The very hot day when Ontario set its energy consumption record

This Day In Weather History is a daily podcast by The Weather Network that features stories about people, communities, and events and how weather impacted them.

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On Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006, it was hot in Ontario, and residents used a ton of energy. The province set a record of the most energy used in a day.

Temperatures across Ontario reached well into the 30s, but it felt like the low 40s with the humidity. By 2 p.m., the temperature in Toronto reached 36°C but felt like 47. Ontarians turned their air conditioners way up, using a record 27,005 megawatts that day.

Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the agency that manages Ontario's power supply, formally asked Ontarians to conserve energy to avoid brownouts. A brownout is a drop in power, so it's not quite a blackout, but it's not ideal.

The IESO recommended that residents should keep their air conditioners around 26°C and use fans to stay cool. They also asked people not to use major appliances between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Even though Aug. 1 holds the record for most energy consumed in one day in Ontario, the province's overall annual electricity demand declined in 2006. Ontario used 157 TWh in 2005 and 151 TWh in 2006.

To learn more about Ontario's energy record, listen to today's episode of "This Day In Weather History."

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Thumbnail: Courtesy of Pixabay