Electricity, January 2010

The average temperature in Norway was 2.9 degrees below normal in January. This is 5.7 degrees lower compared with the same month last year. Households, services and manufacturing other than the power-intensive accounted for the majority of the consumption.

Continued low consumption of electricity in power intensive manufacturing

The electricity consumption in power intensive manufacturing came to 2 401 GWh in January; 9.2 per cent lower than in the corresponding month in 2009. The decrease in electricity consumption is mostly due to the financial crisis, which lowered the demand for power intensive products (aluminium, ferroalloy etc.). Compared with the preceding month, there was a 0.6 per cent increase in electricity consumption in power intensive manufacturing.

Record high electricity production

The production of electricity amounted to 14 771 GWh in January. This is a record, and is 4.4 per cent higher compared to the same month last year. The high production level can be viewed in conjunction with higher electricity prices in January.

According to NVE, the reservoir level was 50.8 per cent at the end of week 4. This is 12 per cent below the median level.

Net import of power

Norway’s imports of electricity came to 955 GWh in October, while exports totalled 803 GWh. This gave net exports of 152 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