The AER monitors the performance of wholesale electricity and gas markets and publishes data from that monitoring in reports such as State of the Energy Market and the Wholesale Markets Quarterly. This page provides the key data series' for these markets in the form of charts and data tables that can be downloaded.
Highlights include:
Electricity Q2 2023
Financial year 2022-23 outcomes
- Record FY prices (VWA) in NSW, SA and Tas and second highest FY prices in Queensland and Victoria.
- High prices were despite a record number of negative prices, which generally occur during the middle of the day.
- Lowest FY NEM consumption since 2004-05.
- Victoria has been exporting more energy each year for the past 4 years.
Q2 2023 outcomes
Q2 2023 prices increased in every region compared to Q1 2023, except in Tasmania, due to high May prices.
After the very high quarterly prices experienced in Q2 2022, Q2 prices in 2023 returned to levels similar to those seen in Q2 2021.
NSW became the most expensive region, followed by Queensland and South Australia. Victoria continues to be the cheapest mainland region.
Highest peak winter demand since winter 2010.
While FCAS costs remained stable, an increase in the price and enablement of raise services was offset by a fall in the price and enablement of lower services.
4 new units registered to provide FCAS, 3 were demand response providers not active in the energy market.
Outlook
- Queensland Q1 2024 base future prices increased to become the highest priced quarter out to 2026.
Gas Q2 2023
- Gas prices in downstream markets averaged around $14.50/GJ, driven by higher prices over May ($18-$20/GJ) compared to April and June ($11-$13/GJ).
- Upstream, the average price at Wallumbilla followed a similar trend, averaging $14.55/GJ over the quarter (day ahead exchange product).
- The higher prices in May were driven by domestic supply constraints at Longford, Victoria’s primary supply source, alongside limits on transport south.
- Traded and delivered quantities in the Gas Supply Hub were similar to the previous quarter, slightly below Q2 2022 but around the same volume as Q2 2021. Most of this was concentrated around trades exempt from the $12/GJ price cap, particularly in May and June.
- The number of Gas Supply Hub trades at the Moomba location increased significantly over May and June, particularly around trades for delivery within 3-days.
- Flows south from Queensland were strong despite lower imports from the Northern Territory, while the capacity increased on the Moomba to Sydney and South West Queensland Pipelines from June.
- Participation in the Day Ahead Auction reduced from record Q1 levels, but remains higher than any previous Q2 quantities won at 27.65 PJ.
- 1 significant price variation event occurred on 19 June in the Sydney market. Market participants responded to an elevated provisional price signal and the ex ante price reduced by more than $14/GJ.
