Saskatchewan reached a new record for power use on Sunday evening. Colder temperatures and shorter daylight hours combined to push Saskatchewan’s new record peak load to 3,583 megawatts (MW) at 6:20 p.m. on Jan. 4. Last winter’s peak of 3,543 MW was set on Dec. 6, 2013.
“We continue to set new records for power consumption, the result of more people living and working in our province than ever before,” said Mike Marsh, SaskPower Acting President and CEO. “We are working hard to make sure our infrastructure can support this trend by renewing our equipment and looking to innovative options to supply power.”
Since the end of 2013, SaskPower has added approximately 7,800 new residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
To lighten the load and curb their power bills this winter, SaskPower’s customers have the power to save:
4 Turn down the thermostat. Changing the temperature of your home by even a few degrees can make a big difference. For every degree you lower your thermostat overnight for an eight-hour period, you can save up to two per cent on your heating costs.
4 Plug in your car with a timer. Your car only needs to be plugged in for four hours. Use a block heater timer to save around $25 a year.
4 Turn out the lights. Shorter days and longer nights mean interior lights in your home are on longer. Remember to turn out the lights when you leave a room. Better yet, cut down the power they use by about three quarters by using LED light bulbs.
4 Customers on equalized payments should keep an eye on their bills and any balance being carried, to avoid one large bill at the end of the year.
