Platts: November European Power Prices Fell 1.8% Despite Power Price Gains in Germany

LONDON, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental European electricity prices dipped in November despite a 3% price gain in the region's dominant market of Germany, according to data just released by Platts, a leading global energy and commodities information provider.

The Platts Continental Power (CONTI) Index* fell 1.8% in November to €38.78 per megawatt hour (/MWh) compared to October. It was down 17.5% compared to November 2013.

Platts' regional analysis of European power and gas markets showed the following:

• Germany: Day-ahead power prices averaged €36.58/MWh, up 3% from October but down 7% from November 2013. German wind output in November fell 7% year over year to 3.98 terawatt hours (TWh), according to data from Platts PowerVision, a web-based energy analytics tool. Combined wind and solar output last month was down 3% year over year to 4.95 TWh, the lowest combined monthly wind and solar output in Germany in more than two years.

• France: Day-ahead power prices averaged €38.53/MWh, down 7% versus October and down 22% from this time a year ago. EDF's nuclear output in November climbed 4.7% year over year to 36.1 TWh as improving reactor performance combined with mild temperatures and healthy hydroelectric reserves to deflate prices.

• U.K.: Day-ahead electricity and natural gas prices rose in November by 6% and 9%, respectively, compared to October. Faltering wind output and nuclear reactor outages drove up demand for natural gas for power generation. Prices were below year ago levels, with power down 8% and natural gas down 20%.

• Netherlands: On the Dutch TTF, continental Europe's most liquid natural gas hub, day-ahead gas prices rose 9% month over month. But price levels remained 16% below November 2013.

"U.K. and European spot gas prices picked up in November from October, with gains to be expected as the market moves further into winter and heating demand increases," said Platts gas analyst Alex Froley. "On an annual basis the market is responding to a weakening in the wider energy sector, with Brent crude having plummeted in the second half of this year, from $110/barrel in June to $71 at the end of November."

The European gas market has been relatively comfortable so far this winter, with no major cold snaps to date, and none forecast in the immediate future, Froley said.

"Russia and Ukraine have struck a deal on Ukraine's gas supplies, reducing transit risk, and Asian spot liquefied natural gas prices have been falling in recent weeks, reducing global competition for LNG," he said.

NOTE: All figures are monthly averages of daily day-ahead contract prices as assessed by Platts.

For more information on electric power or the methodology used by Platts in its power assessments, visit the Platts website www.platts.com.

*The Platts CONTI is a demand-weighted baseload average of day-ahead contracts assessed in Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Platts U.K. assessments reflect day-ahead contracts assessed for firm delivery of power on the high voltage network of England, Wales and Scotland, and at the National Balancing Point (NBP) for gas. The Platts assessments reflect prices as determined between buyer and seller in the open physical markets.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets.  Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency.  Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets.  A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial  (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL and J.D. Power. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

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SOURCE Platts

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