After a summer of unprecedented heat and record-breaking demand for electricity, new survey from BC Hydro finds British Columbians are using air conditioning more than ever before.
Now a new survey conducted on behalf of BC Hydro has found that more than 20 per cent of British Columbians purchased or upgraded their air conditioning units and systems this summer, bringing the total number with air conditioning even higher.
Air conditioning use appears to have grown almost as much in one summer as it did in the previous 10 years combined.
In fact, the majority of British Columbians now consider air conditioning a necessity – not a luxury.
Record-breaking temperatures and an increased number of air conditioning users also drove summer peak hourly demand to all-time highs.
In fact, during the extreme heat wave in June, records were broken on three consecutive days.
The highest ever summer peak hourly demand was recorded on Jun. 28, 2021 when demand reached 8,568 megawatts, shattering the record that was set before the heat wave began by more than 600 megawatts – the equivalent of turning on 600,000 portable air conditioners.
BC Hydro also found even though a record number purchased air conditioning this year – the number would have been higher if there had been more stock available. As a result, it is expected that many of these potential buyers will try to get a unit in the off-season.
