Interconnector Watch: Thursday 6 August 2026

Flows across the NEM are moderate this morning, with none of the six interconnectors formally binding, though QNI and Basslink are both running at high utilisation relative to their limits. QNI (NSW1-QLD1) is flowing 910 MW from QLD into NSW, sitting at 75% of its 1207 MW import limit, while Directlink adds a further 41 MW in the same direction. This aligns with the price differential between the two regions — NSW at $151.17/MWh versus QLD at $130.51/MWh — with QLD supply helping meet NSW's higher demand (9803 MW versus 6968 MW). VIC-NSW is the standout flow, exporting 926 MW from VIC to NSW at 67% of its 1385 MW export limit, consistent with VIC's lower price ($127.67/MWh) supporting NSW load.

In the south, Basslink (T-V-MNSP1) is exporting 405 MW from TAS to VIC, running above its 213 MW import-limit reference and at 88% of its 459 MW export limit — a solid transfer given TAS's price sits lowest in the NEM at $115.20/MWh against VIC's $127.67/MWh. Heywood (V-SA) is flowing 221 MW from VIC into SA, around 37% of its 600 MW export limit, while Murraylink (V-S-MNSP1) carries a modest 15.6 MW in the same direction. Combined, these southern flows are keeping SA's price ($119.52/MWh) close to VIC's despite SA's much smaller demand base (1562 MW).

No interconnectors are currently binding, but AEMO's active constraint notices point to underlying network sensitivities shaping available capacity. A power system security constraint set (CA_SYDS_59839EB2) has been active in NSW since 3 August, affecting both QNI and Directlink limits. In TAS1, credible contingency reclassifications on the Sheffield-George Town and Palmerston-Hadspen lines remain in force, with the George Town constraint set directly capturing Basslink on its LHS — a factor likely limiting further TAS-VIC transfer above current levels. SA-side outages (Tailem Bend-South East, Belalie-Davenport) have also been managing Heywood and Murraylink limits through the week, though today's utilisation on both remains comfortably within bounds. Overall, current flow patterns are compressing regional spreads to a $36/MWh range (TAS lowest to NSW highest), with interconnector capacity keeping the NEM reasonably well-integrated this morning.