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An hourly price curve plots the electricity price for each of the 24 hours of a day. Reading it well takes only a few habits.

Step 1 — find the peaks and troughs

Look for the morning ramp (around 7–9) and the evening peak (around 18–21). The cheapest hours are usually overnight or midday when solar is strong.

Step 2 — compare to the baseload average

Draw a mental flat line at the day’s average. Hours above it are “peak”, hours below are “off-peak”. This tells you when flexible consumption is worthwhile.

Step 3 — watch for anomalies

Negative prices, sudden spikes, or a flat line all tell a story: oversupply, scarcity, or a capped market. Each is a cue to dig deeper.

With these three reads you can size up a day’s market at a glance.