Saskatchewan breaks summer record for power use

(File photo)

Air conditioners are cranked up and summer power use is at an all-time high as Saskatchewan continues to bask in a heatwave.

SaskPower reported Saskatchewan broke its summer power use record Thursday, with a peak usage of 3,419 megawatts. The previous record was set earlier this month, on July 10, with a peak use of 3,360 megawatts.

The Crown corporation says Thursday’s record represents an increase of 88 megawatts — or the equivalent power use of 88,000 homes — from another previous record set in July 2015 when power use hit 3,331 megawatts.

SaskPower will invest $1.1 billion in infrastructure in 2017 to update and expand the power grid. A spokesperson says the hope is to keep pace with a rising demand for electricity and to meet that demand with renewable energy sources.