Hydro weathering weather

Barring unforeseen circumstances North Bay Hydro should be able to handle higher demands for power due to frigidly cold temperatures over the last few days, said manager Ron Ross.

The mercury is expected to drop below –40 tonight with the wind chill factored in.

“We’ve been talking to the Ontario Energy Board and the Independent Market Operator and they all feel there will be enough electricity available to weather this extremely cold period,” Ross said.

"It looks like the province is also buying power from other jurisdictions to make sure there is enough."

On Wednesday, the IMO stated, electricity demand reached 24,528 MW, setting a new winter peak in Ontario.

Electricity demand is forecast to climb even higher today, putting the onus on consumers to conserve wherever possible in order to reduce stress on the system.

Ross said demand in North Bay peaked yesterday at 118 megawatts, higher than the normal winter average.

By comparison the normal spring and summer load runs between 60 and 80 megawatts, Ross said.

Despite the jump in demand, Ross doesn’t anticipate that any power outages will occur.

Demand for power is highest between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., he said.

Ironically, the cold weather can actually be an ally in preventing blackouts, Ross said, because it cools transformers and prevents them from overheating, as happens during scorching summer weather.

Environment Canada points to a pool of bitterly cold Arctic air entrenched through the region as the cause of the problem.

Winds of 15 to 25 km/h will generate extreme wind chill values of minus 40 to minus 50 across the district.

Extreme caution is advised when being outdoors as exposed skin can freeze in as little as two to five minutes.