In the day-ahead market on JEPX (Japan Electric Power Exchange), the 24-hour spot power prices on a weekly average basis for Jun 13-17 delivery weakened from the previous week in East Japan, but turned higher in West Japan. Kanto entered the rainy season on Jun 6 ahead of West Japan. But Kanto had some sunny days from Jun 13 onward. Solar power supply increased from the previous week, pressuring down spot prices in East Japan led by day time. Meanwhile, the rainy season gripped the whole West Japan by Jun 14, including all parts of Kyushu on Jun 11. Solar power supply shrank from the previous day, lifting spot prices led by day time unlike East Japan. The seasonal rain front also gripped all parts of Tohoku on Jun 15, covering the whole Japan except Hokkaido that is originally free from the rainy season.

Kyushu EPC reactivated the 890MW No2 PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) at its Sendai nuclear power station in Kagoshima prefecture on Jun 11 as planned, and resumed power generation on Jun 13. The reactor entered regular maintenance on Feb 21. The reactor achieved full operation as of 15:00 hours on Jun 17, and is scheduled to shift to commercial runs in the middle of July.

The actual highest price during the week was at Yen 26.48 in all of nine areas and the System Price (SP) for Jun 13 delivery, and all of nine areas for Jun 16 delivery. The actual lowest price during the week was at Yen 0.01 in Tohoku for Jun 13 delivery, Hokkaido and Tohoku for Jun 14 delivery, and Tohoku for Jun 17 delivery.

By area, the weekly average of the 24-hour spot prices was at Yen 18.06 in Hokkaido, down Yen 2.10 from the previous week, Yen 17.44 in Tohoku, down Yen 2.73, Yen 19.71 in Tokyo, down Yen 0.46, Yen 17.71 in Chubu, up Yen 0.67, Yen 17.27 in Hokuriku and Kansai, up Yen 1.23, Yen 17.25 in Chugoku and Shikoku, up Yen 1.21, Yen 16.90 in Kyushu, up Yen 2.45.

In the JEPX auction, volumes of offers were 967.94 mil kWh on a weekly average basis, up 0.6% from the previous week, while bids expanded by 2.2% to 946.58 mil kWh. The weekly average of trade volumes grew by 1.4% from the previous week to 820.49 mil kWh.

Power demand in nine areas of Japan during Jun 13-17 was a combined 11,101.85 mil kWh, up 1.1% from 10,983.91 mil kWh during Jun 6-10. The figure was up 4.5% from the corresponding period a year earlier. Demand during Jun 14-18 after day of week adjustment was 11,623.96 mil kWh.

In the JEPX forward market, no deals were confirmed during Jun 13-17.

Deals reported on TOCOM (Tokyo Commodity Exchange) during Jun 13-17 were as below.

Deals reported on EEX (European Energy Exchange) during Jun 13-17 were as below.

In the fourth week of June, the weather is forest to be mostly sunny across Japan at the beginning of the week. But rain clouds are expected to loom for most of the week, leaving little scope for solar power generation. In the fuel market, LNG prices recently resumed a steep rally amid looming supply woes, a factor that is believed to serve as a bullish factor for spot power prices. Meanwhile, the highest temperature is forecast to stay near 30 degrees in many areas. A possible pickup in spot prices will likely provide support to the market. Such bullish factors are expected to lift spot power prices into higher territory.