By Matt Nemeth

Cold weather won’t impact city’s ability to supply power

Dec 8, 2016 | 12:00 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The recent cold snap is no threat to the city’s ability to supply enough power to its customers without having to import from the provincial grid, according to officials.

City of Medicine Hat Acting Utilities Commissioner Grayson Mauch says the city owned utility company can generate a total of 204 megawatts; winter peak demand meanwhile is only about 135 megawatts.

“We wouldn’t anticipate any capacity problems because we do have that redundancy, so we plan our maintenance activities accordingly to ensure we have full capacity during these peak periods.”

Monday it was revealed the city plans on importing more power from the Alberta grid next year. Mauch says they have a contract with the province that allows them to draw in up to 26 megawatts a day, and they would do so when producing it themselves would cost more than purchasing it.

“We’re not looking to import significant amounts, we are looking to import up to that 26 megawatts when the pool price is favourable to provide the most economical services to our customers.”

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The highest demand here for power actually happens in the summer adds Mauch, with it being about 45 megawatts more than in the winter.