Lysaker, 26 August 2004 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): The Norwegian net import of electric power was only 6 GWh in week 34. This is a decrease of 154 GWh from last week. Reduced Swedish production as a result of maintenance of power plants, and increased power consumption gave a higher price and therefore increased Norwegian hydropower production. The Nordic net import of power was nearly 400 GWh in week 34. Influx close to normal into the Norwegian hydropower reservoir nevertheless led to an increase in the reservoir level of 0.3 percentage points through week 34. The hydro stock was 69.6 percent full at the beginning of week 34. In the same week last year the hydro stock was 67.7 per cent full. In Sweden, the energy content is now 72.3 per cent full, i.e. unchanged from last week. The increase in prices in the wholesale market has led to higher end-user prices. In week 37, an average price from the dominating power suppliers variable power price of 0.378 NOK/kWh is expected . In comparison, the average price from the 15 least expensive national power suppliers for this type of contract is 0.351 NOK/kWh. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353