Record low water in reservoirs in northern Norway – predicts “Oslo prices” this summer – NRK Trams and Finnmark

Reservoir levels in northern Norway have fallen to record lows, weekly data show. Press statistics From the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE).

At the end of the 19th week, the occupancy rate stood at 20.54 percent – ​​the lowest level measured at this time of the year in the last 20 years, down 0.3 percent from the previous week, NTB writes.

This means that northern Norway will receive “Oslo prices” for electricity this summer.

The reason is that the region may have to accept electricity from southern Norway and northern Sweden as a result of lower electricity production in the north.

– That will result in slightly higher prices than what people in the north have been used to for the past two or three years, says Olav Bodnen, power analyst at Volt Power Analytics.

He predicts a price of 35-40 øre per kilowatt hour in northern Norway this summer.

It is too early to tell if this will last long

There is still no drama in the electricity situation, Bodnen believes.

– Power consumption in the North is small compared to the developed capacity. Also, our neighbors in northern Sweden have a lot to go to, so there is no shortage of stores in the north.

The reason the recharge is so low is that winters in the north are poor in rainfall.

– Little rain, little snow, and snowmelt is late this year in the north, Botnen says.

He adds:

– In addition, it was very cold, so many magazines were used throughout the winter.

– Is it surprising?

– Yes, this is the weakest magazine year we've been measuring in the North.

– Can it last long?

– It is too early to talk about the upcoming rains this summer and this autumn, there is no weather forecast to trust yet. So we have to trust the weather gods to provide what they need.

He adds:

– In any case, even in the worst season of rain and snow in the north, there will be no crisis due to the electricity situation in southern Norway and northern Sweden.

16 meters low water level

The mayor of the municipality of Purdue, Doralf Heimdahl (SP), is more concerned about the situation than the energy analyst.

The municipality he is in charge of has the largest source of power in Dromes County: Purduelva.

It comes from the Altevatnet, which now has an unusually low water level.

Heimdahl points out that electricity prices were already higher than usual in April. He fears even more expensive electricity in the future.

– Beyond the autumn season, we will have to import large amounts of electricity, and it will be expensive, says the mayor.

He says the Altevatnet water level is currently 16 meters below normal.

– Large amounts of rainfall will be required to reach normal levels of recharge in the fall. It's completely impossible, and Heimdall says it's a crisis.

Nationwide, last weekend's occupancy rate was 31.8 percent. This is slightly higher than the previous week, but lower than usual.

Northern Norway pulls down the most, but central and western Norway are also slightly below normal.

In southwestern and eastern Norway, fill levels were higher than normal for this time of year.