Electricity, July 2012

The high electricity generation may be seen in conjunction with a large amount of water in the Norwegian reservoirs. According to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, the reservoir filling was 68.4 per cent at the beginning of July (week 26). At the end of the month (week 31), the filling was 86.4. This is 9 percentage points higher than the same week in 2011 and 6.4 percentage points higher than the median filling for the corresponding week in the years 1990-2011.

High net export of power

Norway’s export of power totalled 1 940 GWh in May 2012, whereas imports came to 124 GWh. This gave a net export of 1 816 GWh. In the same month last year the net export totalled 2 362 GWh. Exchange of power between countries is determined by differences in generation and the consumption situation and prices, in addition to the capacity of the power lines. The high net export can be seen in conjunction with the large volume of water in the Norwegian power system.

Rise in the total electricity consumption

The total gross consumption of electricity came to 8 493 GWh in May, an increase of 3.8 per cent compared with the same month in 2011. The gross consumption of electricity encompasses consumption in the groups extraction of crude oil and natural gas, power-intensive manufacturing and

electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction. Net loss, pump storage use and other own consumption in the power stations are also included.

Increase in the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 3 892 GWh in July, an increase of 3.9 per cent compared with the same month in 2011. Among other things, this may be seen in conjunction with lower electricity prices. Households, services and manufacturing other than the power-intensive manufacturing account for the majority of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction. Electricity consumption in households amounts to approximately 50 per cent of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction.

Decrease in the consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 2 861 GWh in July 2012. This is 2.3 per cent lower compared with July 2011. The decline may be seen in conjunction with closures of some wood processing establishments. Power-intensive manufacturing utilises electricity for the production of goods. Hence, the electricity consumption is not influenced by temperature.

Tables:

• Table 1 Electricity balance. Monthly. GWh