Reduce use during high demand periods

Lower temperatures create higher demand

With the onset of colder winter weather, there’s an increased demand on the electrical system. In fact, the highest electricity use by FortisBC customers is during the winter months and typically the highest daily use is in the evening between 5 and 9 p.m. when customers return home from work and school.

There are steps you can take to reduce electrical use during these busy peak hours:

• Wait until later in the evening to use energy intensive appliances like your dishwasher and clothes dryer.
• Precook dinners to avoid using your oven during peak times.
• Turn off lights when you leave the room.
• Heat only the rooms you use.
• Lower the thermostat on baseboard heating.

Reducing power consumption during high use periods will help make sure customers have access to safe, reliable power at the lowest reasonable cost. This minimizes the need to purchase additional power from the market during expensive peak periods, keeping costs lower for all customers and lessening impact on the environment.

Meeting the need

When it comes to cold weather, FortisBC is prepared. To help meet customers’ growing electricity needs, FortisBC has invested significantly in infrastructure improvements over the last five years. We energized three substations in 2009, including Ellison, Black Mountain, and Naramata. FortisBC is continuing to invest in the system with further upgrades and reinforcements including the Benvoulin substation and Okanagan Transmission Reinforcement project in 2010.

Be prepared in the event of power outages

Although FortisBC strives to provide safe and reliable power, customers should always be prepared for a power outage, especially during the winter when the chance of storms and heavy snow fall increase.  

Learn more on how to prepare for a power outage.

Use energy wisely all the time

The winter peak is a good reminder for all of us to be thoughtful about the energy we use. Some other easy household energy efficiency tips include:

• Turn off household and holiday lights when not required. One of the best ways to conserve energy is to simply turn off lights when not in use or when you leave the room. Try using timers and motion sensors for outdoor lighting.
• Lower thermostats to 20 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 degrees at night. Installing a programmable thermostat will make setting temperatures easy. It will automatically save energy at night and when you're away from home.
• Heat only the rooms you’re using - Avoid heating unused rooms by closing doors and warm air supply registers and by lowering the room thermostat for baseboards.  Avoid heating non-insulated spaces including garages, crawlspaces, attics or storage sheds.
• Keep the heat in - Close the fireplace chimney damper between fires to keep warm air in during the winter and out during the summer. Use weather stripping to seal around door openings and windows. Use caulking to seal gaps and holes around non-opening windows, electrical outlets and openings around water pipes and vents. Even closing blinds or curtains in the evening will help keep warm air inside.
• Use only essential appliances during the day - Program your dishwasher to run overnight and start the laundry after 8 p.m. This reduces electrical use during peak hours.

Learn more tips on saving energy and money this winter..