Power usage spikes expected as B.C. heat arrives, triggering warnings along coast

VANCOUVER — Environment Canada has issued several heat warnings across coastal British Columbia as the province’s utility says power usage this week could hit a new all-time summer high.

BC Hydro says in a statement that the current summer peak usage record is just over 8,600 megawatts, set in August 2025.

The power utility says peaks this week are estimated to range between 8,200 and 8,800 megawatts, depending how much the heat prompts air-conditioning usage.

The projections come as heat warnings have been issued for wide swaths of the B.C. coast from the Howe Sound, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Valley and Whistler northward to the inland sections of the north and central coast.

Forecasts call for temperatures to reach 33 degrees in some areas while only cooling to the mid-to-high-teens at nighttime, with warm weather expected to persist until Thursday.

The weather forecast agency is advising people to watch out for signs of heat stroke and other related illnesses, while also keeping an eye on those who live alone with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes who may be at higher risk.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2026.

The Canadian Press