The WEM WA1 region experienced a major price spike to $364.36/MWh during the 08:25 trading interval on 15 June 2026, with prices remaining elevated above $372/MWh in the following two intervals. This represented a sharp 107% increase from the previous interval's $175.46/MWh, following a steady price escalation across the prior 25 minutes.
The price spike occurred whilst the market was heavily reliant on thermal generation (1,021 MW OCGT, 830 MW black coal, and 574 MW CCGT comprising approximately 83% of the generation mix) with limited renewable contribution (wind at 43 MW), suggesting tight supply conditions. Multiple binding constraints with marginal values of $3.73–$4.87/MWh were active during the event, indicating that physical network or system strength limitations were constraining dispatch and forcing marginal plant bidding into higher cost bands to meet demand.
Causal analysis generated by gridIQ's synthesis model from live AEMO market data: dispatch prices, generation mix, interconnector flows and market notices in the interval surrounding the event.