SaskPower’s winter power record has been broken in this frigid weather. At 5:27 p.m. on Wednesday, power use peaked at 3,868 megawatts. Vice President of Transmission and Industrial Services, Kory Hayko, says the previous record was reach four years ago to the day, with 3,796 MW. That extra 76 MW is the equivalent power use of approximately 76,000 homes.

To conserve power and save on your bills, the Crown Corporation suggests turning down the thermostat when no one is home, or consider investing in a smart thermostat to ensure heat is only being used when it’s needed. Use a timer on your block heater, because cars only need to be plugged in for four hours to reap the benefit of a block heater, and invest in LED lightbulbs in your home. Hayko says they use about a quarter of the power that traditional incandescent bulbs use.

With the extremely cold temperatures remaining for a little while longer, SaskPower is reminding everyone to be prepared in the event of an emergency or extended power outage. The Crown Corporation recommends households have basic supplies on hand to last for at least 72 hours.

Your emergency kit should include at least a gallon of water for each person, per day, and non-perishable, easy to prepare food. Flashlights with extra batteries, candles, a battery-powered or hand-crank clock and radio, blankets and warm clothing are also on the list, as well as a first-aid kit which includes essential medications.