Wholesale electricity prices above $5,000 per MWh on 10 June 2021

On 10 June 2021, the wholesale electricity price in New South Wales was $8,022 and $5,027 per megawatt hour () respectively for the 6pm and 6.30pm trading intervals, and in Queensland $7,933/MWh for the 6pm trading interval.

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) will publish a report into these high prices by early August 2021. These reports are designed to examine market events and circumstances that contributed to wholesale market price outcomes and are not an indicator of potential compliance issues or enforcement action.

The AER monitors and reports on wholesale electricity markets and is required to report on events that result in wholesale electricity spot prices exceeding $5,000/MWh and average Frequency Control Ancillary Services prices above $5,000/ over consecutive trading intervals.

Most customers are not directly exposed to wholesale electricity prices. Energy retailers are the main purchasers in the wholesale electricity market. Retailers bundle electricity with network services for sale to their residential, commercial and industrial customers. Generators and retailers can manage their exposure to price variations in the wholesale market by entering hedge contracts that lock in firm prices for the electricity they intend to produce or buy.

You can subscribe to receive notifications of these reports; under Type select Performance report.