Image Credit: FortisBC
July 31, 2020 - 1:47 PM
As more Okanagan and Kootenay residents try to beat the heat, they’re using more electricity which has led to record-breaking usage this summer.
The new summer peak load of 651 megawatts has beat the previous record of 630 MW collected Aug. 1, 2018, according to a FortisBC news release.
“The new record reflects the growing energy demand in these regions especially during the hottest days,” according to the news release. The expectation is that as the warm weather continues, so too will high electricity usage.
Here are some ways that residents can keep their bills lower with the heatwave: close window curtains and blinds, and install weather strips to seal cracks around doors and windows to prevent warm air from entering the home.
With the demand for electricity steadily increasing, FortisBC is also investing in upgrades like a new transformer at the Sexsmith substation in Kelowna that will help increase its capacity, according to the news release. FortisBC has also submitted an application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, requesting to add a third transformer to Kelowna's Lee Terminal substation.
To learn more about how to save energy in your home, visit FortisBC's website.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020