Oregon Public Broadcasting

The current cold snap is driving very high demand for electricity and natural gas,  record use, in fact, as correspondent Tom Banse reports.

On Monday, the Northwest set a new all time peak for electricity consumption according to regional wholesaler, the Bonneville Power Administration. 

Washington State’s biggest private utility has set a new record for natural gas usage as well. 

Fortunately, Puget Sound Energy vice president for operations Sue McLain says regional energy supplies are adequate to serve the heavy heating demand.

Sue McLain: “All of the facilities in the region have been performing well and operating well.”

McLain says recent investments in expanded electricity transmission and natural gas storage are paying off.  Her utility increased the capacity of an underground storage field near Chehalis. 

Northwest Natural Gas expanded a storage facility in Northwest Oregon. 

Utilities are gearing up for another surge in demand this weekend.  Extreme cold is forecast to return.