Province sets new natural gas usage record, SaskEnergy says

Cold weather has filled in every corner ofSaskatchewan,and patrons at restaurants mightbe savouring their meal just a little longer to stay out of the cold.

At Baba'sdrive-up window in Saskatoon, you don't even have to get out of your car to get some comfort food.

"People are like, well, I don't want to go out there, but what's worth it? Baba'sperogies. That brings us warmth and makes us feel better," said general manager Rob Engle.

Setting a new record

Once they gethome, though, it's a good bet those customers are crankingthe thermostat. SaskEnergyset a new natural gas usage record Wednesday.

The previous record was set in December 2018 and tied in February 2019. SaskEnergy customers used 1.50petajoules over a 24-hour period.

Wednesday, usage shot up to 1.56 petajoules.

A petajoule is one million gigajoulesof natural gas. SaskEnergy says the average home in Saskatchewan consumes approximately 100 gigajoulesof natural gas every year.

Mercury rising?

Regina and Saskatoon will be markedly warmer this weekend. But before that happens,CBC Saskatchewan asked people to send in cold weather photos from across the province.

Friday's expected high in Regina is 22 C, and 23 C in Saskatoon. The cold temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, before some relative relief negative single digits on Monday.