Electricity, February 2007

Gross domestic consumption (total production minus net export) of electricity was 1.2 per cent higher than the corresponding month last year and 3.4 per cent above the level of February 2005. The consumption in energy-intensive manufacturing amounted to 2 413 GWh, a decline of 4.6 per cent compared with the same month in 2006.

The consumption in the category “Gross domestic consumption subtracted consumption in energy-intensive manufacturing” was 9 819 GWh in February, the second highest figure recorded for this month. This is 2.7 per cent more than the corresponding month last year and 7.3 per cent above the level in 2005. Households, service industry and other manufacturing industry except energy-intensive represent most of this consumption. Basically, it is the temperature that affects the change in the consumption within the households and service industry in the short run. Low temperature and lower electricity prices contributed to the increase in the category “Gross domestic consumption subtracted consumption in energy-intensive manufacturing”. The average temperature for Norway was 1.1 centigrades below the normal in February, while it was above the normal in February last year and 2005.

Production of power

Production of power came to 12 828 GWh in February, 2.9 per cent lower than February last year, but nevertheless the third highest production figure recorded for this month. A relatively good filling and information throughout February that it was more snow available in the mountains for the hydro power production of this year than the normal for the same period may have caused the high production.

At the beginning of February, the reservoir filling was 58.8 per cent. Throughout the month the reservoir filling fell by 9.5 percentage points and was 49.3 per cent at the end of week 8. The normal filling at the same period of the last fifteen years is 53.5 per cent.

Exports and imports

Norway exported 1 079 GWh in February, while we imported 483 GWh. The high production of power contributed to high exports.

See also: Prices of electric energy

Tables:

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