As temperatures around B.C. soared well above 35 C this past week, FortisBC鈥檚 electricity system also saw a spike.
FortisBC's experienced its highest energy load at 714 megawatts (MW) on Tuesday, July 9.
That number was 280 MW higher than an average summer day鈥搘ith electricity demand at 434 MW on July 1.
鈥淲hile we didn鈥檛 hit a record on Tuesday, we sure hit a spike,鈥� said Nicole Brown with FortisBC.
The summer record for FortisBC occurred during the 2021 heat dome, at 764 MW on June 29, 2021.
鈥淎s the hot weather conditions are expected to continue through the weekend and into next week, we anticipate continued high loads on our system and want to remind customers they can stay safe, using less energy, by looking at our energy saving tips,鈥� said Brown.
How to stay cool as efficiently as possible:
- Aim to be comfortable, not chilly. The recommended temperature is between 25 and 27掳C.
- Draft proof around windows, doors and other openings to minimize conditioned air escaping your home.
- Set your cooling system鈥檚 thermostat two degrees higher than usual and use ceiling fans to circulate the cool air. This can reduce your air conditioning costs .
- Combine air conditioners with a portable fan to maximize their cooling power and reduce the energy used. Do not use a fan alone if the temperature in your home is .
- Cool only the rooms that you鈥檙e using.
- Close blinds and windows during the day to minimize solar heat gain. Open them when the outside temperature cools to help air out your home.
- Plan meals that don鈥檛 heat the kitchen鈥攐pt to barbecue outside or explore no-cook recipes that don鈥檛 require using the stove or oven.
- Customers with incomes under specific thresholds can order a free , which has materials to help keep conditioned air inside their homes. They can also get hands-on help installing similar products through the .
