Lysaker, 04 December 2003 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): The level in the Norwegian water reservoirs dropped with 1.7 percentage points throughout week 48 and the reservoirs were 62 per cent full, as of Monday 1 December. The reservoir level in Sweden dropped with 2.1 percentage points to 55.9 per cent. Low precipitation led to a somewhat lower influx than normal in week 48. Expectations of continued mild weather and increased precipitation, entails that it is expected influx as normal in week 49. The mild weather has led to relative lower consumption of power the last weeks. At the same time, we have in Norway had a net import of 154 GWh in week 48. In spite of slightly less influx than normal to the reservoirs, the tapping of the reservoirs were nevertheless somewhat lower than it usually is at this time of year. For the first time this year, the prices for the end consumers with a standard variable contract are lower than for the corresponding week last year. The average power price from the leading suppliers in 30 net areas is notified to 57.2 øre/kWh in week 51. This is a decrease of 0.7 øre/kWh from week 50. The average price in week 51 is now 2 per cent lower than in the same week last year. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353