Alectra Utilities says Thursday was a record-breaker.
The heat wave that has scorched southern Ontario over the past few days, along with Thursday’s record temperatures, have increased electricity consumption in Alectra Utilities’ service territory.
The municipally-owned power company said at 3 p.m., they reached a peak demand of more than 5,000 megawatts (MW).
This exceeds the previous peak demand record of 46-hundred MW set on September 25, 2017.
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Increased electricity consumption during heat waves is mostly driven by air conditioning use, they said.
The peak demand record for Alectra Utilities’ service territory may increase even further if temperatures continue to rise.
Alectra said there are ways to help reduce electricity consumption:
- Make use of a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature
- Make use of ceiling and portable fans to circulate air
- Hang clothes outside instead of using a dryer
- Use curtains or blinds to shade windows on hot sunny days