BC Hydro害羞草研究所檚 CEO says the Crown corporation is 害羞草研究所渨ell within害羞草研究所� its capability to provide the necessary power to cool residents as the province heats up.
BC Hydro CEO Chris O害羞草研究所橰iley said he knows British Columbians are struggling with extreme heat, and there are often limited options available to them when it comes to cooling.
害羞草研究所淎s our once-milder spring and summers become warmer, air conditioning is no longer being considered a luxury among British Columbians.害羞草研究所�
He added that after the last two summers, British Columbians are 害羞草研究所渓ooking to air conditioning to keep them cool, but cost is a barrier for many.害羞草研究所�
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His comments came as the province announced $10 million for up to 8,000 new air conditioning units for B.C. vulnerable.
Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the funding Tuesday (June 27) in Vancouver, two years after the fatal heat dome that killed 619 people between June 25 and July 1, 2021. At the heat dome害羞草研究所檚 peak, temperatures reached more than 40 C outside, while many experienced hotter temperatures indoors.
A 2022 report from the BC Coroners Service noted that 98 per cent of deaths were indoors, heat-related deaths were higher among people with specific chronic diseases, 67 per cent of those who died were aged 70 or older and most deaths occurred in homes without adequate cooling systems, such as air conditioning.
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The $10 million allows BC Hydro to expand its Energy Conservation Assistance program to include free, publicly funded portable air conditioners for people who are medically vulnerable and have low incomes. The announcement didn害羞草研究所檛 give specific criteria for who could be eligible.
O害羞草研究所橰iley noted that in May, during an unseasonable heatwave, BC Hydro broke a peak hourly demand record.
While that electricity demand is increasing in spring and summer months, he said the Crown corporation has 害羞草研究所渓ots of room to accommodate these new uses of power in the summer periods.害羞草研究所� The demand for power is also 害羞草研究所渕uch higher害羞草研究所� in the winter heating months 害羞草研究所渂y quite a large margin.害羞草研究所�
BC Hydro is also on the hunt for new, renewable power sources, anticipating that demand for electricity will increase by 15 per cent between now and 2030 because of population growth and consumers adopting new technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps.
Asked if BC Hydro has taken this summer increase into account, O害羞草研究所橰iley said it害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渨ell within our capability害羞草研究所� and are already included in plans to acquire more electricity.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e in the midst of an energy transition in the world, and certainly here in British Columbia, so given the demand for electrification to replace the use of fossil fuels, we害羞草研究所檙e forecasting a significant growth in load in the province, in demand for electricity.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� With files from Wolf Depner
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