Hydro is forecasting very high electricity demand on the Island Interconnected System for the next three days, March 4‐6.  As a precautionary measure, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) is requesting that customers on the island take steps to conserve electricity where possible.

Hydro has 1,575MW of generation available on its system, and peak loads over the next three days are expected to be between approximately 1,400MW and 1,500MW. Therefore, Hydro is putting its Generation Contingency Plan in place to respond to the unlikely event that Hydro experiences further issues with its generation, it may be difficult to meet peak demand. Hydro currently has 145MW of generation unavailable.

Residential and business customers on the island are asked to avoid unnecessary electricity usage and reduce their consumption as much as possible from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the next three days.

Residential customers can assist by doing the following:
1. Reducing electric heat by a few degrees
2. Conserving hot water by not running dishwashers, washers and showers
3. Avoid using clothes dryers

Business customers can assist by doing the following:
1. Only heat spaces when and where necessary ‐ reduce temperatures or shut off heating in vestibules, stairwells, lobbies and unused spaces.
2. Reduce equipment use during peak periods
3. Reduce lighting ‐ turn off outdoor safety and security lighting at the start of each day and turn off non‐essential indoor lights, outdoor signs, billboards and other lighting.

Although Hydro does not anticipate any additional concerns with its generation, there is a potential that rotating outages may be initiated during peak demand if any additional generation issues arise.  Please assist by conserving energy wherever possible.  

Hydro thanks customers for their support and cooperation at this time.