Editor's Note
Day-ahead power markets across the U.S. retreated Friday, May 25, pressured by outlooks for typically subdued weekend demand.
At the natural gas futures market, the front-month June contract closed the workweek in shallow negative territory at $2.939/MMBtu, down a scant 0.1 cent.
Following increased output at four reactors, total U.S. nuclear plant availability nudged higher early May 25 to 94.11%.
Texas prices tick lower despite load support
Strong Saturday demand forecasts failed to lift day-ahead markets in Texas on Friday.
Demand in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is expected to reach 61,810 MW on Friday, 62,674 MW on Saturday, 66,390 MW on May 28 and 67,434 MW on May 29.
However, day-ahead markets still retreated with packages slipping by $4 to $7 on the session and averaging $62.51 at ERCOT Houston, $62.89 at ERCOT North, $63.99 at ERCOT South and $62.34 at ERCOT West.
East markets biased lower with load
Subdued weekend load forecasts sent day-ahead markets in the East mostly lower on Friday.
Day-ahead packages at New York Zone A fell by more than $5 on the session and averaged $32.24 while power prices at the New England Mass hub and New York Zone J shed $1 to $2 from Thursday and averaged $29.33 and $39.21, respectively. On the other hand, DAMs at New York Zone G defied the trend with values adding close to $2 and averaging $37.52.
In terms of load, demand in New England may hit peaks of 15,550 MW on Friday, 12,250 MW on May 28 and 15,750 MW on May 29, while load in New York should near highs of 22,400 MW on Friday, 16,520 MW on May 28 and 20,750 MW on May 29. Demand in the PJM Mid-Atlantic region should top out at 40,883 MW on Friday, 33,750 MW on May 28 and 41,927 MW on May 29 while load in the PJM Western region should crest at 62,671 MW on Friday, 64,052 MW on May 28 and 67,209 MW on May 29.
Midwest markets exit workweek pressured by mixed demand
Markets in the Midwest spent a quiet Friday session pressured by expectations of diverging demand.
Load in the PJM AEP region may run up to 18,497 MW on Friday, 19,037 MW on May 28 and 20,564 MW on May 29 while demand in the PJM ComEd region should see peaks of 16,861 MW on Friday, 16,343 MW on May 28 and 16,017 MW on May 29.
Western power markets close workweek unsupported
Power markets in the West were tepid Friday following pressures from typically slack holiday demand forecasts.
The California ISO is expecting demand to peak at 26,716 MW on Friday and 25,160 MW on Saturday with load possibly falling even further over the Memorial day holiday on May 28 but then rebounding at the start of the new workweek on May 29.
Market prices and included industry data are current as of the time of publication and are subject to change. For more detailed market data, including power and natural gas index prices, as well as forwards and futures, visit our Commodities Pages.
