The heat is on: SaskPower sets summer power demand record

Air conditioners have been working overtime during the sustained heat wave that has descended on Saskatchewan, and that has led to a record for SaskPower.

The Crown corporation reported it had set a summer power demand record of 3,543 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday, with high demand expected to continue into the evening.

The previous summer record of 3,524 MW was set on Aug. 10, 2018. The all-time demand record of 3,792 MW was set on Dec. 29, 2017.

According to SaskPower, the difference of 19 MW from Wednesday’s record to the previous summer mark equates to the amount of electricity needed to power around 20,000 homes.

“SaskPower has several processes and contingencies in place to ensure that there is not an electricity shortfall across the province,” the company said in a media release. “Some of these processes include purchasing additional power from neighbouring jurisdictions and working with the largest single-load customers on the grid to curtail their consumption during peak hours.”

To reduce consumption and power bills during times of extreme temperatures, SaskPower says customers should:

• Ensure their air conditioner and furnace are operating efficiently by having routine inspections;
• Invest in a programmable thermostat to ensure their home is being heated or cooled only when needed (for every degree that air conditioning is lowered for an eight-hour period, customers could save up to two per cent on their power costs);
• Close blinds and window coverings during the daytime to keep the heat out; and,
• Delay activities that produce heat and moisture, such as dishwashing, until later in the day or into the evening when temperatures are cooler.

The entire province of Saskatchewan was under heat warnings Wednesday. Environment Canada said the high temperatures are expected to continue through Saturday before seasonal temperatures return Sunday.