Electricity, August 2003

The total production of power has been 67.2 TWh so far this year, a decrease of 21.3 per cent compared with the same period last year. The low production is a result of low water level in the reservoirs. The reservoir level was in the middle of August 65.9 per cent of total capacity, 23.5 percentage points below the median based on the period 1990 - 2000. The water reserve in the reservoirs was then 53.8 TWh. Imports and exports were 645 and 736 GWh in August, respectively. Net imports have so far this year been 6,587 GWh.

High consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

The consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 2,663 GWh in August, an increase of 11.5 per cent from last year. The consumption in power-intensive manufacturing has only twice been higher this month. The consumption in production of aluminum and other metal constitutes this increase. The consumption in this part of the power-intensive manufacturing was 1,778 GWh, which is the highest registered consumption in August. So far this year the total consumption in power-intensive manufacturing has decreased by 3.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2002, while the consumption in production of aluminum and other metals has increased by 8.1 per cent. Gross consumption besides power-intensive manufacturing has been 54.1 TWh, a decrease of 5.2 per cent from last year.

High prices

The average gross price of power was NOK 0.27/KWh in August. 1996 was the last time the price reached this level in August, with a price of NOK 0.29/KWh. In 1996 the situation was the same as this year, with little water in the reservoirs.

Tables:

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