Cold snap heats up Hydro demand, new record set

BC Hydro says the frigid temperatures impacting most of the province have led to the record for peak hourly electricity demand being broken.

Hydro says power use hit 10,900 megawatts between five and six p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 21) — the highest demand ever recorded — breaking the previous record, which was set just days before on Monday, Dec. 19.

Environment Canada says more than 30 daily minimum temperature records were set on Wednesday, including in Clearwater where the temperature of minus 32 edged the previous low for the day set 101 years ago.

Other records included a frigid minus-48.1 west of Williams Lake and temperatures of minus 15.6 in Port Alberni and minus 10 in Comox — both usually mild Vancouver Island communities.

(The Canadian Press)