BC Hydro reports record-breaking electricity use due to heat wave
Who's got the hand fan? ????
If the high temperatures this July didn’t have you reeling, your next BC Hydro bill might.
According to a release, peak hourly demand for electricity reached more than 7,800 megawatts on Monday, July 30th – which is 18% higher than the demand on the same day last year.
The company states that this July, they’ve seen the highest demand for power ever, as peak hourly demand exceeded 7,000 megawatts on 14 days this month.
In comparison, from 2015 to 2017, only an average of 8.7 days exceeded a demand of that much power.
The previous power consumption record for the summer, 7,500 megawatts, was set on August 28th, 2017. BC Hydro also attributes an overall upward trend of electricity use to climate change, as more and more people turn on their fans and air conditioners to ward of the rising temperatures.
“This upward trend is expected to continue as 25 per cent of British Columbians are considering purchasing an air conditioner this summer,” reads the release.
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