NECA: Investigation into the events of Tuesday 17 December 2002
On Tuesday 17 December 2002 South Australia experienced its highest temperatures, almost 41C, since the summer of 2000-01. Demand peaked at 2,600MW – the highest since 20 February 2001 - between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. The average wholesale market spot price for the day was $175/MWh. Successive previous days of high temperatures and demand had stretched available gas supplies. As a result, there were gas shortages from 4pm. This in turn affected generation availability at Mintaro, Dry Creek and Osborne power stations. Associated rebidding by NRG Flinders saw capacity shifted into prices above $9,000/MWh. Despatch interval (five-minute) prices peaked at $8,900/MWh around 5.30pm. Although NEMMCO notified the market of reserve limitations a number of times during the day, there was never a material risk of blackouts.
