Sask. sets new summer record for power use

A recent spike in natural gas prices in Alberta is heading back down in April as the temperatures look like they're finally starting to warm up for good.

Saskatchewan set a new summer record for power use as temperatures soared across the province.

SaskPower says the province’s power grid registered a peak demand of 3,360 megawatts Monday, beating the previous summer record of 3,331 MW.

The increase of 29 MW over the last peak represents the power use of about 29,000 homes.

“As power demand continues to rise in our province, we’re seeing more and more records being set,” Kory Hayko, SaskPower’s vice-president of transmission and industrial services, said in a news release.

“The winter peak record is still higher at 3,747 MW, but year-over-year we’re seeing the summer peak close the gap. This can be attributed to the increasing year-round demand from each individual household and business.”

According to Environment Canada, temperatures rose to a high of 35 C in Regina and 30 C in Saskatoon on Monday.