An aerial view of the Pickering nuclear plant. (Kevin Frayer/CP)
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Ontarians ate up more power on Tuesday than they did Monday, as rising temperatures have tested the province's energy capacity and forced officials to consider importing power.
As of midnight Tuesday, demand for power in the province was at 15,724 megawatts, down considerably from a peak of 19,198 megawatts at 4:55 p.m., although there was a spike in demand at about 9 p.m., when usage jumped to 18,830 megawatts. Available supply was 20,373 megawatts.
"We're managing the system and there are no rotating blackouts going on," Terry Young, a spokesman for the IMO, told globeandmail.com.
"We have capability inside Ontario to generate just over 20,300 megawatts, so you can see we have some way to go."
Monday's peak use was 18,270 at 4 p.m. (Peak demand time is usually between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.)
Mr. Young said importing power from an outside source is a possibility if the demand continues to rise toward maximum capacity. Over the weekend 1,200 megawatts were imported from Quebec.
Officials can look to Quebec again, or import from Manitoba or Minnesota.
"We're not there yet and certainly we have some ability to meet the demand," Mr. Young said. "We're not forecasting that we're going to be cutting power. What we're trying to do is continue to get the support of business, industry and consumers to help meet the demand, manage the demand and keep the demand down."
Increasingly hot weather is a major concern, with residents cranking up their air conditioners to help beat the heat.
Monday's temperatures were relatively cool, at around 26 degrees Celsius in parts of the province. But Tuesday, temperatures are to rise to 28 degrees and on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasts are calling for temperatures of 30 degrees or higher.
At a press conference Monday morning, Premier Ernie Eves said continued energy conservation by Ontarians meant little change in the province's situation from Monday, but the rest of the week remains tenuous.
"We appreciate the co-operation of all Ontarians....and if we continue to do that I think we'll make it through the week, although it will be a challenge," Mr. Eves said. "Especially tomorrow and Thursday as the weather gets hotter."
"Given the heat and the expected rise in demand, we need people to continue conserving and not walk away from this," he said.
On days when air conditioner use jumps, Mr. Young said the province usually uses 1,400 extra megawatts.
"We can't relax yet.. we're not out of the woods. There's going to be pressure on the system," Mr. Young said.
In the province's largest city, officials said the numbers show conservation efforts are making a difference.
At 1 p.m. Tuesday Toronto was using 3,415 megawatts, up from 3,293 megawatts at the same time Monday.
"We are, as expected, consuming some more than we were — both at the provincial level and at the city level," Courtney Pratt, president and CEO of Toronto Hydro, said at an afternoon press conference. "But the conservation efforts are still very, very significant."
"Keep up the conservation because the weather is not letting up. It has been a great job so far by many, many people."
Mr. Pratt said the city is in constant contact with the IMO to ensure transportation system and essential services continue to get the power they need.
Mr. Eves said the province's energy system will get a bit of a boost Wednesday when three of the several nuclear reactors out of service since the blackout will be back on-line and operating at half capacity.
One of those units — located in Pickering — will be operating at full capacity by Thursday.
Mr. Eves said IMO officials are meeting with big-industry leaders to develop a plan to gradually let business ramp up production by the end of the week.
The province's steel and auto industries came to a grinding halt Sunday after Mr. Eves' call to cut electricity usage by 50 per cent.
With a report from Canadian Press.
