Freezing Cold in PEI

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I read in the newspaper that some customers on PEI are called interruptible business customers and that when electricity demand is high, they can be shut down. When we hit -20 to -25 during peak period, this intentional blackout needed to be expanded to about 1/4 of central PEI, leaving thousands of customers without power.

it’s cold in here

We are a tough bunch in PEI and we know how to weather a storm. However I think we can help avoid situations such as this. Sure we can spend time arguing that we need a third power cable to handle high load demands. Even if a decision is made, it may be months or years before this becomes a reality. So how about turning to ourselves for a solution?

Peak electricity use is usually from 5-9pm. This is when people start to arrive home from work, cook supper, take a shower, put on laundry, etc. During this time, the stores are still open and drawing electricity from the grid. Add to that the increased use of heat pumps which also increases the peak time load.

Show some consideration for your fellow Islanders on those -20 days by postponing discretionary use like showers and laundry and even turning the heat down 1 degree. If you bear in mind that our total electricity cost is based on peak demand, it makes sense to cut back during peak periods 365 days a year. I would even consider, on cold days, shutting down a computer or two, a couple of TVs, and a few lights – every little bit helps.

We only get 5-10 of those days a year and a small discomfort on your part will help avoid thousands freezing in the dark. It is simple – CBC – Cut Back Cold