Lysaker, 29 April 2004 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): Milder weather than normal during the last weeks has led to extremely early snow melting and increased influx of water to the Nordic hydropower reservoirs. Through week 17, this resulted in increased energy content to the Norwegian reservoirs with 2.8 percentage points. The content as of Monday 26 April was therefore 27.6 per cent. Southern Norway had the largest increase, where the weather was milder than further North. In Sweden, the reservoir content increased with 3.6 percentage points and is now 15.4 per cent. Low Norwegian production and high imports also contributed to a rising energy content through week 17. In Sweden, there has been a very high production and export to Norway and Denmark this week. Full production from the Swedish nuclear plants and unregulated hydropower production has led to the Swedish production being maintained at a high level. In the Nordic spot market this has contributed to a fall in prices through week 17. Some thermal power plants in the Nordic countries have started yearly maintenance in such a way that the production decreases . In Denmark lower production from both thermal and wind power stations led to higher prices and increased import from Sweden in week 17. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353