In the event of the current sky-high prices, we use more power than ever show figures from NVE.Currently there are few signs that people have begun to save on power.
So far this year,consumption is 2.8% higher than at the same time last year stated adviser, Martin Andreas Vik at Norway’s Water Resources and Energy Workshop (NVE) to NTB news. Continuing the trend, it will be the third consecutive year with a new record in power consumption.
It was especially the cold spring that has pulled up the year’s electricity consumption overall.Another important reason is that the Norwegian economy is going well.
“A good part of the economy is based on heavy industry,” Vik said.
Other possible causes of increased power consumption may be increased population and more electric cars on the roads.
The price goes up
The dry summer gave 40% less rainfall in Norway than usual in the second quarter. The rain of the last week has not helped remarkably. The volume of water filling reservoirs has been resting at 65.5% in the country as a whole showed recent statistics from NVE.
This has again led to increased electricity prices. In many parts of the country, twelve years ago electricity prices were as high in August as this year.
But for now, NVE sees few signs that this has caused people to reduce power consumption.
“In autumn and during colder times, people have started to turn on their central heating,” Vik pointed out.
Lots to save
“People begin to save when they get the bill in the mailbox,” said communications manager, Eiliv Flakne in Enova.According to the Energy Consultancy, there may be many thousands to save by taking simple measures.
Woodshed sales are already increasing.
“We sell much more firewood now than at the same time last year,” said Åsmund Andersen at Oslo Vedhandel to NTB news.
At the same time, not many years before now,the electricity prices were even higher than today. In February 2010, the spot price in several places in the country reached almost 80 euros per megawattime, compared to more than 50 euros in August this year showed statistics from NordPool.
New normal?
Currently, electricity prices do not appear to be falling according to Vik.
“We assume that prices will be down to normal by next summer” said the NVE advisor.
But what is actually normal is a good question he admits.
“We can say that the norm has moved upwards. Globally,energy has become more expensive due to scarcity.
In addition, stricter climate policy and higher CO2 taxes have increased the price of fossil energy, which gives greater demand for clean Norwegian hydropower.
“It also drives prices upwards” said Vik.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
