MISO Power Tracker: Power prices climb year on year with gas price strength

摘要

Midcontinent Independent System Operator wholesale power prices strengthened this March, particularly in Louisiana and Texas, compared with March 2020, mainly because of continued natural gas price strength resulting from the mid-February winter storm. MISO forwards were also higher for similar reasons. Day-ahead on-peak locational marginal prices averaged in the low to mid-$20s/MWh across MISO’s central and northern hubs, but averaged around $30/MWh in the Louisiana and Texas hubs hit hard by the mid-February winter storm, according to S&P Global Platts pricing data. At the Chicago city-gates, spot gas averaged $2.471/MMBtu this March, down sharply from February’s $22.751/MMBtu but up sharply from March 2020’s $1.573/MMBtu. At the Henry Hub in Louisiana, spot gas averaged $2.565/MMBtu this March, down from this February’s $5.146/MMBtu but up from March 2020’s $1.756/MMBtu.