Interconnector Watch: Thursday 27 August 2026
No interconnectors are binding at this snapshot, though Basslink is running hard against its capability. All six links show non-binding status, meaning current flows sit within their calculated limits, but utilisation on the Tasmania-Victoria and Victoria-South Australia links is notably high.
Basslink (T-V-MNSP1) is exporting 371 MW from Tasmania into Victoria, against an export limit of 459 MW — 81% utilisation. This flow direction is consistent with the price differential: TAS1 sits at $88.19/MWh, the cheapest region in the NEM, against VIC1 at $97.12/MWh. Heywood (V-SA) is exporting 584 MW from Victoria into South Australia, using 95% of its 615 MW export limit — the tightest utilisation on the board. That flow lines up with SA1 carrying the highest regional price at $109.75/MWh, pulling supply in from Victoria to help meet local demand. Murraylink (V-S-MNSP1) shows zero flow with both import and export limits at 0 MW, effectively offline for this interval.
QNI (NSW1-QLD1) is flowing 755 MW from QLD1 into NSW1, well within its 1195 MW import limit at 63% utilisation, consistent with QLD1 holding the lowest mainland price at $91.64/MWh and exporting into higher-priced NSW1 ($103.39/MWh). Directlink (N-Q-MNSP1) is a minor counter-flow of 33 MW from QLD1 to NSW1, sitting far short of its limits. VIC1-NSW1 is exporting 318 MW from Victoria into NSW1, around 59% of its 539 MW export limit, again tracking the VIC1-NSW1 price gap.
No active binding constraint equations are reported against any interconnector today. Historical notices on file relate to prior network outages (Lismore-Koolkhan, Tailem Bend-South East, Hazelwood bus tie, Sydney West-Vineyard) and TAS1 lightning-related contingency reclassifications, all of which have since been cancelled or superseded — none are currently constraining flows. The North Queensland system strength constraint equation update (effective 1400 hrs 27 August) is a housekeeping change to equation IDs and does not appear to be binding QNI or Directlink at this time. Overall, price spreads across regions ($88–$110/MWh) remain moderate and are being managed by interconnector flows without any hard limit currently in effect.