Spot prices were aligned across the market for around 80 per cent of the time, averaging between $21/MWh in Queensland and $27/MWh in Tasmania for the week. The spot price in South Australia averaged $47/MWh, primarily as a result of two high prices on Monday which coincided with planned network outages affecting the Heywood and Murraylink interconnectors.
Turnover in the energy market was $99 million. The total cost of ancillary services for the week, including Tasmania, was $1 million, or more than twice the recent average cost. This increase was driven mostly by a single event on Saturday in Tasmania involving Basslink.
Significant variations between actual prices and those forecast 4 and 12 hours ahead occurred in 37, or around 11 per cent of all trading intervals. Demand forecasts produced 4 and 12 hours ahead varied from actual by more than 5 per cent in a fifth of all trading intervals across the market. These variations were most frequent in South Australia, occurring in more than half of all trading intervals. In Queensland, all demand forecasts made 4 and 12 hours ahead were within 5 per cent of the actual demand.
The AER welcomes comments on the information contained in, or the layout of, the report. Comments should be sent to Peter Adams or Mark Wilson, AER, GPO Box 922, Adelaide SA 5000 (email AERInquiry@aer.gov.au; fax (08) 8213 3414).
Figure 1 sets out national demand and spot prices in each region for each trading interval. Figure 2 compares the volume weighted average price with the averages for the previous week and the same quarter last year. Figure 3 compares the weekly price volatility index on the same basis.
Figure 1 National demand and spot price all regions
Figure 2 Volume weighted average spot price for energy market ($/MWh)
Maximum spot prices for the week were $191/MWh in Queensland, $198/MWh in Tasmania, $206/MWh in New South Wales and $218/MWh in Victoria, all occurring at 6pm on Monday. In South Australia the maximum spot price reached $2467/MWh on Monday at 10 am during the commencement of planned network outages affecting the Heywood and Murraylink interconnectors.
The total cost of ancillary services on the mainland for the week was $413 000 or 0.4 per cent of the total turnover in the energy market.
Figure 4 Volume weighted average frequency control ancillary service prices (excluding Tasmania)
Raise
Lower
6 sec
60 sec
5 min
Reg
6 sec
60 sec
5 min
Reg
Last week($/MW)
1.00
0.24
1.51
0.98
0.14
1.29
5.12
0.34
Previous week ($/MW)
1.39
0.33
0.99
0.93
0.14
0.24
1.06
0.83
Last quarter ($/MW)
1.76
0.73
1.15
1.54
0.39
2.28
5.00
1.93
Market cost($1000s)
41
10
99
17
0.3
31
210
4
% of energy market
0.04%
0.01%
0.11%
0.02%
0.01%
0.03%
0.22%
0.01%
The total cost of ancillary services in Tasmania for the week was $610 000 or 11 per cent of the total turnover in the energy market in Tasmania. Prices for the lower 6 second market went to $10 000/MW for 5 despatch intervals in Saturday following a spike in the requirement for this service. This increase coincided with a change of direction on BassLink. This event cost almost $400 000. Figure 58 summarises for Tasmania the prices and costs for the eight frequency control ancillary services.
Figure 5 Tasmanian volume weighted average frequency control ancillary service prices
Raise
Lower
6 sec
60 sec
5 min
Reg
6 sec
60 sec
5 min
Reg
Last week($/MW)
3.32
1.23
5.04
1.03
65.19
1.24
2.43
0.30
Previous week ($/MW)
1.89
1.20
2.32
0.55
1.09
0.02
0.06
0.43
Last quarter ($/MWh)
7.89
1.05
1.05
1.58
4.43
1.06
1.06
1.97
Tasmania Market cost($1000s)
4
2
10
5
487
40
58
3
% Tasmania of energy market
0.07%
0.04%
0.18%
0.1%
8.81%
0.72%
1.05%
0.05%
Figure 6 shows the daily breakdown of price for each frequency control ancillary service. It also includes the cost of services sourced locally and in Tasmania.
Figure 6 Daily frequency control ancillary service prices
Figure 7 shows the weekly participation in each of the ancillary service markets on a regional basis.
Figure 7 Regional participation in ancillary services
Figures 8 and 9 show 30-minute prices for each of the ancillary services.
Figure 8 Prices for raise services
Figure 9 Prices for lower services
Figures 10 and 11 show the 30-minute Tasmanian price for each of the ancillary services.
Figure 10 Tasmanian prices for raise services
Figure 11 Tasmanian prices for lower services
Figures 12 and 13 present both the raise and lower requirements for each service over the week.
Figure 12 Raise requirements
Figure 13 Lower requirements
Figures 14 and 15 present both the raise and lower Tasmanian requirements for each service over the week.
