When temperatures drop well into the minus 20-degree range, the entirety of the province does what they can to keep warm, and that means burning a lot of natural gas. With demand so high and no end in sight to the bitter cold, that begs the question as to how much is being consumed in the process.
According to SaskEnergy, we haven't quite broken any consumption records, but we were rather close on Tuesday, with the province consuming 1.5 PJ/d, just shy of the record 1.7 PJ/d set last winter. For reference, 1 PJ (petajoule) is the equivalent of 31.6 million cubic metres of natural gas.
As the frigid temperatures continue, SaskEnergy reminds residents to keep exhaust vents free of frost, ice, and snow to prevent equipment malfunctions and avoid carbon monoxide buildup. They also recommend clearing around natural gas meters, including the meter's regulator and shut-off valve.