BC Hydro sees record electricity use amid heat wave

Warmer temperatures across the province have led to a spike in electricity use, with BC Hydro saying it has set a new record for peak hourly demand in August.

The utility provider says preliminary data shows consumption reached over 8,400 megawatts Monday. This came as many British Columbians turned to things like air conditioning and fans to find relief from the heat.

“To provide some context around that, that’s about 1,000 megawatts higher than we’d see if we weren’t in a heat wave, and about the equivalent of plugging in a million portable air conditioning units,” explained Mora Scott, a spokesperson for BC Hydro.

“What we typically see in heat waves is obviously people looking for ways to keep cool … We also know in situations like this, refrigeration units have to work a lot harder as well, which requires more electricity.”

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BC Hydro anticipates higher electricity usage until the weather cools.

However, the utility provider says that demand is currently still lower than it typically is in the winter — about three quarters of the load seen during the coldest and darkest days of the year.

It is also assuring people that its system is able to meet the increase in demand.

Scott tells CityNews use of things like portable air conditioners has risen over the years, noting that about a decade ago, a quarter of British Columbians were using air conditioning.

That number, she says, has increased at least 50 per cent.

“It’s definitely surpassed 40 per cent of all British Columbians. It’s higher in some areas than it is in others, but we’re certainly seeing a lot more people in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, in particular, turning towards air conditioning to keep cool during the summer months,” she explained.

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Though increased electricity use will likely translate into a higher power bill, BC Hydro says there are a number of steps people can take to cut back on costs while keeping cool. That includes closing drapes and blinds, shutting doors and windows, using fans, and using a heat pump or ductless heat pump are all different ways to help bring temperatures down.

“Another thing that many people don’t realize is it’s really important to time when you open the windows and doors. A lot of us will leave for the day, leave the windows open thinking that’s actually helping to cool down the house, when in fact once the air temperature outside has exceeded the air temperature inside, you’re actually just letting hot air in. So what you want to do is make sure you’re closing those windows and doors at the right time to keep the cold air in-house,” Scott said.