Regulation No. 1377 governing the payment of a levy on the grid tariff into the Energy Fund (Energy Fund Regulations)

Section 1. Purpose The regulations shall ensure the efficient payment and verification of contributions to the Energy Fund.

Section 2. Definitions In these regulations we use the following definitions: a) Trading licensee: Entity with a licence granted pursuant to section 4-1 of the Energy Act. b) Distribution network: Electrical distribution network with a nominal voltage up to and including 22 kV. c) Manager of the Energy Fund: The party appointed at any given time to manage funds from the Energy Fund.

Section 3. Levy and contributions to the Energy Fund Trading licensees that charge tariffs for drawing electrical energy from a distribution network shall when billing add a levy on the tariff of NOK 0.01/kWh on all consumption. The contribution that the trading licensee shall pay to the Energy Fund is NOK 0.01/kWh multiplied by the quantity of energy billed to end users connected to distribution networks.

Section 4. Accounts Separate accounting and balance sheet accounts shall be established that clarify billing of and payments from end customers on distribution networks as well as the transfer of contributions to the Energy Fund.

Section 5. Payments and statements Trading licensees shall submit periodic statements to the manager of the Energy Fund. Each period covers two calendar months. The first period covers January and February, the second period March and April, the third period May and June, the fourth period July and August, the fifth period September and October and the sixth period November and December. The statement shall show the total billed amount of electrical energy in the period in question. The statement must reach the manager of the Energy Fund no later than one month and ten days after the end of each period. Contributions for billed amounts of electrical energy during the period in question are due for payment on the same date as the deadline for statements. Contributions shall be paid regardless of actual payments made to trading licensees by end customers on distribution networks. Discrepancies between billed and actual consumption of electrical energy shall be corrected by set-offs or additional payments to the Energy Fund in connection with the period the settlement of the discrepancy vis-à-vis end customer is billed. Each year the trading licensee’s auditor shall verify the billed quantities of electrical energy and contributions to the Energy Fund.

Section 6. Compliance monitoring The manager of the Energy Fund shall monitor compliance with section 4-4 of the Energy Act and with provisions of or pursuant to these regulations. The manager of the Energy Fund shall have the right to conduct inspections of accounts and demand all information necessary for monitoring compliance.

Section 7. Exemptions In special cases, the Ministry may grant an exemption from these regulations.

Section 8. Entry into force These regulations shall enter into force on 1 January 2002. Consumption of electrical energy prior to the date for entry into force shall not be the basis for a levy on grid tariffs and payment of contributions to the Energy Fund.