Home » News » Wholesale Market Review » 1 February 2019

Energy Wholesale Market Review, 1 February 2019

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All wholesale power contracts and most gas contracts fell this week. Prices were pressured by forecasts of nearer seasonal normal temperatures in February, easing demand, comfortable gas supply margins, and falling commodity prices. All baseload power contracts fell week-on-week. Day-ahead power dropped 8.4% to a seven-month low of £54.5/MWh, following its gas counterpart lower. Seasonal power contracts fell 3.3% on average from the previous week, with summer 19 power down 5.6% to £51.8/MWh, the lowest since August 2018. Most gas contracts fell as the gas system was well supplied amid increased LNG imports, high storage levels and forecasts of milder temperatures. Day-ahead gas dropped 9.7% to 52.1p/th, a nine-month low and 0.1p/th above the same time last year when the contract was 52.0p/th. Although most seasonal gas contracts rose, a 4.0% week-on-week drop in the summer 19 gas contract saw seasonal gas prices down 0.6% on average. Summer 19 gas started February at 48.2p/th, the lowest since 21 June 2018. Brent crude oil prices fell for the first time in five weeks, down 0.8% to average $61.2/bl as economic data shows slower than expected growth in China, signalling weaker demand for oil. API 2 coal prices slipped 1.4%, reversing the previous week’s gains and averaging $84.8/t. Coal prices have fallen amid forecasts of milder temperatures in February across Europe and weaker coal demand in Asia. EU ETS carbon prices dropped for the first time in three weeks, down 7.9% to average €22.6/t.

Baseload electricity
Day-ahead power dropped 8.4% to a seven-month low of £54.5/MWh, following its gas counterpart lower. March and April 19 power contracts lost 7.5% and 5.5% respectively, to start February at £53.4/MWh and £52.7/MWh.		Annual April 19 power declined 4.4% to £55.8/MWh. The contract is 5.5% below the same time last month when it was £59.1/MWh, but 30.3% above the same time last year when it was £42.9/MWh.
Forward curve comparison		Annual April Contract

Peak electricity
Day-ahead peak power fell 5.6% to £61.1/MWh. This was £6.6/MWh above its baseload counterpart. Month-ahead (March) peak power went dropped 7.1% to end the week at £57.3/MWh, £3.9/MWh above its baseload counterpart.		Week-on-week, annual April 19 peak power fell 4.1% to £61.2/MWh. The contract remains £5.4/MWh above its baseload power counterpart. The contract was 5.0% below its price last month (£64.5/MWh), but 28.7% higher than its value last year (£47.6/MWh).
Forward curve comparison		Annual April contract

Seasonal power prices
Seasonal baseload power contracts		Seasonal baseload power curve
All seasonal baseload power contracts fell, dropping 3.3% on average from the previous week. Summer 19 power dropped 5.6% to £51.8/MWh, the lowest since August 2018. The contract is 7.6% below the same time last month (£56.0/MWh).		All seasonal peak power contracts went down this week, falling 3.3% on average. The summer 19 peak contract saw the largest change, dropping 5.4% to £55.7/MWh, and £3.9/MWh below its baseload power counterpart.

Commodity price movements
Oil and Coal		Carbon
Brent crude oil prices fell for the first time in five weeks, down 0.8% to average $61.2/bl. Oil prices rose early in the week, following reports that the US would impose sanctions on Venezuela’s PDVSA oil company. However, data released towards the end of the week showed weaker economic growth in China as factory activity fell by the most in three years, signifying weaker demand for oil. A Reuters survey expects OPEC production down 890,000bpd in January from December 2018 levels. API 2 coal prices slipped 1.4%, reversing the previous week’s gains and average $84.8/t. Coal prices have fallen amid forecasts of milder temperatures in February across Europe and the continued weak demand in Asia.		EU ETS carbon prices dropped for the first time in three weeks, down 7.9% to average €22.6/t. This week saw the return of German EUA auctions on 1 February, easing some of the tightness in the market from January. The German government has received recommendations by the coal commission to cancel a defined number of EUAs, with expectations that the government will withhold permits in Phase 4 (2021-30). The recommendation comes as the commission suggest a complete phase-out strategy of Germany’s 43GW of coal capacity by 2038 and should shield the EU ETS from supply-side pressure.

Wholesale price snapshot