NVE: Central Norway electricity prices hit highest Q3 level since 2010
Electricity prices in Central Norway hit their highest third-quarter level since 2010 according to a Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) quarterly report covered by Europower.
The Price Surge Across Central Norway
The escalation in power costs affects users throughout the region designated as NO3. Europower reported that while power prices climbed across all price areas, Central Norway experienced the sharpest increase. The quarterly average stood far above figures recorded in recent years.
NVE findings point out that third-quarter price levels in the south remained high compared to the same quarter in previous years, though they stayed well below the peaks seen during the 2022 energy crisis. Shifting export volumes and regional transmission combined to keep consumer bills elevated.
New Power Line Aligns Central Norway Prices with South
A primary driver behind the cost equalization between Central Norway and the south is the new power line linking Aurland and Sogndal, which entered service in autumn 2025. This infrastructure increased transmission capacity between Central Norway and Western Norway. That expanded exchange brought NO3 prices closer in line with southern pricing tiers.
Magnus Buvik, section manager at NVE, noted in a press release that the third quarter continued to feel the effects of a dry, low-snow winter. That weather pattern left reservoirs across large parts of the country below normal water levels. High electricity prices in neighboring countries compounded the domestic pressure.
Hydropower Production Drops as Domestic Electricity Consumption Rises
Both reservoir filling and overall hydropower production dropped compared to the third quarter of 2025, according to NVE data. Net power exports fell across all zones except Northern Norway, designated as NO4. The sharpest drop in hydropower generation occurred in Southwest Norway, known as NO2, where output hit its lowest quarterly level since the third quarter of 2022.
At the same time, total domestic electricity consumption rose to 28.5 Terawatt-hours during the third quarter. That represented a 0.2 TWh increase from the same period a year prior, with the largest consumption growth registered in the north. Meanwhile, net power exports dropped to 2.2 TWh, marking a 3.2 TWh decline from the third quarter of last year.
| Metric | Third Quarter Value | Comparison / Change |
|---|---|---|
| Total Power Consumption | 28.5 TWh | Up 0.2 TWh from prior year |
| Net Power Exports | 2.2 TWh | Down 3.2 TWh from prior year |
| NO2 Hydropower Production | Lowest since Q3 2022 | Marked decline in southwest generation |
Tight Supply Forces Norway to Import More Electricity
Tight domestic supply altered trading patterns. Lower hydropower production led to several weeks during the quarter where Norway imported nearly as much electricity as it exported.
The third-quarter figures from NVE demonstrate how swiftly transmission upgrades and dry weather can reshape regional electricity markets, leaving consumers in Central Norway paying rates comparable to the traditionally higher-priced south.