From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood

They seem surprised that it gets cold in Canada!

A critical emergency alert was issued on Saturday evening urging Albertans to reduce electricity use to minimize potential outages across the province.

In an alert sent at around 6:36 p.m., the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) said extreme cold is resulting in high power demand across the province, which places the electricity grid at a high risk of rotating power outages.

Albertans are asked to immediately limit their electricity use to essential needs only and to turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances. AESO is also asking Albertans to minimize the use of space heaters and to delay the use of major power appliances.

“We are calling on all Albertans to reduce their electric demand immediately to essentials only. Extreme cold resulting in high power demand has put the province’s electricity grid at high risk of rotating outages tonight,” said Nathan Neudorf, Alberta’s minister of affordability and utilities.

All of Alberta is under an extreme cold warning, with temperatures below -30 C and wind chill of -40 C due to a polar vortex.

On Thursday at around 6 p.m., the new hourly peak demand record was set at 12,384 megawatts (MW), beating a previous record of 12,193 MW set in December 2022.

AESO said that new record was based on energy requirements from industrial, commercial, agricultural and residential users.

Critical emergency alert issued as Alberta’s power grid put under strain

In a statement, Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf called on Albertans to reduce their electric demand to essentials only. Th e Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) said the alert was declared as a result of the ongoing extreme cold temperatures across Western Canada, in addition to restricted imports and “very high demand.”

“On top of high demand of our own energy generation, Alberta’s grid receives electricity from neighbouring provinces,” said Neudorf. “Extreme weather in Saskatchewan and British Columbia is impacting electricity sharing, which is also a contributing factor to tonight’s grid alert. The Alberta Electric System Operator has activated its emergency grid management plan to work with local distribution utilities to avoid potential rolling brownouts.”

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/extreme-cold-alberta-system-operator-warns-of-possible-rolling-blackouts-saturday/ar-AA1mVWUU

The AESO has declared a Grid Alert due to extreme cold, high demand and low imports. Please reduce your electricity use to only essential needs, to lower demand and minimize the potential for rolling outages this evening. pic.twitter.com/aqlQDZjA1l

— AESO (@theAESO) January 13, 2024

Did they really think they could carry on importing power from neighbouring states, when the weather was just as bad there?

Fortunately during that peak demand, coal and gas were running close to full capacity, whilst wind and solar contributed just 2.6%.

At this moment 92.3% of Alberta's electricity is being produced by fossil fuels. Wind is at 2.6% of capacity and producing 1.0% of total generation, while solar is at 0.0% of capacity and producing 0.00% of total generation. At the same time we are importing 343 MW or 3% pic.twitter.com/ugJnd8PsgD

— Reliable AB Energy (@ReliableAB) January 14, 2024