Residents in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, are being asked to reduce their electricity use on the morning of Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, to help manage a surge in demand during a cold snap. Saint John Energy issued a “Peak Alert” asking customers in the Greater Saint John area — specifically Quispamsis and the Kennebecasis Valley — to curtail non-essential electricity use between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. AST.
In an official notice, Saint John Energy said the alert was prompted in part by low wind output from regional wind farms, which limited the contribution of local renewable sources to the grid. The utility asked customers to lower thermostats by 2–3°C and avoid running large appliances such as dishwashers or clothes dryers during the 6:00–9:00 a.m. peak window.
Saint John Energy says reducing power use during the specified hours helps the utility avoid expensive “peak power” charges it must pay to NB Power, the provincial supplier; those charges, the utility and analysts warn, can be passed on to customers if not managed. The utility described the voluntary conservation measures as a way for residents to act as a “virtual power plant” to protect the local grid and help keep energy costs down.
Saint John Energy also noted that its smart-grid systems can automatically cycle smart devices such as enrolled water heaters during peak windows, but it emphasized that manual conservation by homeowners remains critical to maximize savings.
Environment Canada’s Quispamsis forecast for Feb. 6, 2026 showed temperatures around -6°C during the day with wind chills in the -11 to -14°C range; the agency’s hourly forecast was cited by the utility and local authorities in their communications. Saint John Energy is encouraging residents to turn off unnecessary lights and delay household chores until the peak window passes at 9:00 a.m. AST.
For up-to-date guidance and alerts from Saint John Energy, see the utility’s peak-energy information and alert sign-up pages.
