A hot afternoon in NSW on Wednesday 22nd October 2025 (but the price did not pop … at least to 14:15)
A short article looking at the NSW region in early afternoon Wednesday 22nd October 2025.
Articles by Paul McArdle
Paul was one of the founders of Global-Roam in February 2000. He is currently the CEO of the company and the principal author of WattClarity. Writing for WattClarity has become a natural extension of his work in understanding the electricity market, enabling him to lead the team in developing better software for clients.
Before co-founding the company, Paul worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the Queensland Electricity Commission in the early 1990s. He also gained international experience in Japan, the United States, Canada, the UK, and Argentina as part of his ES Cornwall Memorial Scholarship.
WeatherWatch notes ‘Cyclonic Conditions for Victoria, Widespread Gales Across NSW & Areas of South Australia’
A short note (on Wednesday morning 22nd October 2025) about the Severe Weather warnings (from WeatherWatch, and then from AEMO).
Taking a first focused look at the 16:50 dispatch interval on Thursday 16th October 2025 (with frequency dropped below NOFB) … Part 3
In Part 3 of this series with respect to Thursday 16th October 2025, we focus on when a large collective under-performance across all Semi-Scheduled Wind Farms and Solar Farms dragged the frequency outside the...
Unplanned outage of Dapto – Marulan (8) 330 kV line
At 07:55 (on Monday 20th October 2025), an unplanned outage of Dapto - Marulan (8) 330 kV line led to the unplanned invocation of the 'N-DTMN_8_15M' constraint set.
Spicy prices forecast for NSW on Monday afternoon/evening 20th October 2025
A quick note, on Monday morning 20th October 2025, showing the re-emergence of price forecasts up near the Market Price Cap for a 90-120 minute period this afternoon/evening.
Forecast Minimum System Load for Victoria next Saturday 25th October 2025
A short note to flag MN129813 looking forward to next Saturday 25th October 2025, flagging possible MSL1 in Victoria.
Considerable uncertainty, with respect to what might unfold in NSW next Wednesday 22nd October 2025
Following a series of Market Notices from AEMO with respect to forecast LORx conditions for NSW next Wednesday 22nd October 2025, we take a first look.
Price spike in NSW (and QLD!) at 14:55 on Friday 17th October 2025
A very quick article to record the price spike (for ENERGY) in the NSW region at 14:55 earlier today (Friday 17th October 2025) ... and Contingency Lower in QLD.
Peeling the second layer of the onion, with respect to the (SemiSched-induced) frequency weakness on Thursday 16th October 2025
Having already noted the ‘Weakness in frequency stability on Thursday afternoon 16th October 2025’, we take a look at the causes - for the four high-profile dispatch intervals.
Weakness in frequency stability on Thursday afternoon 16th October 2025
The worst periods of frequency stability on Thursday 16th October 2025 were *not* with the simultaneous trip of YWPS3 and YWPS4, but rather later and the day - and look similar to patterns seen...
Both YWPS3 and YWPS4 back online overnight
A quick follow-on early Friday morning 17th October 2025 to note that both YWPS3 and YWPS4 made it back online overnight.
Differing return to service expectations for YWPS3 and YWPS4, following simultaneous trips
Following the simultaneous trips (on Thu 16th Oct 2025) of YWPS3 and YWPS4, we take a look at current return to service expectations.
Simultaneous trips at YWPS3 and YWPS4 on Thursday 16th October 2025
A short note on Thursday 16th October 2025 to record both Yallourn Units 3 &4 tripping during the 13:35 dispatch interval (NEM time) today.
AEMC communicates two items, relating to a Review of the Integrated System Plan (ISP)
Amongst the many emails that hit my inbox recently was an email from the AEMC that spoke to the ‘Package of ISP reform underway’ – and specifically these two arms.
Bruce Mountain (at NEMdev 2025) spoke to his significant concerns about the ISP
A short note to follow the NEMdev 2025 conference (Tue 7th and Wed 8th Oct 2025) and to highlight a comment made by Bruce Mountain about the ISP.
Sarah Lawley (at NEMdev 2025) spoke about what she sees as ‘circular reasoning’ in the ISP
A short note to follow the NEMdev 2025 conference (Tue 7th and Wed 8th Oct 2025) and to highlight a comment made by Sarah Lawley about the ISP.
Some suggestions for the Nelson Review panel to consider (with respect to Forecasting) following review of the Draft Report
Following my presentation at NEMdev 2025 (on 8th Oct 2025), here are some suggestions that the Nelson Review panel might consider - with respect to forecasting.
Short-notice outage at Loy Yang A4 in Victoria on Wednesday 15th October 2025
At 09:06 (NEM time) this ‘Notifications’ widget alert from ez2view flags Loy Yang A4 coming offline ... which helps explain the directions for System Strength.
AEMO notes ‘Non-credible contingency event’ at Jeeralang
No sooner had we noted that ‘AEMO changes mind, and directs Murray instead (to run as syncon) for System Strength in Victoria on Wednesday 15th October 2025’ then we receive MN129618 at 09:00 that helps...
AEMO changes mind, and directs Murray instead … but this was also short-lived?!
Less than an hour after directing Jeeralang (for System Strength in Victoria), AEMO changes its mind and directs Murray instead. Though this was also short-lived!