Lysaker, 8 March 2006 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): In large parts of the Nordic area, temperatures fell from week 8 to week 9. In Norway, Sweden, and Finland, electricity consumption increased by 0.5 TWh from week 8 to week 9. Production in the same countries increased by 0.4 TWh, giving an increased net import to these countries of 0.1 TWh. In week 9, the average spot price on electricity was 374 NOK/MWh in Southern Norway, after an increase of 16 NOK/MWh from last week. Despite this increase, Southern Norway had the lowest average price in the Nordic countries in week 9. Finland and Zeeland faced an average price above 400 NOK/MWh, while the prices in Northern Norway, Sweden, and Jutland were 376-377 NOK/MWh. In comparison, the average price at the German electricity exchange was 522 NOK/MWh in week 9. At the end of week 9, the Norwegian reservoir filling level was 48.7 percent, after a reduction of 3.5 percentage points from last week. The filling level is now 2.1 percentage points below normal, but 0.7 percentage points higher than at the same time last year. However, the sow reservoir is now lower than last year. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353