Know your NEM: Spot prices below last year, futures also down

Figure 5: electricity volumes

Volumes : Volunes for the week ended August 19 were soft, likely driven by warmer weather to be down 3% compared with the previous corresponding period across the National Electricity Market. Total volumes are trending down in line with seasonal norms for this time of year. There is still some further increase to come from QLD as APLNG train 2 ramps up towards the end of the year.

Future prices: Prices fell this week with a meaningful 6.5% drop for FY18 in Victoria. In our view this may reflect a (delayed) reaction to AGL’s report that LYA contracts with Portland had been cancelled. We continue to monitor Victoria closely.

Spot electricity prices:. Actually, spot prices were below last year, in all States, possibly reflecting a good level of wind generation as well as the soft demand and that most of the interconnectors seem to be working.

REC prices were unchanged

Gas prices : fell compared to last week but remain about 20% above last year. Reforms to regulation of gas transmission will in our early view not change the underlying issues that the supply of gas is relatively tight, and the number of gas suppliers is even tighter. There is more CSG gas to be had from QLD and there is shale gas in the Cooper Basin and more reserves in Bass Strait but environmental and fundamental cost issues will make it expensive. Gas tightness isn’t going away any time soon.

Utility share prices: Largely underperformed the broader market averages but with the exception of Infigen (IFN) (down 15% on the week) not that significantly.

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Figure 1: Summary
Figure 1: Summary

nem aug 2

During the week we saw results from Origin, which were taken neutrally by the market, and the Duet results, which were taken slightly more positively. Looking forward Spark Infrastructure was due to report today with a focus on its Transgrid investment. Transgrid stands to benefit from new transmission that will be built in the NEM in future years including a potential fast tracking of a new South Australia interconnector. APA will report later in the week and we expect to hear how in APA’s view any change in gas transmission regulatory arrangements will not be to consumers’ advantage.

nem aug 3
Volumes

Figure 5: electricity volumes
Figure 5: electricity volumes


Base Load Futures

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nem aug 7
Gas Price

nem aug 8                                   Figure 11: STTM gas prices

 

David Leitch is principal of ITK. He was  formerly a Utility Analyst for leading investment banks over the past 30 years. The views expressed are his own. Please note our new section, Energy Markets, which will include analysis from Leitch on the energy markets and broader energy issues. And also note our live generation widget, and the APVI solar contribution.

 

David Leitch is a regular contributor to Renew Economy and co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. He is principal at ITK, specialising in analysis of electricity, gas and decarbonisation drawn from 33 years experience in stockbroking research & analysis for UBS, JPMorgan and predecessor firms.

Comments

2 responses to “Know your NEM: Spot prices below last year, futures also down”

  1. Daniel Avatar
    Daniel

    I wonder what the long term outlook is for investing in the new South Australian interconnector. As SA continues its trajectory for increased solar and wind, will the long term promise the same return on investment as the short term? SA is perhaps in the same situation as my property. I have plenty of solar for summer, though I’m a bit undersized for baseload (small continuous loads like fridges) in winter and no power for heating in winter. PV is so cheap I could easily double my PV to cope with winter heating, though the problem is the cost of batteries to heat at night. In summary I need my interconnector with the grid in the short term due to inadequate PV and batteries, and in the long term the problem is mainly battery prices. If the grid ever transitioned to be a fair an efficient service, I would just use the interconnector for heating in winter – reverse cycle air conditioner. Like most Australians I’m not very happy with grid regulators and have considered solving the problem with a wood fire. I wouldn’t use gas as fracked gas is the vast majority of the gas these days. At least a wood fire would solve the persisting battery price issue. I’d imagine the main purpose of an interconnector would be winter heating. I’m interested to hear other views.

    1. neroden Avatar
      neroden

      I believe in the long term the interconnector will reverse. SA has better renewables potential than Victoria and will end up exporting to Victoria.

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