Market integration in the Australian National Electricity Market: Fresh evidence from asymmetric time-frequency connectedness

Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) provides efficient and smooth electricity transmission via a unique integration mechanism of different Australian regional electricity markets. We, therefore, examined the asymmetric time-frequency connectedness across five physically interconnected Australian regional electricity markets in the NEM using daily wholesale price data from 17 May 2005 to 31 December 2020. Due to direct physical interconnections and close geographical vicinities, Australian regional electricity markets have more connectedness within the region than across regions. The results of deseasonalized data revealed high spillovers among electricity markets during a crisis event, periods of abnormal weather, and regulatory sanctions implied on the NEM, which the findings from previous studies have not fully captured. Meanwhile, seasonality-adjusted results using X 13-ARIMA method highlighted dominance of negative spillovers both in the short- and long-run. Moreover, reforms in electricity policies by the Australian government played a significant role in shaping the total spillover index. Our study offers fresh insights on the NEM and stipulates significant policy implications for NEM, which the Australian state and federal government, policymakers, investors, retailers, and power suppliers must consider. • We examine the asymmetric time-frequency connectedness in the NEM. • The NEM has more connectedness within the region than across regions. • The results based on deseasonalized data revealed high spillovers. • Seasonality-adjusted results reveal the persistence dominance of negative spillovers.