BC Hydro Records All-Time High Electricity Demand for Second Consecutive Day
Hot weather across British Columbia pushed electricity consumption to a new record for the second consecutive day as residents relied heavily on air conditioning for relief.
BC Hydro reported that electricity demand reached 8,870 megawatts on Wednesday, surpassing the record of 8,715 megawatts recorded Tuesday. The province’s previous high was 8,652 megawatts, established in August 2025.
Air Conditioning Drives Evening Demand
According to the utility, electricity use peaked between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., when many households were using cooling systems during the hottest part of the evening.
BC Hydro said its hydroelectric system continued to operate reliably despite the unusually high demand. The utility will continue closely monitoring its infrastructure while elevated temperatures remain in several regions.
Some Heat Warnings Lifted Across British Columbia
Heat warnings were lifted for several parts of the province, including:
- Metro Vancouver
- Fraser Valley
- Sunshine Coast
- Parts of Vancouver Island
- North Coast
However, more than 20 heat warnings remained active in areas such as the Fraser Canyon, Okanagan, Kootenay, Shuswap and Cariboo.
British Columbia’s prolonged hot weather has resulted in unprecedented electricity consumption, mainly because of increased air conditioning use.
Although BC Hydro’s system remains reliable, demand could stay elevated while heat warnings continue across several inland regions.
