Electricity shock for powerless people
For example, who would have believed that wholesale electricity prices could be negative?
Yet this occurs frequently at night, when demand is slight but the wind is blowing. So, wind power is generating electricity even though it is of no use to anybody - there is no demand and what demand there is is under long-term contract, which means the wholesale price is not reflective of underlying demand.
But the negative price does help to pull down average wholesale prices, prompting those looking at new investment to hold back.
Last week's decision of the Australian Energy Market Operator to back the upgrade of a link between the South Australian and Victorian transmission networks at Heywood looks unexceptional, in that it positions the electricity transmission network for future growth. But step back for a moment, and it becomes clear that what is at play is that SA households are being asked to foot the bill to upgrade the electricity network so that more electricity can be "exported" to Victoria.
This is great news for the owners and developers of wind farms in SA, since it will boost their profits, and it will also boost wholesale electricity prices, which will flow through to higher electricity bills over time.
But if the beneficiaries are the owners of the wind farms in South Australia and power users in Victoria, then why aren't these two groups being asked to foot the bill for the full cost of the network upgrades?
Additionally, at a time of weak overall electricity demand - anecdotal evidence from power generators points to ongoing soft demand, irrespective of last week's uptick due to very warm weather - the regulator has put its weight behind the "gold-plated" upgrade option at Heywood, which will cost $107 million, rather than backing the cheaper upgrade, which would cost in the order of $40 million.
One of the main difficulties with the electricity market is the collusion of vested interests sitting around the table when these decisions are made. Typically, few outsiders are present to reflect the concerns of the broader community.
The recent Australian Energy Market Commission push to boost community representation during key debates is a step in the right direction. But the reality is that the electricity market is complex, replete with vested interests with deep pockets which are able to distort the debate in their favour. Few outside this circle have the time, or the skills, to get across the core issues at stake to be able to push back against the big end of town.
One of the prime tenets of business is "risk and return". Yet in the electricity and gas sector, there is precious little risk and plenty of return - and what risk there is, typically of getting a forecast wrong, is explained away by pointing to changed conditions, with consumers left to foot the bill as the consultants go back to their spreadsheets.
This is the case with those backing the Heywood interconnector upgrade: there is plenty of reward for negligible risk, since the project's backers are guaranteed a return on any money spent.
The maximum capacity of the proposed interconnect upgrade would only be used for a matter of hours a year, and would take some years for the level of demand to reach the planned capacity. For the network owners, this is of little relevance, since they receive a return on the investment from the time it is installed.
But for those paying for the upgrade - electricity consumers in SA will have to pick up much of the tab - the money is spent upfront and will form part of their power bills for some time to come.
As one of the largest locally owned wind farm investors, Infigen, put it: SA has a world-class wind resource which will play a significant role in enabling Australia to meet its renewables energy forecasts. But the key is getting this electricity to market, so it can be used by consumers in Victoria and New South Wales.
The proposed Heywood upgrade will boost interstate capacity by 40 per cent and, while power could flow in either direction, it is readily conceded the flow will predominantly be from SA to Victoria.
Consumers in SA could be forgiven for thinking the fix is in, since there has been no public debate, or pressure, to undertake a more rigorous assessment of the proposal on the table.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The Heywood interconnector upgrade is a transmission enhancement between South Australia and Victoria backed by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). It would boost interstate capacity by about 40%, making it easier to export South Australian wind power to Victoria and New South Wales. For investors, the upgrade matters because it shifts commercial outcomes: it can lift wholesale electricity prices (helping wind-farm owners’ profits) while creating regulated returns for network owners that are recovered through consumer bills.
The regulator backed a 'gold‑plated' upgrade option with a price tag of about $107 million, rather than a cheaper alternative of roughly $40 million. Much of the upfront cost will be recovered through electricity bills, which means South Australian households are likely to pick up a large share of the tab even though the flow of benefits is expected to favour wind‑farm owners and power users in Victoria.
Wholesale prices can go negative at night when demand is very low but wind farms keep generating—so supply exceeds demand and prices fall below zero. Negative prices pull down average wholesale prices, which can discourage new investment in generation; at the same time they can distort signals investors use to assess future returns in the electricity sector.
According to the article, weak demand exists, yet network owners face relatively little commercial risk because regulated returns are paid from the time an upgrade is installed. The upgrade’s maximum capacity might only be used for a few hours a year and could take years to reach projected demand levels, but network owners still earn returns while consumers ultimately carry much of the financial burden.
The main beneficiaries appear to be owners and developers of South Australian wind farms (who gain better access to larger markets) and power users in Victoria and New South Wales who can buy that additional supply. South Australian households, by contrast, are likely to bear much of the cost through higher future electricity bills, even though the physical flow of power will often be from SA to Victoria.
Yes. The article highlights concerns about collusion of vested interests and the complexity of the market, which makes it hard for ordinary consumers and outsiders to influence decisions. The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has pushed for greater community representation in key debates, but the influence of well‑funded industry players remains a worry for transparent, consumer‑focused outcomes.
The upgrade is expected to boost wholesale electricity prices because it enables more wind generation to reach larger markets, which increases demand at times and improves generator returns. Those higher wholesale prices are likely to flow through into higher retail electricity bills over time, particularly for consumers in South Australia who help fund the upgrade.
Infigen, one of the largest locally owned wind‑farm investors, says South Australia has a world‑class wind resource that will be significant in helping Australia meet its renewables forecasts. Infigen stresses, however, that the key challenge is getting that electricity to market—hence the focus on transmission upgrades like Heywood to send power to consumers in Victoria and New South Wales.
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