With Quebec in the grasp of an extreme cold snap, Hydro-Québec has reported that the province broke a record for energy consumption Wednesday morning when the level hit 38,910 megawatts. The Hydro-Québec website says the utility is expecting to set another record for electricity consumption by this time tomorrow with temperatures expected to remain frigid.
To avoid overburdening the grid, Hydro-Québec is asking people to reduce power consumption during the peak hours between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. tonight and between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Thursday.
Here are the most effective ways to reduce consumption at home and at McGill:
Turn off individual space heaters.
Turn off lighting in offices and meeting rooms (when not in use).
– Lower the thermostat temperature by a degree or two in all rooms, especially those that are unused.
– Postpone using major appliances (especially dryers and dishwashers) by a few hours.
– Limit the use of hot water as much as possible.
For more information, go to Hydro-Québec’s website.