As the cold snap sweeps across B.C. electricity customers are cranking up the heat.
“Freezing temperatures resulted in a 10 per cent increase in overall provincial electricity demand on February 18 and 19 compared to the same days last week,” said B.C. Hydro.
The power utility said the demand for electricity is expected to remain high and B.C. Hydro is preparing for near-record breaking peak loads.
“We are expecting to see demand peak between 9,300 and 10,000 megawatts this week, which are near-record breaking levels,” said B.C. Hydro spokesperson Mora Scott.
“Last year we broke a record for peak electricity demand that was in place for more than decade,” Scott added. “The record was set in early January last year when demand for electricity peaked at 10,126 megawatts.”
In the Okanagan temperatures dipped to -19 C in some areas with more snow in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.
The highest demand for electricity occurs between 4 to 8 p.m. on weekday evenings, which coincides with the time many people return home, turn up the heat and switch on the lights.
On average, residential electricity use can increase 88 per cent in the winter months.
Residents are encouraged to save energy by keeping the thermostat at an ideal temperature of 16 degrees when away from home, 18 degrees when cooking or doing housework, and 21 degrees when relaxing at home.
Other ways to conserve energy include installing draft proofing around windows and doors and turning off unnecessary lights and unused electronics.
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