Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) -- German power prices for Monday delivery may rise on expectations factories will consume more after the weekend break, boosting demand in Europe's largest energy market.

Yesterday afternoon, baseload power for delivery Monday traded at 34.25 euros ($42) a megawatt-hour compared with the 32.03 euros paid for today, traders said. Peak power changed hands at 41 euros, up from 38.05 euros.

Industrial demand usually increases on Mondays because factories, which use about half of Germany's electricity, and offices resume production after the weekend break. Germany's annual demand of about 500 terawatt-hours is Europe's highest.

Breezes in northern Germany, home to most of the country's wind-power industry, are forecast to slow by almost a fifth on Monday, Wetter24 said on its Web site, cutting output at wind turbines. Windmills are Germany's least stable source of power and their varying output often accounts for price changes.

The baseload price is for power delivered any time during the 24- hour day. The peak price is the average for power delivered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To contact the reporter on this story: Veronica Lizana in London at vlizana@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 24, 2004 00:01 EDT