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Weekly report 25–31 March

Issue date

11th April 2007

(The full report is available in PDF form below)

Overview

Spot prices for the week averaged between $38/MWh in Queensland and $51/MWh in Tasmania, This represented a significant reduction in almost all regions compared to the previous week, consistent with milder weather conditions.

Turnover in the energy market was $156 million. The total cost of ancillary services for the week was $270 000, or 0.2 per cent of energy market turnover.

Significant variations between actual prices and those forecast 4 and 12 hours ahead occurred in 30 or nine per cent of all trading intervals. Demand forecasts produced 4 and 12 hours ahead varied from actual by more than 5 per cent in around a fifth of all trading intervals across the market. These variations were most frequent in South Australia, occurring in 43 per cent all trading intervals.

The Australian Energy Regulator 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).

Price summary

Energy prices

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)

QLD
NSW
VIC
SA
TAS
Last week
38
41
42
42
51
Previous week
60
83
77
61
56
Same quarter last year
38
45
53
57
33
Financial year to date
37
41
48
51
43
% change from previous week
▼36%
▼51%
▼46%
▼31%
▼8%
% change from same quarter last year
▼1%
▼11%
▼21%
▼27%
▲55%
% change from previous year
▲10%
▼15%
▲25%
▲11%
▼36%

Figure 3  Volatility index* during peak periods

QLD
NSW
VIC
SA
TAS
Last week
0.29
0.24
0.27
0.32
0.06
Previous week
1.26
2.13
1.58
1.58
0.32
Same quarter last year
1.07
0.96
0.96
0.94
0.29

*A definition of the price volatility index is available on the AER website (www.aer.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/MarketSnapshotLongTermAnalysis).

Price events

The maximum spot prices for the week ranged from $66/MWh in Tasmania to $73/MWh in South Australia. Figure 8 compares the weekly price volatility index with the averages for the previous week and the same quarter last year.

There were no low reserves forecast.

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FCAS

The total cost of ancillary services on the mainland for the week was $193 000 or 0.1 per cent of the energy market.

Figure 4 summarises the volume weighted average prices and costs for the eight frequency control ancillary services across the interconnected regions.

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($/MW)
0.83
0.28
0.85
2.18
0.06
0.53
1.23
1.38
Previous week ($/MW)
0.62
0.32
1.03
2.31
0.1
0.49
1.29
0.98
Last quarter ($/MW)
1.76
0.73
1.15
1.54
0.39
2.28
5
1.93
Market cost($1000s)
34
9
45
44
0
7
34
20
% of energy market
0.02%
0.01%
0.03%
0.03%
0.01%
0.01%
0.02%
0.01%

The total cost of ancillary services in Tasmania for the week was $77 000 or 1 per cent of the total turnover in the energy market in Tasmania.

Figure 5 summarises the volume weighted average prices and costs for the eight frequency control ancillary services across Tasmania.

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($/MW)
3.5
1.06
1.41
2.31
0.03
0.35
1.22
0.91
Previous week ($/MW)
4.09
0.73
1.3
2.07
46.73
1.02
0.62
0.7
Last quarter ($/MWh)
4.97
0.49
2.93
3
12.67
0.43
0.82
0.45
Tasmania Market cost($1000s)
19
15
20
13
0
1
3
6
% Tasmania of energy market
0.2%
0.16%
0.21%
0.14%
0.01%
0.01%
0.03%
0.06%

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.

Figure 14  Tasmanian raise requirements

Figure 15  Tasmanian lower requirements

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Full report

Market analysis 20070325-20070331.pdf (1,013.5 KB)
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