Fundamental State Space Time Series Models for JEPX Electricity Prices

Time series models are popular in attempts to model and forecast price dynamics in various markets. In this paper, we have formulated two state space models and tested them for its applicability to power price modeling and forecasting using JEPX (Japan Electric Power eXchange) data. The state space models generally have a high degree of flexibility with its time-dependent state transition matrix and system equation configurations. Based on empirical data analysis and past literatures, we used calculation assumptions to a) extract stochastic trend component to capture non-stationarity, and b) detect structural changes underlying in the market. The stepwise calculation algorithm followed that of Kalman Filter. We then evaluated the two models' forecasting capabilities, in comparison with ordinary AR (autoregressive) and ARCH (autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity) models. By choosing proper explanatory variables, the latter state space model yielded as good a forecasting capability as that of the AR and the ARCH models for a short forecasting horizon.