Alberta sets new electricity usage record amid freezing temps

Alberta set a new record for electricity usage on Monday as temperatures once again dropped significantly across the province.

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) says on Jan. 3, Alberta used 11,939 MW of power. The previous record was 11,729 MW.

We hit a new all-time electricity usage record Jan. 3 of 11,939 MW. Previous record was 11,729 MW. The grid is in good shape but with lower temperatures conservation always helps. https://t.co/lzRxJaJsfa pic.twitter.com/QwxsLQ0XQ8

— AESO (@theAESO) January 4, 2022

AESO says the province’s grid is in good shape but conserving energy will always help keep things running smooth.

To try and save some power during the deep freeze, AESO provided these tips:

• Turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances
• Minimize the use of air conditioning/space heaters
• Delay the use of major power-consuming appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers until after the peak hours of 4 – 7 p.m.
• Use cold water for washing clothes – most of the energy used goes to heating the water. Only running full loads helps too
• Cook with your microwave, crockpot or toaster oven instead of the stove
• Limit the use of kitchen or bathroom ventilation fans
• Use motion detector lights in storage areas, garages, and outdoors when possible
• Work on a laptop instead of a desktop computer – laptops are more energy efficient than desktop units