BC Hydro set a record for the highest February peak hourly demand last week, when demand for electricity soared to more than 10,000 megawatts on the evening of Monday, Feb. 11.
The previous February record for peak hourly demand of 9,795 megawatts set on Feb. 8, 2017 has been broken twice in the recent cold snap. The first time was on Sunday, Feb. 10, when peak hourly demand reached 9,848 megawatts. That is a 22 per cent increase over the same day two weeks earlier, before temperatures plummeted.
The new February record set on Feb. 11—10,050 megawatts—is just shy of the all-time record of 10,194 megawatts, which was set on Jan. 3, 2017.
Since the cold snap began on Feb. 3 there has been a surge in electricity use, which is about 13 per cent higher on average. Electricity use is the highest between 4 and 8 p.m. on weekday evenings, when British Columbians come home from work, turn up the heat, switch on the lights, do laundry, and make dinner.
Heating costs can rise up to 140 per cent in the winter months, which leads to higher electricity bills. A recent report by BC Hydro found that more than a quarter of British Columbians set their thermostat above the recommended 21° C, and more than 40 per cent of couples admit to arguing over the temperature of the home.
For tips on how to save energy and money this winter, visit www.powersmart.ca.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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