Electricity, August 2000

Electricity consumption in other sectors than energy-intensive manufacturing was record high in August, with 5 833 GWh. This is an increase of 9.7 per cent compared with the same month in 1999. Because the monthly temperature was above normal throughout most of the country this month, the high consumption must also be viewed in connection with the changes in the price of electric energy. The price of electric energy for households, services and manufacturing excluding energy-intensive manufacturing declined in third quarter 2000 by 3.8, 8.7 and 7.1 per cent respectively compared with the same period last year. Consumption of electricity so far this year is 81 861 GWh, an increase of 4.2 per cent compared with the same period last year. Electricity consumption in the last 12 months was 124 116 GWh.

The consumption of electric energy in energy-intensive industry was 2 820 GWh in August, an increase of 5.1 per cent compared with the same month last year. The increase can be attributed in part to better statistical coverage of the industries. The price of electricity in energy-intensive manufacturing and the pulp and paper industry in the third quarter of this year was 10.4 per cent higher than in third quarter 1999. The consumption of electric energy in energy-intensive manufacturing so far this year has been 22 372 GWh, while electricity consumption in the last 12 months was 32 959 GWh.

Electricity production headed towards new records

The production of electric energy in August was a record high 10 994 GWh, an increase of 13.2 per cent compared with the same month last year. The high electricity production can be seen in connection with the above-normal precipitation throughout most of the country and that reservoir levels were well over the median for the period 1990-1999. Reservoir levels in mid-August (Monday of week 33) were at 92.3 per cent of total capacity. This is 2.9 percentage points higher than the corresponding week in 1999 and is 4.0 percentage points higher than the median for week 33 in 1990-1999.

Still export surplus

Norway exported a record 2 361 GWh of electric energy in August. With imports running at only 20 GWh in August, this yielded a record high surplus. The value of the export surplus in August was NOK 184.3 million.

Tables:

• Table 1 Production, import, export and consumption of electric energy. GWh. Preliminary figures