Load Advisor: Thursday 17 September 2026

NEM-wide, the overnight trough from 11pm to 4pm AEST (00:00–07:00 UTC) is the standout load-shifting window, with predispatch forecasts showing negative prices across NSW1, VIC1, SA1 and QLD1 through to around 4am AEST. SA1 is currently offering the deepest savings, with forecast prices down to -$63/MWh around 2pm AEST tomorrow's equivalent overnight slot, delivering up to $199/MWh in savings versus this evening's peak. VIC1 is showing the most persistent negative pricing, holding below -$60/MWh from roughly 11am to 3pm AEST overnight and staying near $0-$23/MWh well into the morning, making it the most forgiving region for extending flexible load beyond the core window.

The tightest window across all regions sits between 11am and 4pm AEST (01:00–06:00 UTC), where NSW1, VIC1, SA1 and QLD1 forecasts are simultaneously negative or near-zero. This is the highest-value slot for coordinating multi-region load shifts — EV charging, battery charging, pumping, and industrial processes should be scheduled here where possible. TAS1 behaves differently, with prices sitting in a $30/MWh band overnight and only briefly touching negative territory around 5pm AEST; shifting Tasmanian load carries more risk given the "high risk" flag on some low-price windows there, driven by wind generation variability (current wind potential 14.3%, cloud cover 99%).

Peak periods to avoid fall in two bands: the early morning ramp from 6:30am to 10am AEST, where NSW1 climbs from $11/MWh to $89/MWh and QLD1 follows a similar trajectory to $86/MWh, and the midday-to-afternoon period from 10:30am to 3:30pm AEST, where NSW1 and QLD1 both push into the $95-$122/MWh range as solar output softens and demand builds. VIC1 is the exception, staying flat near $0-$23/MWh through the day due to stronger rooftop and grid-scale solar contribution, so Victorian flexible load has more headroom outside the core overnight window than other regions.

Recommendation: schedule all deferrable NEM-wide load between 11am and 4pm AEST for maximum savings, prioritising SA1 and VIC1 assets where forecast prices are most negative. Avoid discretionary load in NSW1 and QLD1 between 6:30am and 4pm AEST during the morning ramp and midday peak. TAS1 flexible load should target the 5am and 3pm AEST windows only, treating the 5:30pm slot as high-risk despite its attractive headline price.