Electricity, November 2012

The high electricity consumption may be due to the fact that the average temperature for Norway was 2.2 degrees lower in November 2012 than in November 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 electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 7 192 GWh in November 2012; an increase of 10 per cent compared with the same month in 2011. This may be seen in conjunction with lower temperatures in November 2012. Households, services and manufacturing other than 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.

Rise in electricity consumption in extraction of crude oil and natural gas

Electricity consumption in plants for extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas on the mainland, including electricity distributed from the mainland to the Norwegian shelf, amounted to 566 GWh in November 2012. This is 3.7 per cent more compared with the corresponding month in 2011. The electricity consumption in extraction on the mainland encompasses receiving and processing plants for crude oil and natural gas.

Decrease in consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 2 887 GWh in November 2012. This is 0.9 per cent lower compared with November 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.

Lower electricity generation

Electricity generation amounted to 12 295 GWh in November 2012. This is 6.1 per cent lower compared with the corresponding month last year. Whereas hydro power came to 96.2 per cent of the total electricity generation, thermal and wind power amounted to 2.4 and 1.4 per cent respectively.

Net export of power

Norway’s export of power totalled 1 382 GWh in November 2012, whereas imports came to 794 GWh. This gave a net export of 588 GWh. In the same month in 2011, the net export totalled 2 013 GWh.

Tables:

• Table 1 Electricity balance. Monthly. GWh