Power Line Gridlock Pushes Chicago Electricity Prices Below Zero

Chicago power prices fell into negative territory despite a spike in storm-driven demand because high-voltage transmission lines already are carrying all the electricity they can.

Real-time power prices in Exelon Corp.’s ComEd utility zone dropped to minus-$227.93 a megawatt-hour at 10:10 a.m. local time Monday, according to data compiled by Arcus Power’s NRGStream platform. That compared to Sunday’s average price of more than $50.