Credit: Pexels from Pixabay
B.C. is using more power than ever during summer—so as the province flips on the A/C, we break down the system that helps us keep our cool
34% of B.C. households used air conditioners in 2017, 3X MORE than in 2001
A/C accounts for about 20% of provincial power consumption, or 1,300 megawatts on the hottest days of summer
7,800 Highest peak hourly summer power demand to date in B.C., set on July 30, 2018
Days last July with peaks over 7,000 megawatts: 14
Average from 2015-17: 8.7
AVERAGE ELECTRICITY PRICES IN VANCOUVER, IN CENTS PER KILOWATT-HOUR, 2017:
RESIDENTIAL: 11:3
INDUSTRIAL: 7.05
13.5 megawatt hours: B.C.’s annual per capita electricity consumption in 2016
8th in Canada
9% lower than national average
IN 2016, B.C.’S TOTAL ENERGY DEMAND WAS MET BY
17,701 megawatts: B.C.’s power-generating capacity, 2017
11% of Canada’s total electricity generation
4th-largest electric power producer in Canada, after Quebec, Ontario and Alberta
Capacity expected to be added when Site C comes online
1,100 megawatts
16 Prospective geothermal energy sites in B.C.
ESTIMATED GENERATING POTENTIAL OF 1,000 TO 3,000 MEGAWATTS
ESTIMATED CAPITAL COST FOR A 100MW GEOTHERMAL PLANT:
$40 MILLION
