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By Rob Mahon

SaskPower Record

SaskPower expects to approach record as heat wave lingers

Jun 5, 2023 | 11:01 AM

The heat has probably inspired you to switch on your air conditioner and have it running more often than normal. If that’s the case, you’ve got a lot of company.

SaskPower projects they will approach their summer record for load on their grid today. The heat wave has the company seeing higher numbers than average already, and the start of a new work week means today’s usage will jump even higher.

“We are seeing higher than average peak loads, and higher than average power usage in general,” SaskPower spokesperson Joel Cherry said. “Yesterday, we peaked at 3,283 megawatts, and we’re just about at that same level as we speak. Our projection for today is to be close to our summer record, which is 3,590 or so.”

According to Cherry, the overall system record of 3,910 came in the winter, when they tend to have higher loads. Those loads also tend to go up during the week, and the strain being put on the grid right now is already higher than the peak for June of last year.

“It is a little bit early to see high peaks like this,” Cherry said. “High loads tend to coincide with heat waves or extreme cold whenever they occur. So when we see sustained high heat, temperatures into the 30s for subsequent days, that’s when you start to see loads increasing the way we’re seeing them now.”

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The previous summer record for SaskPower was set in August of 2022, and that month saw power bills go up with the rising air conditioner use. That’s going to leave SaskPower customers looking for ways to save on their bill a little earlier in the summer than they might be used to.

“Turning your AC down or off when you leave your house, keeping it at the highest temperature that’s comfortable when you are home,” Cherry said. “Covering windows that have direct sunlight to prevent the sun from getting in and heating the house, and using something like a ceiling fan instead of or in addition to an air conditioner.”

If you’re a big fan of barbecued food, you probably don’t need much of an excuse to break out the grill for cooking. But Cherry gives you one anyway.

“It’s good barbecue weather to cook your meals instead of cooking your meals in the kitchen in the oven, which can also raise the temperature in the house,” he said.

Cherry added it’s better to use large appliances like dishwashers and driers at night to keep your home cooler.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP