Electricity, September 2007

The production of power in September was 46.6 per cent higher than in the corresponding month last year and 20.8 per cent higher than in September 2005. The high level of production must be seen in conjunction with a very high filling and a high inflow to the reservoirs.

Small increase in filling

The reservoir filling was 93.3 per cent at the beginning of September. Throughout the month, the filling increased by 0.7 percentage points to 94.0 per cent at the end of week 39. The median filling for the corresponding period in the last 15 years is 87.6 per cent.

All time high electricity consumption

The electricity consumption in energy-intensive manufacturing came to 2 555 GWh in September, 1.9 per cent higher than in the corresponding month last year. Nevertheless, the consumption in the category “Gross domestic consumption subtracted consumption in energy-intensive manufacturing” was 22.9 per cent higher in September 2007 compared with the same month last year and the highest level recorded for this month. Households, services and manufacturing other than the energy-intensive manufacturing accounted for the majority of this consumption. Low electricity prices relative to prices of light heating oils and high economic activity may have affected the high consumption of electricity. In some houses, office buildings and manufacturing and mining plants it is possible to switch rapidly between oil and electric boilers. End users with this possibility will use the cheapest energy carrier at any given time.

High exports of power

Norway’s imports of power came to 42 GWh in September, while exports totalled 2 318 GWh. The export level is the second highest figure ever recorded for this month.

See also

Prices of electric energy

Tables:

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