There’s been some genuinely good news floating around this week, and given how relentlessly grim the news cycle has been, I want to actually sit with it for a moment before the cynicism kicks in. AEMO — the Australian Energy Market Operator — has released data showing that power prices dropped 12 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, driven by record levels of wind, solar, and the rapid expansion of grid-scale batteries. Renewables hit nearly 47 per cent of the energy mix. Gas, which has long been the expensive crutch propping up our evening peak demand, recorded its lowest share since 1999.

There’s something both predictable and oddly satisfying about watching certain parts of Melbourne turn into temporary waterways during a good storm. This week, Whiteman Street near Southbank became a rather impressive creek, complete with a tram dutifully ploughing through in the background like nothing was amiss. Someone cleverly watermarked their flood photo with “Murdoch Media” which gave me a proper chuckle – though I’ll admit it took me a moment to get the pun.

The city’s been buzzing lately about our gloriously warm summer nights. Social media is filled with stories of late-night pool parties and evening barbecues stretching well past midnight - scenes that feel more Mediterranean than Melbourne. While many are celebrating this “perfect summer,” there’s an undercurrent of concern that’s impossible to ignore.

Looking out my window at the Dandenongs in the distance, I’m struck by the double-edged nature of this weather. The warm evenings are undeniably pleasant, but the tinder-dry conditions have local fire services on high alert. Friends living in the hills share stories of firefighters conducting preparedness checks, and the anxiety is palpable in their messages.