As we write this, power is being restored to customers in the Southern and parts of the Central Yukon. The power went out just before 4 o’clock this afternoon. Crew members were doing some work on the transformer at our Aishihik facility, and in the process of doing that they encountered a problem which led to the outage.
There is no question that there have been far too many power outages over the last few months and you are right to demand an answer as to why. It’s a topic that deserves a full and thoughtful response, and we will provide an answer for you very soon via this blog. Today though, our focus must be to restore everyone’s power as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and our apologies for the inconvenience this outage has caused you.
by lbredy
I think it is high time Yukon Energy came clean with Yukoners and advise us of just how fragile your ability to deliver power to us is. I believe the day is coming when during a cold December day, the power will go out and not be restored in time to protect many homes from severe damage as a result of freezing. We are far too reliant on your frail system and in my opinion Yukoners should take precautions when available to protect themselves in the event of “the big one”. We are subject to far more power outages than any where I know of across the country. Is anybody counting? (you are I’m sure!)
02.17.2009
by hogasm
My favorite part is when they look you in the eye and tell you that the rates are going up “to ensure that we deliver constant and consistant energy services”. YEC, you should not increase the rates until you can provide a service worthy of a cost increase.
02.18.2009
by Yukon Energy
A point of clarification: Yukon Energy has asked for a rate DECREASE, not a rate INCREASE. It is Yukon Electrical Company that has requested a rate INCREASE. We will talk more about our rate application in an upcoming blog posting.
02.18.2009
by Expedition
I moved back to the Yukon from Alberta last July after a 30-year absence. I lived 25 minutes east of Edmonton. I’ve been hearing so much about power outages here. I’m hearing residents saying it’s a huge problem in the north and no where else. Well, let me inform you that where I lived in Alberta is much worse than here. You would think coming from a rich province that there would be no power problems. You’re wrong. We were getting constant brown-outs and black-outs. I had to put UPS’s (Uninterrupted Power Supply) units on everything run on power. A new VCR lost its mother board and no longer worked properly (I didn’t get the UPS on it fast enough); I lost two hard drives on my computer and one UPS was destroyed; the list goes on and on. It is not rare for the outlying communities around Edmonton to have their computers burn up before their eyes (smoke and all) due to the power flucuations. My daughter was doing the company books on the computer when it started to smoke and was destroyed - she had no UPS). My computer IT Tech dreaded the constant phone calls for help with the residents’ computers who lived on the outskirts (15 minutes out of the city boundary). You think you have power problems here? This is a piece of cake compared to Alberta. I’d like to give kudos to those working in the Yukon power industry with not only keeping the power going but restoring it so quickly. Really, people, it isn’t so bad here. Go to Alberta for awhile and you’ll appreciate the work these fine employees are doing for you.
02.19.2009
by hogasm
Expedition, this isn’t a community on the outskirts of a Metro, this the capital of the Yukon. Yukoners don’t care how bad it is elsewhere where the power goes out and there’s no heat. We aren’t keeping warm under a blanket saying “well at least it’s not Alberta Power”.
And Yukon Energy, although YEC may have asked for a decrease, we pay our electricity bills to Yukon Electric. If YEC gets a rate decrease and YECL wants the increase, does my bill go up or down? I don’t think Yukoners care who wants an increase or decrease. It’s what shows on the bills at the end of the month. You provide energy, we pay for it. It hardly seems fair that you take the stance that because you’re 2 different companies that we should be relieved somehow. Yukoners want steady electricity at a reasonable price. Should we be patting YEC on the back for “trying” to keep the power on but criticizing YECL for the prices?
02.19.2009
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