I have been watching my 5 States chart and the rise in AEMO wholesale price for Tasmania since Feb puzzles me. I thought their relatively large hydro resource might have insulated Tassie from the more erratic prices interstate. Hydro Tasmania is State Govt owned and is swamped with debt.
Generation by NemWatch – Price and Demand at AEMO and their NEM Dispatch Overview.
It may be due to government policy to maintain higher dam levels.
www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/hydro-joy-as-tasmanias-dam-storage-levels-rise-to-40-per-cent/news-story/a358bd84794470fdc999e5c1a794c57d
Hydro is great when it rains, but a drought would be a serious problem.
Current hydro energy storage is 36.6%. Which would appear reasonable going into winter. But who knows what doom and gloom about rainfall the Warmists have been spreading.
Warwick-my guesses. Tasmania are clearly sending power to Victoria . This is likely to be Hydro at contacted rate. Tas has has quite a proportion of wind up near Stanley in the north west. This is not reliable -the wind speed could get too high or it could drop. Winds recently have been coming from the south east, not sure if that is a problem with the design of the towers which normally would cater for winds from the west or south west. It is likely they are operating the gas power station as backup and balancing all the time. Gas would increase the cost.
Just saw this.
“Government to legislate this week to cap Tasmanian power price for 12 months”
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/tasmanian-government-to-legislate-power-price-cap/8483948
that’s the Tasmanian State Govt.
More tea leaves to read.
Hydro Tasmania to take hit for power price increases bound for businesses 2 May 17
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-02/hydro-tasmania-shoulders-power-price-cost-for-business/8490946