Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): Low temperatures gave higher Nordic consumption and production of power The Nordic electricity consumption rose by 11 percent from week 3 to week 4, mainly due to cold. Increased consumption was compensated by higher hydro production. This has contributed to the fact that Norway was net exporter of electricity in week 4. Increased production from hydro producers contributed to a downfall in average Norwegian reservoir level by 2.8 percentage points in week 4. Reservoir levels are now 1.5 percentage points below normal. Increasing prices at the Norwegian power exchange has led to higher prices also for Norwegian households. In week 2, a spot price contract with a 2.2 øre/kWh mark-up, would have given a price of 32.4 øre/kWh. This is an increase of 4.2 øre/kWh from last week. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit L. Fossdal, NVE, phone: +47 2295 9353 Tor Arnt Johnsen, NVE, phone: +47 9302 4238 Nils Spjeldnæs, NVE, phone: +47 2295 9274