Electricity, January 2012

The increase in hydro power generation can be seen in conjunction with a high reservoir filling level at the beginning of 2012. Large inflow of water during the autumn and a relatively warm winter season led to a filling level as high as 78.2 per cent, according to figures from NVE. This is 35.4 percentage points higher than the same week in 2011 and 9.2 percentage points higher than the median level.

From record high net import to record high net export

Norway’s export of power totalled 2 229 GWh in January 2012, while imports came to 345 GWh. This gave a net export of 1 884 GWh, and is the highest level recorded in January since the monthly electricity statistics started in 1979. In January 2011, the situation was the complete opposite, with the net import totalling a record high 2 330 GWh.

Lower electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 8 826 GWh in January 2012; a decline of 2.1 per cent compared with the same month last year. 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.

Lower consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 2 861 GWh in January 2012. This is 3.2 per cent lower compared with January 2011.

Tables:

• Table 1 Electricity balance. Monthly. GWh