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Summer power prices seen surging for Texas, falling in California

Severe heat and rising electrical energy need are anticipated to increase power prices in Texas this summertime, while the remainder of the U.S. power markets are broadly pricing lower, according to experts and data this week.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Imbalances in U.S. power supply and demand, together with severe weather, can lead to wholesale power cost spikes that can eventually be passed down to homes and organizations.

BY THE NUMBERS

Area wholesale electrical energy costs in the Texas power trading center for August have consistently traded above $175 a. megawatt-hour (MWh) up until now this month, compared to approximately. $ 90.18 per MWh for August in 2015, data from S&P Global reveals.

Rising heat, which raises demand for cooling systems,. Coupled with computing-intensive companies like information. and bitcoin mining, are anticipated to move rates in the summertime. months, said Sean Kelly, CEO of energy analytics and forecasting. business Amperon.

On the other hand, power costs for August in the California. market traded at around $80 a megawatt hour, or about 30% below. last year's average for the month, S&P Global said.

California is anticipated to gain from an abundance of. hydropower, according to an Amperon analysis.

Other major markets were also trading lower or near. actual summer season 2023 averages.

KEY QUOTE

With the growth of renewables, the retirement of base load. fossil-fired generation and the dependence on renewables, on. days renewables are disappointing up, it's going to be really. expensive, stated Amperon CEO Kelly.

CONTEXT

U.S. electrical grids are under pressure from rising demand. tied to electrifying transportation and companies like information. centers that support generative artificial intelligence, while. including more power generation typically takes years.

The addition of wind and solar assists bolster the grid, however. their power output is weather condition dependent.

(source: Reuters)