The past 24 hours saw brief negative pricing in both NSW1 (−$6.10/MWh) and QLD1 (−$2.50/MWh) during early-morning hours of high solar output, alongside a moderate WA1 spike to $253/MWh. Regional averages ranged from $71/MWh in QLD1 to $130/MWh in WA1. This morning's ramp has pushed prices higher across the board — NSW1 and SA1 both sit around $130/MWh as demand climbs through the winter heating peak. Watch the Heywood interconnector, currently 98% utilised, and the ongoing SA1/VIC1 price spread through the day.
South Australia is the standout region today, with spot prices easing to $130.44/MWh at 06:30 AEST after an overnight peak of $170.44/MWh between 17:25–20:25 yesterday. The Heywood interconnector is flowing 547 MW from VIC into SA against a 558.16 MW export limit — just 11 MW of headroom — keeping the SA1-VIC1 spread pinned at $14.67/MWh as demand ramps from an overnight low near 1,270 MW to 1,674 MW.
WA1 recorded the day's most notable price event, a single-interval spike to $252.50/MWh at 03:45 AWST — a 57% jump from the prior interval's $161.23/MWh — before settling back. WA1's 24-hour average of $130/MWh and max of $253/MWh were both the highest of any region tracked, reflecting a tighter overnight supply-demand balance in the west.
No LOR conditions are forecast across the NEM in the next 48 hours. East coast gas hub prices eased slightly day-on-day: STTM Brisbane at $11.38/GJ (down from $11.80/GJ), Adelaide at $11.34/GJ, and Sydney at $11.24/GJ. LGCs continued their recent climb, closing the week ending 31 July at $6.45 — up from $5.85 the prior week and $5.05 a fortnight prior.