What the study found
The study found that electricity consumption in Alberta rises during both extreme cold and extreme hot weather, with cold days generally producing the highest demand. It also found that hot days have become more frequent, especially since 1991, while cold days have declined across the province.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the growing influence of climate extremes on electricity use underscores the need for adaptive, climate-resilient energy strategies. The findings indicate that electricity planning may need to account for stronger weather-related demand patterns over time.
What the researchers tested
The researchers studied eight major population centers in Alberta, Canada. They used daily maximum and minimum temperature data to identify extreme hot and cold days using percentile-based thresholds, then examined trends from 1961 to 2023 and compared those temperature extremes with daily electricity use.
What worked and what didn't
The analysis showed a U-shaped relationship between temperature and electricity consumption: usage increased during both hot and cold extremes. With the exception of Lethbridge, where demand peaked on hot days, all other locations had higher loads on cold days, followed by hot days, and the lowest on normal days. The temperature-demand relationship also became stronger over time, including a larger increase in Calgary's electricity demand per degree Celsius on hot days in later years than in earlier years.
What to keep in mind
The summary does not describe detailed limitations beyond the study's focus on eight population centers in Alberta. The findings are based on the specific temperature thresholds and time period used in the analysis.
Key points
- Electricity demand increased during both extreme cold and extreme hot days.
- Cold days generally produced the highest electricity loads across the study sites.
- Hot days became more frequent over time, especially after 1991.
- Cold days declined significantly across all locations studied.
- The temperature-demand relationship strengthened in more recent years.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Climate extremes are raising electricity use in Alberta
- Authors:
- Sharad Aryal, Quazi Hassan
- Institutions:
- University of Calgary, University of Calgary
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-10
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Kkiefuik
This photo was taken with Canon EOS Rebel T5i, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
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