Cold snap pushes electricity demand near all-time highs
BC Hydro saw province-wide electricity demand reach near-record breaking highs last week as the temperature continued to drop.
On Friday, December 6, BC Hydro experienced a peak five-minute demand of 10,028 megawatts between 5 and 6 p.m. – the highest of the week. This was 1,804 megawatts higher than the peak demand on the Friday the week before.
While Friday's peak demand didn't break any records, it came close to a record set in 2006. The highest hourly peak demand recorded was set on Nov. 29, 2006, when consumption reached 10,113 megawatts between 5 and 6 p.m.
The highest peak 5-minute demand was recorded the same day, reaching 10,246 megawatts.
