BC Hydro says province sleeping in, showering less in pandemic

bc home use

subscribe

VANCOUVER -

The latest report on electricity usage in British Columbia reveals the COVID-19 pandemic has created an atmosphere where every day feels like a Saturday.

BC Hydro says overall power usage hasn't changed much but a survey of 500 people shows daily routines have shifted dramatically since mid-March when pandemic-related closures began.

The hydro report says, with nearly 40 per cent of B.C. residents working from home, power usage confirms almost half are sleeping in and eating breakfast later, while about a quarter say they are showering less.

Those patterns more closely resemble what hydro says is typical weekend power consumption as electricity demand occurs later in the morning and earlier in the evening.

The report also finds many people are cooking and baking more than before the pandemic, preparing the evening meal earlier, streaming or viewing more television after dinner and 80 per cent are going to bed later.

Although electricity use is normal for this time of year, hydro says homebound residents can conserve by using laptops instead of desktops, small appliances such as Instant Pots instead of ovens, and streaming movies or TV shows on a smart televisions instead of game consoles.

Related News

manhattan freeway

The Need for Electricity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON - Dominion Energy (D) expects "incremental residential load" gains as a result of COVID-19 fallout. Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning says his company is "nowhere near" a need to review earnings guidance because of a potential recession.

Sempra Energy (SRE) has reaffirmed earnings per share guidance for 2020 and 2021, as well timing for the sale of assets in Chile and Peru. And Xcel Energy (XEL) says it still "hasn’t seen material impact on its business."

Several electric utilities have demonstrated ability to tap the bond market to lock in low-cost financing, despite ongoing turmoil. Their ranks include Dominion Energy, renewable…

READ MORE
usa grid

Coronavirus and the U.S. grid: What to know

READ MORE

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Germany extends nuclear power amid energy crisis

READ MORE

chuck schumer

Top Senate Democrat calls for permanent renewable energy, storage, EV tax credits

READ MORE

solar power

Energy-insecure households in the U.S. pay 27% more for electricity than others

READ MORE