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The government is open to limiting electricity exports, especially since there is a high risk of power shortage at present. – Stronger control is necessary – says the prime minister.
The topic was raised at a press conference on Friday morning.
They are attended by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of Oil and Energy Terje Aasland and Director of Water Resources and Energy Kjetil Lund.
To avoid overdraining reservoirs in the future, the government has promised to slow down electricity exports during periods of low water.
On Friday, the government will introduce stricter requirements for retaining water in tanks. Energy exports must also be limited, but only in periods of real threat of power shortage.
“In the event of a power shortage, we will keep more water in the reservoirs,” Støre says at a press conference.
These actions will not result in a reduction electricity prices, but they will ensure security of supply in times of crisis with energy shortages. The government and SV promised to establish a commission that will examine the possibilities of intervening in electricity prices.
The government says the management mechanism needs to be put in place well in advance of next winter. It is based on the gradual introduction of stronger measures if the supply situation requires it.
Interference with exports
The energy authorities already have the ability to intervene in the power system in a situation where rationing is necessary.
They will now have the ability to intervene earlier, but only when absolutely necessary.
"Access to intervention will be strictly limited and will apply only in situations where there is a real threat of energy shortage and it is obvious that the risk assessment made by producers clearly differs from the assessment of the authorities," the government writes in a press release.
These are countermeasures
The government proposes the following measures:
- the energy industry must be legally responsible for contributing to security of supply
- energy authorities must be able to interfere with industry's use of water reservoirs where there is a risk of energy shortages
- determine whether the authorities can limit exports abroad for security of supply reasons if there is a real threat of energy shortage
- the reporting system for the power sector introduced last year is to be formalized
- the energy sector must create strategies to ensure security of supply, and the authorities must be able to supervise and impose sanctions
The export cap is a powerful tool and should only be used when there is a real threat of energy shortage, points out Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap).
