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In order to maximize transparency and comprehensibility of its markets, the European Power Exchange EPEX SPOT has published a
Q & A on negative prices on its website
A negative price is a relatively rare price signal on the power wholesale market that occurs when high inflexible power generation hits low demand. For instance, the French market saw negative prices on 16 June 2013, following mild weather across the region and a high inflexi-ble production from Belgian nuclear power plants. Another example are negative prices that occurred last week-end on the German market due to high wind production and, at the same time, low consumption on a period with comparably mild temperatures.
As in Central Western Europe (CWE – Germany/Austria, France, Benelux countries) markets are coupled, fundamentals and prices of the different markets can no longer be considered independently from one another. While using cross-border transmission capacity to reduce price spreads, Market Coupling increases efficiency and liquidity and buffers negative and positive price peaks.
EPEX SPOT wishes to provide a maximum of transparency and information concerning the functioning of its markets. We hope to meet the claim also through this Q & A. Please find the Q & A via the "Basics of the power market" chapter in the "About us" section in the upper right of our website (
