Electricity, July 2010

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing amounted to 4 463 GWh in July; a decrease of 0.9 per cent compared with the corresponding month last year. So far this year the consumption amounts to 52 519 GWh; 7.5 per cent higher compared to the same period in 2009. Households, services and manufacturing other than the power-intensive accounted for the majority of the consumption.

Increased electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

Electricity consumption in power intensive manufacturing came to 2 467 GWh in July; 19 per cent higher compared with the corresponding month in 2009. Electricity consumption in the production of chemical commodities and iron, steel and ferroalloy increased by 75 and 72 per cent respectively, while consumption in production of aluminium only increased by 2.5 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Compared to the monthly average in the period 2006-2008, electricity consumption was 12 per cent lower in July.

Lower electricity production

The production of electricity amounted to 7 865 GWh in July; 3.8 per cent lower compared with the same month last year. The reduction can be viewed in conjunction with the reduced reservoir level. According to NVE, the reservoir level was 62.6 per cent at the end of week 30. This is 19.6 percentage points below the median level for week 30 and 10.3 percentage points below the level in week 30 in 2009.

Positive net exports in July

Norway’s exports of electricity came to 981 GWh in July, while imports totalled 848 GWh. This gave net exports of 133 GWh. So far this year net imports amount to 6 623 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
• Table 4 Electricity balance. Quarterly. GWh