Malcolmson adds clarification to BC Hydro request
By Sheila Malcolmson, Islands Trust Chair
Monday, December 29 2008
Hi everyone -– hope you are all staying warm and dry. A clarification on the BC Hydro message that has been circulating, in case anyone was alarmed.
The problem for Gabriola is that it is more vulnerable, for equipment reasons, not more wasteful than other communities. Gabriola has a single-feed connection from Cedar (in most other communities, load imbalances can be much more easily evened out). BC Hydro says part of the Okanagan is experiencing the same difficulties as us -- our systems are uniquely isolated and so more vulnerable.
The answer is to turn off lights and all appliances you aren’t using, and do your baking, laundry, and run the dishwasher before 4 p.m. or after 8. You can still run your baseboard heaters and efficient Christmas lights. Such peak-shifting is always a big help for the entire system (this is just what we worked on with the Beat-the-Peak demonstration in 2005).
A second, hugely helpful action is to turn off baseboards and appliances when the power fails. What happened Saturday (Dec. 20) morning (power was restored, flickered, then went off again) is a result of a huge demand for power that surges when power is returned. If we turn off baseboards during a power failure, and turn them back on slowly and in increments after power is restored, it is more likely that Hydro can keep the power supply stable.
Thanks and best wishes for peaceful holidays. Sheila
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