Interconnector Watch: Monday 3 August 2026

Interconnector flows across the NEM are unconstrained at present, with no binding limits reported on any of the six links at 20:30 AEST. Heywood (V-SA) is carrying 524.95 MW from VIC1 to SA1, sitting at 90% of its 586.25 MW export limit — the highest utilisation on the network — but is not flagged as binding. Murraylink (V-S-MNSP1) is flowing 81 MW in the same direction (VIC1 to SA1), well within its 141.95 MW export limit. Basslink (T-V-MNSP1) is at its full 165 MW import limit from TAS1 to VIC1, effectively maxed on the Tasmanian export side despite not being formally binding. VIC1-NSW1 is exporting 254.86 MW from VIC1 to NSW1, around 89% of its 284.85 MW limit. QNI (NSW1-QLD1) shows a modest 134.52 MW flow from QLD1 to NSW1, and Directlink (N-Q-MNSP1) is sitting idle at 0 MW.

These flows are consistent with the current price stack: SA1 at $102.66/MWh is the highest-priced mainland region, drawing support from Heywood and Murraylink imports out of VIC1 ($92.52/MWh), the cheapest mainland region. VIC1's low price reflects its role as a net exporter on three of four borders (to SA1 via both links, and to NSW1). TAS1 at $88.24/MWh is exporting toward VIC1 via Basslink despite being the lowest-priced region, reflecting the fixed import limit rather than a price-driven cap. NSW1 ($97.64/MWh) and QLD1 ($97.83/MWh) are closely aligned, with only a shallow $0.19/MWh spread and light QNI flow reflecting balanced supply-demand conditions in both regions. WA1, not synchronously connected, prints separately at $135.51/MWh.

No constraints are currently binding, but several inter-regional transfer limit notices remain active and relevant to today's operating envelope. The TAS1 network saw two contingency reclassifications relating to the Palmerston-Hadspen and Sheffield-George Town lines cancelled early yesterday morning following lightning activity, reverting T-GTSH_N-2 and T-HAPM_110_N-2 constraint sets to non-credible status — this removes a prior restriction on Basslink (T-V-MNSP1) capability. Separately, an active outage-driven constraint set (V-SY_CB) from 1 August continues to affect Basslink, Murraylink and Heywood via Victorian network equations, and a Victorian security-driven automated constraint (CA_SYDS) invoked on 28-29 July remains in force on V-S-MNSP1 and V-SA. Traders should watch Heywood utilisation closely — at 90% of export capacity, any further SA1 demand uplift or VIC1 generation increase could push this link to bind and widen the SA1-VIC1 spread beyond the current $10.14/MWh.