Electricity, September 2000

The production of electric energy in September of 11 162 GWh is 19.4 per cent higher than the previous 1993-record for this month, and it is 26.5 per cent higher than the average electricity production for September for the last 10 years. The production of electric energy so far this year is 105 494 GWh, which is an increase of 19.3 per cent compared with the same period in 1999. The high electricity production must be seen in connection with the high level of the water reservoirs. The reservoir level has been well over the median for the period 1990-1999 so far this year, except for the period 17. - 23.april. The reservoir levels in mid-September (Monday of the period 18. -24. September) were at 94.1 per cent of the total capacity. This is 5.4 percentage points higher than the corresponding week in 1999 and 5.6 percentage points higher than the median for the period 18. - 24.September in 1990-1999.

Record high electricity consumption

The gross consumption of electric energy in September was record high with 8 853 GWh, which is an increase of 7.7 per cent from September last year. The electricity consumption in September was as a comparison 392 GWh or 4.6 per cent higher than the previous record of this month from 1998. The consumption of electricity energy so far this year is 90 301 GWh. This is an increase of 4.0 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The consumption of electric energy in the energy-intensive industry was 2 696 GWh in September. The electricity consumption was largest in the production of aluminium and other metals with 1 575 GWh, which is an increase of 2.1 per cent compared with the same month last year. The consumption of electric energy in production of iron, steel and ferroalloys that was down 5.3 per cent compared with September last year to 556 GWh, while the electricity consumption in production of industrial chemicals had an increase of 22.8 per cent to 566 GWh. The relatively large increase in the electricity consumption in production of industrial chemicals can be partially explained by the fact that the statistics now cover this industry better. The consumption of electric energy in energy-intensive industry so far this year is 25 069 GWh.

Export surplus of electric energy

Norway exported a record 2 331 GWh of electric energy in September. With imports of electric energy at 22 GWh, which are the second lowest imports of electric energy for this month for the last 20 years, gave this a record high export surplus of 2 309 GWh. The highest net exports were to Sweden, 1 900 GWh, while net exports to Denmark were 408 GWh.

Tables:

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