Electricity consumption in Norway decreased significantly in 2022 compared to 2021. The decrease was more than 4%, which is 5,5 TWh less than in 2021. The decrease is particularly noticeable in households, but energy consumption also decreased in industry and the service sector.
– It is obvious that consumers and businesses in the south Norway changed its behavior during the period of high prices electricity, says Kjetil Lund, director of watercourses and energy.
The analysis carried out by NVE uses aggregated data from Elhub, where the total consumption is given without temperature correction and without network losses.
Total electricity consumption in Norway was 126 TWh last year. Consumption was reduced by 5,5 TWh in 2021-2022. This consists of: a decrease of 6,5 TWh in southern Norway and an increase of 1 TWh in central and northern Norway.
A large decrease in electricity consumption in households in south Norway
The temperature-adjusted data also shows a large decrease in household electricity consumption in 2022. It is 14,1 percent compared to 2020 and 13,8 percent compared to 2021 in southern Norway. The decline in electricity consumption began simultaneously with the increase in prices in October 2021 and will continue throughout 2022.
– The energy savings that result from a more conscious attitude to energy consumption are good. More conscious and efficient use of energy reduces electricity bills. It also affects the load on the power system and allows you to avoid interfering with nature. Conservation of energy, which reduces prosperity and harms health, is not good, says Lund.
In central and northern Norway household consumption adjusted for temperature was at the level of consumption in 2021. The electricity price in 2022 in northern and central Norway was on average much lower than in southern Norway.
Industry in Norway
Industry in southern Norway also saw a decrease in electricity consumption in 2022 compared to 2021, with the largest decrease occurring in the second half of 2022. The decrease is mainly due to a reduction in aluminum production.
Industrial consumption for Central Norway in 2022 was at the same level as in 2021. However, Northern Norway recorded an increase in electricity consumption in industry compared to 2021 by 19,6 percent. This increase is largely explained by the fact that the industry, which was shut down in 2021, was restarted in 2022.
Holiday home consumption in southern Norway at the same level as during the 2020 'cottage ban'
The temperature-adjusted consumption of holiday homes in southern Norway was 19,8 percent lower than in 2021. The temperature-adjusted electricity consumption of holiday homes in early 2022 is roughly at the same level as during the "holiday cottage ban" in spring 2020. The decrease in energy consumption in holiday homes is only a small part of the total decrease in energy consumption.
The year 2020 and 2021 is marked by a pandemic
Household electricity consumption increased in March 2020. This is likely due to more people staying at home as a result of the infection prevention measures in place. We had both a home school and a home office for a large part of the population at that time.
The figures also show a decline in electricity consumption in the tertiary sector over the same period. This is probably due to the lower level of activity.
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Source: NVE
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