Headlines
The majority of baseload power contracts fell week-on-week, with near-term contracts up to and including August 19 power unchanged. The day-ahead contract was unchanged week-on-week at £39.3/MWh, having risen to a two-week high of £40.5/MWh on 11 June as low wind generation was expected the following day. All seasonal power contracts moved lower, falling 0.3% on average. Winter 19 power declined 0.5% to £55.4/MWh at the end of the week, having started the week at £56.9/MWh. All gas contracts moved lower week-on-week, amid comfortable gas supplies and forecasts of warmer temperatures easing expected LDZ demand. Day-ahead gas was 3.0% lower at 27.7p/th, having peaked at 30.0p/th on 13 June as temperatures were forecast to remain well below seasonal normal the following day. Seasonal contracts fell 1.3% on average, with winter 19 gas 1.3% lower week-on-week at 51.3p/th. Brent crude oil rose for the first time in four weeks, up by only 0.3% to average $61.8/bl, supported by reports of attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. API 2 coal prices were unchanged this week, averaging $64.2/t. Demand for coal in Europe remains relatively low, with total coal imports into Europe at 49mt between January-May, down 10% year-on-year. EU ETS carbon prices reversed the previous week’s decline, lifting 3.3% to average €25.0/t, supported by a drop in auction volumes this week following a public holiday on Monday, and a lack of a bi-weekly Polish auction on Wednesday.
Baseload electricity | | |
- Day-ahead power was unchanged from the previous week at £39.3/MWh. The contract is 27% lower than the same time last year (£53.8/MWh).
- Month-ahead power slipped 0.1%, ending the week at £39.0/MWh.
| | - Annual October 19 power was down 0.3% week-on-week at £51.6/MWh.
- The contract is 3.0% lower than the same time last month (£53.2/MWh), but 4.1% higher than the same time last year (£49.6/MWh).
|
Forward curve comparison | | Annual October Contract |
| | |
Peak electricity | | |
- Day-ahead peak power fell 2.7% to £41.9/MWh, £2.6/MWh above its baseload counterpart.
- Day-ahead peak power is 26.3% lower than the same time last year when it was £56.8/MWh.
- July 19 peak power slipped 0.3% to end the week at £42.6/MWh.
| | - Annual October 19 peak power was up slightly, lifting 0.1% to end the week at £57.6/MWh, £6.0/MWh above its baseload power counterpart.
- The contract is 2.5% below its value this time last month (£59.1/MWh), but 3.6% below the same time last year when it was £55.6/MWh.
|
Forward curve comparison
| | Annual October contract |
| | |
Seasonal power prices | | |
Seasonal baseload power contracts | | Seasonal baseload power curve |
- All seasonal power contracts moved lower, falling 0.3% on average.
- Winter 19 power declined 0.5% to £55.5/MWh at the end of the week. The contract is 2.0% higher than the same time last year (£54.4/MWh).
| | - Seasonal peak power contracts gained 0.2% on average, as summer 21 rose 1.1% to £51.8/MWh.
- Both winter 19 and 20 peak power fell, down 0.2% and 0.7% to £62.9/MWh and £62.9/MWh respectively.
|
| | |
Commodity price movements | | |
Oil and Coal | | Carbon |
- Brent crude oil rose for the first time in four weeks, up by only 0.3% to average $61.8/bl.
- Brent crude oil prices dropped as low as $59.6/bl on 12 June, pressured by reports of another weekly rise in US crude stocks the previous week. However, prices soon recovered, going above $62.5/bl, following reports of attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The US government has since blamed Iran for the attacks, claims which Iran has called “unfounded”.
- API 2 coal prices were unchanged, averaging $64.2/t. Demand for coal in Europe remains relatively low, with total coal imports into Europe at 49mt between January-May, down 10% year-on-year. Coal imports have been lower due to milder weather, high coal inventories at ARA terminals (stocks ended May at 6.6mt), and high LNG send-out driving gas prices lower.
| | - EU ETS carbon prices reversed the previous week’s decline, lifting 3.3% to average €25.0/t.
- Carbon prices were supported by a drop in auction volumes this week following a public holiday on Monday, and a lack of a bi-weekly Polish auction on Wednesday, meaning only 8.8mt of EUAs were available.
- Uncertainties around Brexit continues to pressure prices, as MPs rejected plans from Labout for a no-deal vote, which hoped to stop the UK leaving the EU without any agreement on 31 October.
|
Supplier tariff movements
In April, 14 suppliers decreased the price of their cheapest tariff or launched new cheaper tariffs, while 14 suppliers increased the price of their cheapest available tariff. Eversmart Energy launched a new fixed tariff which was £178/year lower than its variable tariff, while ESB Energy launched an exclusive tariff with uSwitch priced at £978/year, £120/year lower than its next cheapest two-year tariff.
Wholesale price snapshot