It is cold in the Northeast this afternoon.
(source :Intellicast)
As you might expect, cold temperatures can have an impact on power prices. You can definitely see this in New England this afternoon.
(Source ISO New England)
For those of you not used to the units, the $135/MWh shown in the map is the same as 13.5¢/kWh that you might see on your bill at home. Remember this is the wholesale price of power, while your bill is a retail price. Also realize your bill covers other costs, like the delivery of the energy, this price is just for making it.
2016 actually had the highest hourly power price of the last six years, but otherwise prices have been relatively low. This hour’s price definitely falls in the top one hundred priced hours of 2016.
(source: December 2016 Utility Stats Monthly)
Some parts of New York are also experiencing high prices, but nothing like New England. Also notice some of the extremely low prices in some parts of the state. (Including negative values)
(Source NYISO)
Further south in PJM, and to the west in MISO, prices are much more moderate, without the extremely wide range of New York.
(Source PJM)
(Source MISO)
So owners of merchant generation in New England look to be doing well today, but the day isn’t shaping up to be a special one in other parts of the country.