Lysaker, 02 September 2004 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): For the first time since last autumn, Norway was net importer of power in week 25. Lower production of wind power in Denmark, reduced Finnish import from Russia and increased Danish and Swedish export to Germany led to a rise in prices and a small Norwegian net export. More influx than normal resulted in an increase of 0.9 percentage points. In the beginning of week 36, the reservoir level is 70.5 per cent full. Compared with the corresponding week last year the level is 2.3 percentage points higher. The Swedish hydro levels are now 72.4 per cent full, after an increase of 0.1 percentage points during week 35. The standard variable power price from the dominating power suppliers is expected to drop with 0.001 NOK/kWh from week 37 to week 38. The price on the same contract from the 15 most reasonable low-cost national suppliers will increase with 0.004 NOK/kWh between the same weeks. Nevertheless, the average for the 15 low-cost suppliers is 0.022 NOK/kWh lower than the dominating suppliers. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353