Cold weather is back, and with it comes increased power consumption.
SaskPower issued a news release this week in which they announced a new peak power use record was set in the province.
According to the utility, Saskatchewan’s peak load reached 3,640 megawatts (MW) at 5:31 p.m. on Jan. 11.
Last winter’s peak of 3,628 MW was set Jan. 8, 2015.
Seeing new peak power records happen seems to be a regular annual occurrence for SaskPower. Records were set in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and twice in 2015.
As well, customers continue to go up for SaskPower as more than 8,300 new residential, commercial and industrial customers were added in 2014, according to figures they provided.
The record for 2016 coincided with very cold temperatures that date, the first major cold snap of the winter season in Saskatchewan.
“We’ve had a relatively mild start to winter this year, but as expected we continue to set new records for power consumption,” said Mike Marsh, SaskPower president and CEO, in a statement.
“In order to make sure our customers keep having access to the reliable, cost-effective power they depend on, we’ll continue to work hard to renew our equipment and bring innovative power supply options to Saskatchewan.”
Meanwhile SaskPower is reminding customers they can lighten the load and curb their power bills this winter.
Among the tips is turning down the thermostat. Every degree lowered for an eight-hour period overnight can save up to two per cent on your heating costs, said SaskPower.
They urge plugging in your car with a block heater timer, as your car needs plugged in for only four hours. Using a timer could save $25 per year.
As well, SaskPower urges turning out the lights when you leave a room, and to cut down the power use by about three quarters by using LED bulbs.
Also, SaskPower is urging customers on equalized payments to watch their bills and any balance being carried to avoid one large bill at the end of a year.
