High temperatures lead to record breaking power consumption
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro set a new record for summer power consumption Monday evening when peak hourly demand – the hour that customers use the most electricity – reached more than 7,500 megawatts.
Electricity demand increased by 8 per cent over last Monday’s peak demand of 7,022 megawatts. The energy required to serve the 829 megawatt increase in demand represents the equivalent of running seven Ruskin Generating Stations at full capacity.
The new summer record breaks the previous record set on Aug. 11, 2014 of 7,468 megawatts. It is the second power consumption record broken this year. On Jan. 3, BC Hydro recorded the highest ever peak hourly demand at 10,126 megawatts.
B.C. is fortunate to have a large hydroelectric system that can be counted on at all times of the year to respond quickly to changes in electricity demand that occur when temperatures reach extreme highs or lows.
Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
p. 604 928 6468