OSLO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL) and Elkem, the silicon arm of conglomerate Orkla (ORK.OL), have been briefly curbing their power consumption during peak hours due to sky-rocketing electricity costs.
"We have shut down some of our capacity for an hour or two per day since the strained power situation came along," Johan Hovland, Elkem Senior Vice-President for public affairs and energy, told Reuters on Tuesday.
"When it is rational we will reduce consumption," he added.
Norsk Hydro spokesman Lars Nermoen said: "There are very high electricity prices in Norway, especially in mid-Norway ... So we do what we can to save energy."
"A handful of times this year we have reduced our electricity consumption at the Sundal aluminium plant for about an hour or so," he added.
Norway is part of the pan-Nordic power system, where prices have surged in past weeks due to an unusually cold start of the year along with lower precipitation, which lowers capacity at the region's numerous hydro-electric plants.
The day-ahead Nordic spot price, also called the system price on regional power bourse Nord Pool, fell to 92.70 euros ($125.9) per megawatt hour for Wednesday delivery from 98.98 euros today and high of 134.80 euros on Monday.
In January, the average system price was 53.38 euros and the average for 2009 was 35.02 euros, according to Nord Pool data.
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