Lysaker, 12 May 2005 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): The reservoir levels in the Norwegian hydropower reservoirs increased with 1.2 percentage points to a total of 32.8 percent at the end of week 18. That is 3.3 percentage points below normal. The inflow to the Norwegian reservoirs was 3.2 TWh and well above the Norwegian production volumes this week. Hence the reservoir levels have reached a turning point after the winters tapping, and are again increasing. In Sweden, the filling level increased by 3.5 percentage points, to 23.4 percent. A reduced power consumption in Germany, partly due to Ascension Day Holiday, has contributed to lower prices in Germany. From Thursday onwards the power imports to the Nordic countries has been greater than the exports to Germany. Consequently there has been a reduction in the Norwegian export to Denmark. In week 18, there has been a balanced Norwegian power exchange. Prices for Norwegian end-users continue to increase. The average price on standard variable contracts offered by dominating suppliers is 0.344 NOK/kWh (incl. VAT) for week 21. That is an increase of 0.007 NOK/kWh from last week. In the same week the average price offered by the fifteen cheapest national suppliers is 0.322 NOK/kWh (+ 0.005 NOK/kWh). ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353