No. 104/2009 New bidding area for Elspot/Elbas valid from Monday 11 January 2010

Nord Pool Spot AS has received the following message from Statnett:

According to provisions for system responsibility in the power system (FoS), Statnett shall define Elspot/Elbas areas in order to deal with major and long-term congestions in the regional and central grid system, or possible lack of energy in defined geographical areas (§5).

As described in Exchange information no. 45/2009, UMM of 14.10.2009 and UMM of 20.11.2009, the thermal transmission capacity on 420 kV line Rød-Hasle is permanently reduced to 65% compared to previous capacity (before April 2008).  The capacity reduction will remain until new investments across the Oslo-fjord takes place. The Flesaker-corridor had earlier a capacity of 3100 MW. Due to the thermal capacity reduction of 420 kV line Rød-Hasle, the Flesaker-corridor has now a capacity of about 2000 MW.

Statnett has informed before the Rød-Hasle line was put into operation 16.10.09, that reduced transmission capacity NO1-SE would occur when one or both of the following conditions took place:

• Import from Denmark and the Netherlands and export to Sweden through Hasle (transit).
• Unfavorable distribution of production between the two transmission corridors Flesaker and Hallingdal.

The two conditions vary considerably and are unknown at the time for capacity allocation. The extent of capacity reduction in Hasle in order to control the flow on Rød-Hasle has been larger than expected. Due to these facts, Statnett will introduce an additional Elspot/Elbas area in southern Norway. This new area will contribute to a better utilization of transmission capacity and production, particularly in the eastern part of South Norway, and also to a better control of the load flow on Rød-Hasle.

On Monday 11 January 2010, the Elspot/Elbas areas of Norway will be changed according to the following:

Norway will be divided into four Elspot/Elbas areas, defined by:

- A southwestern Norway Elspot/Elbas area (NO2) limited by the

• 420 kV line Rød-Hasle
• 420 kV line Rjukan-Sylling
• 300 kV line Vemork-Flesaker
• 300 kV line Tokke-Flesaker
• 300 kV line Hof-Flesaker
• 300 kV line Modalen-Refsdal
• 66 kV (50 kV) line Granvin-Bu
• 66 kV line T/Gravenfoss-Gomsrud

where the first mentioned nodes are located in the southwestern area (NO2) and the second mentioned nodes are located in the southeastern area (NO1).

- A southeastern Norway Elspot/Elbas area (NO1) limited by the

• The nodes listed up above
• 300 kV line Øvre Vinstra-Vågåmo, where the node Ø.Vinstra is located in the southeastern area (NO1)
• 132 kV single busbar at Litjfossen,
• 132 kV double busbar at Åskåra, with one busbar in each area (NO1 and NO3)

- A middle Norway Elspot/Elbas area (NO3) limited by the

• 300 kV line Vågåmo-Øvre Vinstra line
• 132 kV single busbar at Litjfossen
• 132 kV double busbar at Åskåra, with one busbar in each area (NO1 and NO3)
• 300 kV line Nea-Jerpstrømmen
• 300 kV line Verdal-Tunnsjødal
• 300 kV line Namsos-Tunnsjødal

where the first mentioned nodes are located in the area in middle Norway (NO3).

- A northern Norway Elspot/Elbas area (NO4) north of the area defined above.

Statnett will emphasize that the divisions between the areas are referring to electrical nodes in the transmission system and are not to be understood as a geographical division.

This area definition will remain until further notice.

Lysaker, 7 December 2009

For further information, please contact Statnett:

Tom Tellefsen, department manager, National control center, phone + 47 2252 7443
Ina Wiese-Hansen, senior engineer, National control center, phone + 47 2252 7352