Rationing of electricity may be necessary next spring. – Then it is a very strained situation, just before the snowmelt starts again next winter or next spring, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) is now preparing a review of possible crisis measures. They can apply to companies or individuals. In practice, rationing will mean that the electricity can be switched off at certain hours of the day or that there will be quotas on how much electricity you can use without having to pay sky-high fees. Can request limited exports Much depends on the amount of precipitation we have in store. If there is normal precipitation for the rest of the year, NVE considers that there will be no need for rationing. Still, Aasland comes with a small warning. – I hope that the power producers are aware of their responsibility now. This means that the companies must save on the capacity of the magazines until the winter and next spring. If necessary, the Minister of Energy also keeps the possibility open for the government to step in and limit electricity exports. – We have said that we must turn all stones. For the situation we have been through this winter, and the situation we are in now, we do not want it to be normal in Norway. Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland (Labor Party) does not rule out measures from the government to ensure energy security. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Want closer reporting The government is considering introducing requirements that power producers must report more closely on how they manage water resources. The question is whether the companies produce and export to make money, while the power situation is further pressured here at home. Aasland says he will see updated figures on the power situation before he makes an assessment. – If I have any doubts, I will ask NVE to consider obtaining this type of information from the power producers. Historically low filling level in the south There is still very little water in the reservoirs in southern Norway. It shows Wednesday’s updated report from NVE. Many of the largest power plants in the country are located in southwestern Norway. Here, the filling rate last week was down to 45.5 percent. – It is a degree of filling that is close to the historical minimum for the last 20 years, says Inga Nordberg in NVE. Unfortunately, it does not help that snowmelt from the mountains gives full reservoirs to the north of the country. Production is small in relation to the need in the south, and the transmission capacity is low. There are low water levels in many of the country’s reservoirs. Here from Kalhovdfjorden, which is part of several lakes south of the Hardangervidda in Telemark. Photo: Ørn E. Borgen / NTB Large exports This contributes to unusually high electricity prices for the summer. Last week, the average price in southwestern Norway was 230 øre / kWh, NVE writes in its report on the power situation. But it was even higher in several countries to which Norway has exchange capacity. According to NVE, net exports from southern Norway were the highest since week 9. – This is because there is currently high snowmelt. This means that a lot of river power is produced, among other things, which is unregulated, says Nordberg. – But it is also due to the fact that we have very high prices in the countries around us, which then conduct exports. – We can not rule it out, but we do not think it will be a rationing. But we are preparing to be on the safe side, says Inga Nordberg, director of the energy and licensing department at NVE. Photo: Stig Storheil / NVE Pressured situation in Europe Large parts of Europe are in a pressured power situation. It is affected by the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia. In Germany, there is a real risk of rationing gas in. The country’s economy minister has said that gas is in short supply, and has asked his countrymen to reduce consumption. Other countries may find themselves in similar situations. Then it is not certain that they will export electricity to Norway for the winter, when we get increased demand. Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland asks Norwegians to prepare for continued sky-high prices in the future. – As it looks now, prices will be persistently high throughout the summer and the coming winter. news emphasizes: In an earlier version of this case, it was stated that Rationing of electricity may be necessary next spring or late winter. Aasland has emphasized that there is no question of any power rationing until the spring.
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Can be rationing of electricity in Norway – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
