Electricity, July 2009

So far this year the electricity consumption in power intensive manufacturing amounts to 15 726 GWh. This is a decline of 21.2 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2008. The decrease is mostly due to lower demand from abroad caused by the financial crisis.

Lower production of electricity

The production of electricity amounted to 7 933 GWh in July. Compared to July last year there was a 23.8 per cent reduction in production. The reduction in hydropower was 26.8 per cent. Thermal and wind power came to 428 GWh; a strong increase from 154 GWh in July 2008.

The reservoir level was below the median in all weeks during July. At the end of week 30 it amounted to 72.9 per cent. The median filling for the corresponding period in the last 17 years has been 82.2 per cent.

Electricity consumption excluding power intensive manufacturing

The electricity consumption excluding power intensive manufacturing amounted to 4 289 GWh in July; 3.6 per cent lower compared with the corresponding month in 2008. Nevertheless it still was the third highest consumption level ever recorded in July.

So far this year consumption amounts to 47 523 GWh. That is just 0.6 per cent lower compared with the corresponding period last year.

Net export of power

Norway’s imports of electricity came to 389 GWh in July, while exports totalled 1 043 GWh. This gave a net export of 654 GWh. So far this year, Norway has a net export of 2139 GWh.

Tables:

• Table 1 Electricity balance. Monthly. GWh
• Table 2 Production of electricity, on county level. GWh
• Table 3 Consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing, seasonal and non-seasonal growth from previous month. Per cent