Effects of hydropower conservation

Abstract

If the current rate of growth in electricity consumption continues unchecked, Norway will have utilized all of her economically feasible hydroelectric resources by the year 2000 at the very latest. If one of the popular conservation plans is chosen, this date will be pushed forward to 1990–1995. However, in the short run, conservation will have little adverse effect on the cost of electricity. Cost increases directly attributable to conservation will remain less than 20% within the next 15 to 20 years (1995–2000) or until other sources of electricity are required.