Record demand for electricity during cold snap in B.C.

VANCOUVER — Bitter cold gripped British Columbia, driving peak hourly electricity demand to a historic high of 11,300 megawatts on Friday night according to BC Hydro. Despite the chilling conditions, BC Hydro managed the surge without resorting to market imports and even lent support to neighboring regions.

In a news release, Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation, highlighted the flexibility of B.C.’s energy system. “Thanks to the resiliency of our energy system and exceptional planning by BC Hydro, we are able to meet the needs of British Columbians while also delivering clean, reliable hydro-electricity to our neighbours in Alberta when they needed it most.” Approximately 200 megawatts of energy was exported to Alberta following an electrical grid alert.

Before the milestone, December 2022 held the record at 10,977 megawatts. Consumption on Friday night marked a staggering 30% increase from the previous week, maintaining a high of nearly 11,000 megawatts on Saturday night.

“B.C. is fortunate to have an integrated, provincial hydroelectric system that allows BC Hydro to ramp up quickly when generation is needed and scale back when it is not,” said Chris O’Riley, President and CEO, BC Hydro. He added that BC Hydro’s preparation for cold weather events enabled it to adjust generation to meet heightened demand.