Lysaker, 19 October 2006 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): Reservoir levels still increasing The levels in the Norwegian hydro reservoirs increased with 0.6 percentage points, despite less inflow than normal in week 41. At the end of the week the reservoir level was 64.1 percent. The electricity consumption in Norway dropped with three percent from week 40 to week 41, mostly due to colder weather. Still, the consumption was seven percent lower than in the corresponding week last year. The electricity production increased more than the consumption, and the net imports of electricity to Norway fell with 40 percent to 200 GWh in week 41. The Nordic electricity imports also dropped, from 411 GWh in week 40 to 247 in week 41. The alteration was mainly due to higher prices in the German market. The wholesale prices increased in all parts of the Nordic Area, but the increase was least in Norway. Also in week 41 there were many price differences between different parts of the Nordic region, due to congestions in the network. Still the price in the South of Norway is highest, implicating that the scarcity is most severe in this area. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Tor Arnt Johnsen, NVE, phone: +47 9302 4238 Jon Sagen, NVE, phone: +47 2295 9595