Third Biggest Day For Power Usage In Ontario History As Demand For Air Conditioning Soars

It isn’t exactly a record setting day for electricity use in the province, but you can see it from here.

By the early afternoon demand for hydro powered by air conditioning was causing meters across the G.T.A. to spin in ever-faster circles.

The Independent Electricity System Operator, which monitors both power and prices in the province, says we used  26,092 megawatts on Monday, just 68 shy of the record and third on the all time list.

But while the power people admit things are ‘tight’, they don’t believe there’s any immediate danger of a blackout.

“We’re still looking O.K., but clearly it’s a strained system,” spokesman Terry Young tells CityNews.ca. “But it’s one that we’re able to manage at the moment.”

But Young is looking at Tuesday and Wednesday as potential trouble spots, with forecasters predicting even higher temperatures and humidex readings hitting the upper 40s.

“Our record, we set last July 13, 2005, was 26,160 megawatts. We will be approaching, if not passing, that mark over the next two days. If we still see the same kind of weather conditions, particularly if we don’t get any cloud cover, or any storms that pass through, then over that peak hour, it is a very a real possibility that we could break that record.”

Imports are helping the hydro experts meet the demand for now, although you’ll pay for the privilege of keeping cool.

The average price of power for July is just over five cents per kilowatt hour. But you’ll be paying double that as the A.C. continues to crank out the relief.

“It is clear that you are going to pay more for electricity if you are a customer that is exposed to the market price,” Young agrees. “You know, we’re looking at a price now…where it is about 10 cents, so…you could be charged at a higher rate.”

Young notes most bills are averaged out so the electric shock may not be so great when your next bill arrives. But your wallet will definitely feel the difference.

“Right now you’re paying 5.8 and 6.7 cents depending on how many kilowatt hours you’ve used in the month. When you go over 600 kilowatt hours a month, you’re paying at a high rate so anything you can do to cut back on your own use of electricity has two benefits – one it benefits the system…and two, it can benefit you by relieving the strain on your wallet.”

But not everyone is responding to the ‘please conserve’ pleas.

According to Tom Adams, executive director of Energy Probe, Canadians have good intentions when it comes to electricity conservation but that’s about it.

“I think it’s fair to say that as a long-term strategy to keeping the lights on, appeals to the public are likely to wear off,” Adams relates. “I don’t think we can expect consumers to be untiring when it comes to being asked to inconvenience themselves.”

Ontario Conservative Leader John Tory contends energy savings programs endorsed by the provincial government aren’t effective.

“The fact we’ve had demand that has reached new records or approached new records several times this year already speaks for itself in terms of whether you have created a culture of conservation in Ontario,” Tory maintains. “My argument would be we have not.”

Meanwhile, Young suggests leaving your thermostat set to between 25 and 26C, a range he insists is comfortable and eases the strain on the system. 

But he’s aware many people don’t put it at that level as the heat outside – and inside – continues to climb.

The I.E.S.O. hasn’t had to issue any official requests to cut back on consumption this summer, something it did 12 times last year. But the next 48 hours could be another story.

Here are some practical ways to reduce your use while keeping your cool:

• Reduce your air conditioning demand. Turing up the temperature to just 1 degree to about 25.5 Celsius can lower your bill by five percent.

• Keep the house sealed up during the hot days, and air your place out at night with a cool evening breeze. This way you’ll only have to use the A/C sparingly.

• Don’t block your A/C vents with drapes. Close off vents in rooms you don’t air conditioned. 

• Make sure you change your air filter in your furnace or air conditioner every few months. Dust can build up making your machine work harder and costing you more cool cash. 

• Try to install your air conditioner in a shaded area. An air conditioner exposed to direct sunlight will consume 5 per cent more energy than one that’s shaded. 

• Install a ceiling fan and use it instead of your power-hungry A/C. 

• Close the drapes. This is a very simple way to keep your home cool. 

• Plant a tree. Trees planted on the south and west sides of your abode can also keep the heat down. 

• Planning on sprucing up the exterior of your home? Use light-coloured paints. This reduces the amount of solar heat your home absorbs. 

• Turn on your range fan when you’re cooking and turn the fan on in the bathroom when you’re taking a shower. 

• Turn off lights and appliances you’re not using them. 

• Avoid using heat-producing appliances, like ovens and dishwashers, during the hottest part of the day. Use your microwave oven or barbecue instead of your stove or have a cold meal. 

• Consider replacing old energy wasting appliances with new greener models.

What are the record power demand days for Ontario? Here’s a look back, including Mondays’ ranking:

Courtesy: I.E.S.O.

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