Lysaker, 18 August 2004 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): Low influx and unchanged energy content Norwegian hydropower reservoir levels were unchanged from Monday in week 33 to Monday in week 34. I.e., the reservoir level remains at 69.3 per cent full, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than at the corresponding time last year. Estimated influx into the power system in week 33 is 1.5 TWh, and that corresponds to the Norwegian hydropower production in week 33. In Sweden, energy content fell 0.7 percentage points, and is now 72.3 per cent. Norway had a power net import of 160 GWh in week 33. In the same week last year, Norway exported 45 GWh. So far this year, the import has been 7.6 TWh, and that is an increase of 1.2 TWh from the corresponding period last year. The import to the Nordic countries was 387 GWh in Week 33. This is 10 per cent higher than the same week last year. The Spot prices continued to rise last week, and the average price for Southern Norway was 274 NOK/MWh in week 33. This is an increase of NOK 11 from last week. From Monday in week 33 to Monday in week 34 the power prices in the financial market dropped for the next winter, and the contracts for January and February 2005 were realized for 315 NOK/MWh Monday 16 August. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353