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By David Opinko/Erika Rolling

Energy

“Grid Alert” declared in Alberta due to extreme cold

Dec 21, 2022 | 12:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE/GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB – The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is asking consumers to be mindful of how much electricity they are using.

They declared a grid alert for the province at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday December 21, 2022.

It was enacted due to the extreme cold weather, high electricity demand, and an unplanned outage.

During grid alerts, AESO says it takes a variety of actions to maintain the reliability of the grid system, including using emergency reserves, reducing or suspending exports of energy sales, and requesting emergency imports.

They are also asking residents and businesses to do what they can to reduce how much energy they are using, particularly during the peak hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

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Some tips, as provided by AESO, include:

• Turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances.
• Minimize the use of air conditioning/space heaters.
• Delay the use of major power-consuming appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers until after peak hours.
• Use cold water for washing clothes—most of the energy used goes to heating the water (only running full loads helps too).
• Delay charging electric vehicles and/or plugging in block heaters.
• Cook with your microwave, crockpot or toaster oven instead of the stove.
• Limit the use of kitchen or bathroom ventilation fans.
• Use motion-detector lights in storage areas, garages, and outdoors when possible.
• Work on a laptop instead of a desktop computer (laptops are more energy-efficient than desktop units).

This is the second grid alert in two days in Alberta.

It comes as the entire province remains under an extreme cold warning from Environment Canada.

The warning for the Grande Prairie-Beaverlodge-Valleyview area notes extremely cold wind chill values will be dipping below minus 40 throughout the day and potentially minus 50 during the night and early morning hours.

Environment Canada says extreme cold puts everyone at risk.

The agency adds that, if it is too cold for you to stay outside, it is too cold for your pets to stay outside.

Public weather alerts can be found on the Environment Canada website.