In the current heat, BC Hydro has seen an increase in energy demand. However, there is no threat of a shortage.
The company has seen up to a 15% energy increase in the past few weeks, but BC Hydro Spokesperson Mora Scott says all demands will be met.
“BC Hydro has enough capacity to serve the additional electricity load,” she says. “Unlike utilities in California or Ontario that experience their peak demand during the summer months when their customers are using a significant amount of air conditioning, we actually experience our peak demand in the winter months when people are using energy to heat their homes.
Scott also says there are a few ways to keep cool without running up your bill, such as: shading your windows, using ceiling fans, hanging laundry, and cooking outdoors.
Scott says energy prices will remain the same throughout this drought.