REGINA — SaskPower is reporting their customers have set a new summer demand record for electricity.
In a news release, they report a demand record of 3,597 megawatts on Aug. 31, at 5:14 p.m., which is 46 MW higher than the previous record of 3,551 MW on July 13.
It is possible SaskPower could set more demand records, with temperatures above 30 C expected for the coming several days.
To conserve electricity, SaskPower is asking customers to consider a programmable or smart thermostat to ensure your home is being cooled only when needed, to close blinds and window coverings during the day, and to delay activities that produce heat and moisture to late in the day, such as dishwashing or laundry.
“Extreme heat drives up electricity consumption, and higher peaks are a sign of the growing demand for power in Saskatchewan,” said Kory Hayko, SaskPower vice-president of Transmission and Industrial Services, in a statement. “Demand will continue to grow in the coming years, and SaskPower is making significant investments in the grid to ensure that need is met with reliable and sustainable power.”
