banner_market_intelligence_1440x441

MARKET TREND ANALYSIS

Weekly Energy Market Updates by Region - Archive

 

 

 


Issue week: July 15th, 2021  (Wk 28)

 

POWER MARKETS

Chart1_Energy_Market_Intelligence_Commercial

 

WEST  The AC and DC transmission lines that provide California much needed flexible power from the Pacific Northwest during the nightly ramp have been de-rated by a cumula-tive 5,600 MW because of the Bootleg Fire raging in Oregon. Consequently, CAISO last Friday declared a Stage 2 Emergency to indicate that it could no longer satisfy expected energy requirements. With the loss of imports, the ATC Day Ahead LMP has spiked during the nightly ramp, averaging around $80/MWh in SP15 and NP15 since Friday.

ERCOT  As afternoon showers along the Gulf Coast and across central Texas have kept peak loads well below normal, 7x24 real-time prices have remained relatively low again this week, averaging around $25/MWh. Moreover, a cool front expected to cross the state early next week should limit price volatility then as well. However, for the last week of July, currently trading at $90/MWh for on-peak, volatility in real-time prices could rise as temperatures and loads return to levels more normal for this time of year. In the term mar-ket, August peak prices are also staying firm around $120/MWh, $10/MWh above last week. Further down the curve, CY strips through 2023 are relatively flat from last week, but strips for 2024 and beyond are up by approximately $0.50/MWh on stronger natural gas prices further out the curve.

EAST As the weather has stayed warm this week, prices have not moved far from last week’s averages. In NYISO, volatility in index prices has settled down. In NYC, this week’s Day Ahead and Real Time averages are $41/MWh and $40/MWh, respectively, whereas both Day Ahead and Real Time are averaging in the mid-$30s/MWh in all of the other main hubs.

Chart1

Map1

Map2


 

 

SUMMER SWAP

Energy-wise, summer tends to bring all re-sources out to bear to cope with the hot weather, and the effects of this summer’s mobilization have definitely started to materialize. However, although energy-market volatility is growing as expected, the most historically volatile resources are not currently at the root of this season’s in-crease.

The usual dependability of natural gas has been under siege from major price spikes for that com-modity. In addition, although hydroelectric gener-ators have long been the most reliable of the re-newable class because suppliers can actually control the time of their deployment, scorching heatwaves and growing drought conditions have left hydropower contributing only 6.5% of total generation in 2021, its lowest proportion since 2015. The West, which relies on hydropower more heavily than do most regions and is endur-ing a particularly intense drought, has been es-pecially hampered. CAISO has already issued alerts asking consumers to conserve power to handle the summer demand peaks.

Ironically, the current situation has left intermit-tent wind and solar generation to pick up more slack than usual. In fact, solar output continues to grow and is projected to be the largest renew-able energy source in 2022. Unfortunately, that development would only exacerbate the prob-lematic duck curve. Renewables may be holding down the proverbial fort for now, but the mount-ing volatility could yield alarming electricity prices not only out west but also throughout the entire U.S.

 

 

 

Previous Weekly Market Reports: Archive

 

Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and all actions and judgments taken in response to it are recipient’s sole responsibility. Champion Energy Services does not guaranty its accuracy. This reports is provided ‘as is’. Champion Energy Services makes no expressed or implied representations or warranties of any kind. Except as otherwise indicated in this report, this report shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Champion Energy Services and shall be free from any claim or right, license, title or interest. Champion Energy Services shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages or lost profit resulting from this report.