Interconnector Watch: Thursday 17 September 2026
Interconnector flows across the NEM are unconstrained at present, with no binding limits recorded on any of the six major links, though Basslink is running hard against its export ceiling.
QNI (NSW1-QLD1) is flowing 1082 MW from QLD into NSW, sitting well inside its 1161 MW import limit at roughly 93% utilisation. Directlink adds a further 49 MW northward-to-southward flow (QLD to NSW), also comfortably within its 122 MW cap. This substantial northward transfer is consistent with the current price differential: NSW sits at $113.94/MWh versus QLD at $94.54/MWh, and the flow is helping narrow what would otherwise be a wider spread. Basslink (TAS-VIC) is exporting 258 MW from Tasmania to Victoria, essentially at its full 258.32 MW export limit — full utilisation here reflects TAS1's lower price ($92.04/MWh) relative to VIC1 ($88.02/MWh) is tighter, but the link remains under a control constraint (I-CTRL_ISSUE_BL) flagged since 11 September due to Basslink being unable to follow target, meaning AEMO continues to manage it with a specific limit variation rather than free dispatch.
On the Victoria-South Australia interface, Heywood is exporting 248 MW from VIC to SA, close to its 248.22 MW export ceiling, while Murraylink is flowing 59 MW in the opposite direction (SA to VIC). This split reflects a modest SA1 premium at $99.74/MWh against VIC1's $88.02/MWh, with Heywood carrying the bulk of the southward transfer to help close that gap. VIC1-NSW1 shows a light 67 MW flow from VIC into NSW, well under its 592 MW import limit and 67.29 MW export ceiling, indicating minimal congestion pressure on that boundary despite the NSW premium.
No constraint equations are currently binding across any interconnector, and there are no active AEMO market notices for new negative settlement residues today — the NRM_VIC1_SA1 and NRM_NSW1_VIC1 residue constraints both ceased in mid-September. The main outstanding operational flag is the Basslink control-following issue, still in force under constraint set I-CTRL_ISSUE_BL, which warrants monitoring given the link is running at full export capacity. TAS1's earlier lightning-related contingency reclassifications on the Gordon-Chapel St and Farrell-Reece 220kV lines have both been cancelled, so no credible contingency constraints remain active on those circuits. WA1, outside the NEM interconnected system, is pricing at $133.92/MWh, highest of all regions, with no demand figure reported at this settlement interval.