam said.