Lysaker, 04 August 2004 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): The power productions in Norway, Denmark and Finland have increased from week 30 to week 31. The Norwegian power production increased with 123 GWh. The production in Sweden decreased after some nuclear power plants have been out of operation for maintenance and overhauling. In addition, the Swedish hydropower production has been lower than registered the two last weeks. Lower Swedish production has contributed to raise the spot prices in Sweden, Denmark and Finland to the Norwegian price levels. The situation with high Norwegian import continued in week 31, and the import has been 7.2 TWh so far this year. This is 0.5 TWh higher than the corresponding period last year. Throughout week 31 the available influx of water to the Norwegian reservoirs were 2 TWh, which is below normal. The influx has contributed to an increase of 0.9 percentage points to totally 68.4 per cent energy content to the Norwegian hydropower reservoirs. This is 2.2 percentage points higher than last year's figures. The energy content in Sweden is now 72.8 per cent full after an increase through week 31 of 1.6 percentage points. The standard variable power contract for end-users is notified to be stable at 0.334 NOK/kWh until week 34, based on the prices from the 15 most reasonable low-cost national power suppliers on the Norwegian Competition Authorities' (Konkurransetilsynet) price list. The average for the dominating power suppliers will be 0.359 NOK/kWh in week 34. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Jon Sagen, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9248