Summer heat comes early for ERCOT as prices spike to $80s/MWh

摘要

Electric Reliability Council of Texas wholesale spot power prices have jumped higher than the five-year March average high as parts of the state hit 90-degree weather more than a month early. Hub prices across the ERCOT footprint have climbed between 22% and 39% week on week as temperatures started to spike March 23 across the state into the upper 80s and low 90s degrees Fahrenheit, in contrast to the 50s and 60s just a few days earlier. Many areas expected near-record high temperatures. The sudden spike in temperatures has pushed up power demand across the state. ERCOT peakload has averaged 52,542 MW so far in March, 11.4% above the five-year March peakload average of 47,175 MW, according to ERCOT data. Peakload averaged 47,380 MW March 22-26, 10% higher than the previous week’s average, according to ERCOT data. “ERCOT anticipates there will be sufficient generation to meet the demand on the system during the spring season, even if loads increase due to unseasonable temperatures,” ERCOT spokeswoman Leslie Sopko said to Platts. “However, it is worth noting that one warm week does not necessarily mean the rest of the spring season will continue to be as warm.”