Given the current hot spell, FortisBC expects electricity use in its service area to peak at 674 megawatts on Sept. 3.
That would be a little lower than the overall peak for this summer, set on Aug. 12 when customers consumed 715 MW. Over the past six years, average peak use between June 1 and Aug. 31 has been 531 MW. The all-time record summer demand for electricity of 764 MW was set in June 2021, and the record in winter was 835 MW, set in December 2022.
FortisBC didn’t have Kootenay-specific data handy, so the numbers cover its entire service area, which includes the Okanagan. Demand is forecast to continue increasing through next week, the company said.
High energy use during the summer comes from air conditioners and fans, as well as refrigerators that have to work harder in the heat. Energy use for space cooling has increased over the past decade, the company said, and now accounts for about two per cent of total household consumption.
The company added its system has been upgraded over the years to handle increased load during higher temperatures, even during peak demand times between 5 and 7 p.m.
FortisBC provides power to much of the West Kootenay-Boundary.
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