Natural resource tax

It is a tax only for producers of hydropower, and the tax is NOK 0,11/kWh to the municipality and NOK 0,02/kWh to the county.

The Norwegian parliament argued in 1996 when the tax was introduced:

• "Hydropower is a national resource deeply rotted in the local communities. The strong local foundation implies that the host municipalities will have a special tax incom from the hydropower prodution. There has been a broad consensus about that.
• (...)
We point out the socity's historical obligations to the municipalities who have accepted huge interventions in their nature. In recognition that Norwegian hydroelectricity production is a national resource deeply rooted locally and regionally, the municipalities should be secured steady income from the loval power production. It is a substantial part of our regional policy that the municipalities can utilize their resources to local calue creation, and as much as possible be independent of state transfers "

The natural resource tax is not an additional taxburden on the companies (producers), because it is deducted from ordinary income tax which in Norway is at state tax.