Prosumer Legislation in Norway: A First Step for Empowering Small Energy Consumers.

European Energy Law Report Volume XII, In Martha Roggenkamp & Catherine Banet (ed.), Intersentia. ISBN 978-1-78068-672-1, Chapter VIII p. 169-189.

Posted: 2 Jan 2019

See all articles by Catherine Banet

Catherine Banet

Department of Energy and Resources Law, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo, Faculty of Law

Date Written: November 1, 2018

Abstract

Electricity generation in Norway is almost totally based on renewable energy sources, mostly hydropower (96.3% in 2016), followed by thermal power (2.3%) and wind power (1.4%). The price of electricity for end-users is also relatively low compared to the rest of Europe. The absence of an immediate need to ‘green’ the energy generation mix any further or to generate cheaper electricity explains the absence, for the majority of energy consumers, of a strong need to start producing electricity themselves and to turn into prosumers. Meanwhile, households and other small energy consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the existing opportunities and may find new financial motivations in higher electricity prices.

Together with the direct grants provided by the state enterprise Enova SF for the installation of renewable energy solutions, one of the strongest signals given by the Government in favour of prosumption comes from a recent amendment to the network tariffs legislation, which now provides a clear legal basis for the regime applicable to prosumers, focusing on residential prosumers, small businesses and buildings.

This chapter discusses the changes that have been made to the Norwegian legal regime to accommodate the development of prosumers. Section 2 examines how the law defines the concept of prosumers. Section 3 discusses permitting requirements and the prosumers’ rights and duties as to grid and market access. Section 4 gives an overview of the existing financial incentives in favour of prosumption. Section 5 concludes with an assessment of the current legal regime.

Keywords: prosumer, tariffs, electricity, network, Norway

Suggested Citation

Banet, Catherine, Prosumer Legislation in Norway: A First Step for Empowering Small Energy Consumers. (November 1, 2018). European Energy Law Report Volume XII, In Martha Roggenkamp & Catherine Banet (ed.), Intersentia. ISBN 978-1-78068-672-1, Chapter VIII p. 169-189., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3300593

Catherine Banet (Contact Author)

Department of Energy and Resources Law, Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo, Faculty of Law ( email )

P.O. box 6706
St. Olavs plass
Oslo, 0130
Norway

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.jus.uio.no/nifs/english/people/aca/catherb/index.html

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