OREANDA-NEWS. June 8, 2012. Due to a cold winter and an increased energy demand, national electricity producer Lietuvos energija generated 18% more electricity during the first three months of this year than it did during the first quarter of 2011.  The Lietuvos energija Group unites all state-controlled power generation capacities – the Lithuanian Power Plant (LPP), the Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant (KPSHP) and the Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP). In total, the power plants controlled by the Group produced 0.480 TWh of electricity in the first three months of 2012.

In carrying out its obligations to ensure that the entire electricity demand of LESTO regulated consumers is met using all of the funded electrical energy that is generated in Lithuania, Lietuvos energija purchased 16% more wind energy in the first quarter of 2012. In response to the cold winter and increased demand, the amount of the electricity for LESTO consumers generated at the LPP nearly doubled.

During the first three months of the year, the largest increase in electricity production was seen at the LPP – from 0.133 TWh in Q1 of 2011 to 0.258 TWh in Q1 of 2012. Production at the KPSHP decreased due to the insufficient differentiation in daytime and nighttime electricity prices. Nature had an impact on production at the KHPP – the average water level of the Nemunas River was lower in the first quarter of 2012 than it was during the same quarter of 2011.

“Production of electricity is planned on a daily basis, taking energy requirements and market prices into account. Therefore, it is prices and demand that dictate when it is most effective for us to produce electricity at our power plants,” said Lietuvos energija CEO Dalius Misiunas.