When there is an extremely high customer demand (higher instances of energy use), we say that our system experiences a “peak”. 

Peaks typically occur on very cold weekday mornings, as businesses open and people get ready for work—taking hot showers, drying their hair, boiling kettles, etc.—or on weekday evenings, as people arrive home, turn up their heat, cook supper, and plug in their electric vehicles.

While our all-time record for winter peak was set in February 2019 – at 1,784 MW – just last week we hit 1,741 MW, which is not far off!

Coordinating the many different pieces that mean our system can reliably respond to these times of peak demand takes an immense amount of planning and work behind the scenes, by many teams across Hydro.

As Rob Collett, VP Hydro Engineering & NLSO, reminds us, “peak days are a true test for the system and each of us has a role that, in some way, helps to keep the lights on and keep our customers warm on the coldest days.”