Lower temps raising Hydro demand

The frosty weather in Prince George is being felt across the province and is also having an effect on BC Hydro.

Hydro spokesperson Mora Scott says demand peaked at over 9,600 megawatts on Monday, which is around 1,000 megawatts more than last Monday night’s peak.

“We understand temperatures are increasing throughout the rest of the week, so we think Monday night’s peak is the height we’ll see during this cold snap,” she explains.

However, Scott assures that BC Hydro can handle this surge, with two new generators in place.

“We have a team of engineers that monitor the loads while tracking weather patterns, but here in BC, we’re very fortunate with a flexible system that allows us to import power as required ,” she says.

Scott says demand is always greater at night in the winter, when the people are most likely at home using their heat.

There are a few tips that she has for customers in Prince George to reduce their bill, or at least slow its growth and save some money.

“Some of the easiest things you can do is wash your clothes in cold water, turn off the heat-dry function on your dishwasher, and use a programmable thermostat to heat your house only when you’re home,” Scott advises.

(Image courtesy BC Hydro).