Norway’s water and energy directorate NVE has proposed stricter rules for power grid operators to be ready to repair links and power lines in case of sabotage.
NVE wants all operators and the whole power system to raise preparedness and awareness against threats and sabotages, NVE’s director general Kjetil Lund said. That’s why the regulator is now clarifying additional requirements in the proposed regulation, Lund added.
“If the power system stops functioning, Norway will stop functioning within a short time,” the official said.
Norway is a highly electrified economy, one of Europe’s frontrunners in terms of electricity share in total energy consumption. Wind power accounts for about 10% of Norway’s power generation mix, which is dominated by hydropower that represents some 90% of electricity output. Natural gas has a tiny share in the power supply of Western Europe’s largest oil and gas producer. Electric vehicles (EVs) sales account for more than 90% of all car sales in Norway.
So grid operators must be prepared to respond quickly to threats and sabotage to avoid a total collapse of the power system, industry, and the economy.
The proposed rules, which will undergo consultation now, say that grid operators must have crews, expertise, and spare parts in place to restore necessary functions and be able to withstand simultaneous and serious incidents over time.
This will result in higher costs for grid companies, and consequently higher grid fees for households. The fee increase for an average household is expected to be between $10 and $29 (100 -300 Norwegian crowns) per year, NVE said.
The consultation period ends on March 15, 2026, after which NVE will consider the comments received, before adopting final regulations. The new regulations are planned to come into effect on July 1, 2026.
In response to heightened threats and sabotage incidents in north Europe after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Norway has increased security at key oil and gas sites, and forged a pact with Denmark, Belgium, Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands to enhance protection measures for underwater energy assets, including gas pipelines and electricity cables.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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