Lysaker, 20 October 2004 Nord Pool has received the following information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE): I nflow below normal led to reduced reservoir level For the first time since August, the inflow to the Norwegian hydropower reservoirs was below normal in week 42. This resulted in reduced reservoir filling for the first time since the spring break-up. A reduction of 0.9 percentage points gave a filling level of 79.7 percent at the start of week 43. Sweden also experienced a reduction in the reservoir filling. The filling level in Sweden is now 81.3 percent, after a reduction during week 42 of 0.7 percentage points. Cooler weather in the Nordic countries contributes to increasing the need for heating. At this time of the year, this results in combined heat- and electricity plants increasing their production. In Denmark, where a large proportion of the electricity production come from such plants, the electricity production increased by 125 GWh from week 41 to 42. A result of increased Danish production is that the power flow between Norway and Denmark has changed, so Norway had a net import from Denmark in week 42. Continued high imports from Sweden resulted in Norwegian net imports of 272 GWh during the week. ------------------------------- Contact person at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate: Marit Lundteigen Fossdal, NVE, tel: +47 2295 9353