MISO energy prices plunged on record-low natural gas prices in March while the RTO managed a comparatively lower, 68-GW average systemwide load.  

March average load was lower than MISO’s 71-GW averages in 2022 and 2023, MISO reported.  

The footprint peaked for the month at 84 GW on March 19, lower than March 2023’s 89-GW peak and in line with previous March peaks in 2021 and 2022.  

Real-time locational marginal prices were about $20/MWh for the month as the footprint experienced $1/MMBtu natural gas and $2/MMBtu coal prices. Real-time prices were lower than March 2023’s $26/MWh and less than half of 2022’s $42/MWh.  

MISO’s average 48 TWh of supply came from a mix of 19 TWh of natural gas, 11 TWh of wind, 10 TWh of coal and 7 TWh of nuclear generation. The system again set an all-time solar generation record March 23 when arrays supplied 5.3 GW, or 6% of load at the time. MISO solar generation peaks have become commonplace as more solar projects clear the interconnection queue.  

The RTO averaged 49 GW of daily generation outages over March, more than March 2023’s 45-GW average.