Province sets new natural gas usage record, SaskEnergy says
Bridget Yard | CBC News | Posted: January 16, 2020 10:36 PM | Last Updated: January 16, 2020
Most of the extreme cold warnings have been lifted, but frigid temperatures are expected through the weekend
Cold weather has filled in every corner of Saskatchewan, and patrons at restaurants might be savouring their meal just a little longer to stay out of the cold.
At Baba's drive-up window in Saskatoon, you don't even have to get out of your car to get some comfort food.
"People are like, well, I don't want to go out there, but what's worth it? Baba's perogies. That brings us warmth and makes us feel better," said general manager Rob Engle.
Setting a new record
Once they get home, though, it's a good bet those customers are cranking the thermostat. SaskEnergy set a new natural gas usage record Wednesday.
The previous record was set in December 2018 and tied in February 2019. SaskEnergy customers used 1.50 petajoules over a 24-hour period.
Wednesday, usage shot up to 1.56 petajoules.
A petajoule is one million gigajoules of natural gas. SaskEnergy says the average home in Saskatchewan consumes approximately 100 gigajoules of natural gas every year.
Mercury rising?
Regina and Saskatoon will be markedly warmer this weekend. But before that happens, CBC Saskatchewan asked people to send in cold weather photos from across the province.
Friday's expected high in Regina is –22 C, and –23 C in Saskatoon. The cold temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, before some relative relief — negative single digits — on Monday.