Electricity, August 2009

The consumption of electricity in power intensive manufacturing in August was the lowest ever recorded for this month during the period from 1993 to 2009. So far this year the electricity consumption in power intensive manufacturing amounts to 17 824 GWh. This is a decline of 22 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2008. Both the production of chemical commodities and aluminium consumption fell by 16 per cent, while iron, steel and ferroalloy production decreased by 43 per cent. The decrease in electricity consumption is mostly due to lower demand from abroad caused by the financial crisis.

Lower production of electricity

The production of electricity amounted to 9 389 GWh in August. Compared to August last year there was a 7.5 per cent reduction in production. The reduction can be viewed in conjunction with lower demand and a reduced reservoir level. The reservoir level was below the median from January to May and in all weeks during August. At the end of week 35 it amounted to 82 per cent; 2.6 percentage points below the median level. Last year the median filling at the end of week 35 was 0.8 percentage points higher than the median level.

Lower electricity consumption excluding power intensive manufacturing

The electricity consumption excluding power intensive manufacturing amounted to 4 737 GWh in August; 1 per cent lower compared with the corresponding month in 2008. The reduction in consumption can be viewed in conjunction with higher average temperatures. In August, the average temperature in Norway was 1.4 degrees higher compared with the same month last year.

So far this year consumption amounts to 52 285 GWh. That is just 0.6 per cent lower compared with the corresponding period last year.

Reduced net export of power

Norway’s imports of electricity came to 150 GWh in August, while exports totalled 1746 GWh. This gave a net export of 1596 GWh. So far this year Norway has a net export of 3735 GWh, down 60 per cent compared to August 2008.

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
• Table 4 Electricity balance. Quarterly. GWh