News & Events

Check this section for Yukon Energy's latest news and coming events.

If you have questions about any of the information posted here, please contact:

Lisa Wiklund
Manager, Community Relations
Yukon Energy Corporation
Phone: (867) 393-5398
Email: Lisa.Wiklund@yec.yk.ca

Apr 15, 2025  Comment

Strengthening the System, Meeting Winter Demand, and a More Renewable Energy Future 

Did you know that over the last 25 years, more than 90% of the electricity Yukon Energy generates has come from renewable sources? That’s thanks to our territory’s strong foundation in hydroelectricity, which has powered Yukoners for decades. But as our population grows and our energy needs evolve, our electricity grid needs to grow and evolve too.  A System Built for 12,000—Now Serving Over 45,000  When the Yukon’s core electrical system was first built, our population hovered around 12,000 people.1 Fast forward to today, and more than 45,000 Yukoners call this territory home. By 2045, that number is expected to grow by another 20,000 people.2 That’s a massive change in just one lifetime—and it puts increasing pressure on our electrical infrastructure.  Our system was never designed to serve a population this size, and while we've made upgrades over the years, major improvements are now needed to maintain reliable service, connect more intermittent renewable energy, and prepare for a resilient energy future. That’s why we’ve developed our new Road Map to 2050 and five-year strategic plan.   Winter Power: A Yukon Challenge  While hydropower carries us through much of the year, winter brings unique challenges to the Yukon:  Water availability lowers as rivers freeze, and flows are reduced to follow icing protocols.  Solar generation also dips, with shorter days and lower sun angles.  Meanwhile, electricity demand peaks as homes and businesses use more power for heating and lighting.  These conditions mean we rely more on thermal generation, like diesel and LNG, which is dependable and easily dispatchable. That’s why improving our grid's resiliency and increasing capacity in winter is such a high priority—it ensures we can maintain safe, reliable power even in the coldest months.  Supporting Community Renewables  One of the opportunities ahead is the growing interest in community-based renewable energy. As more Yukoners express interest in renewable energy initiatives, our electricity grid needs to be reinforced to safely and efficiently handle two-way power flows—not just delivering electricity but also receiving it from local producers.  Our proposed grid improvements and thermal power centres are designed with this future in mind. Ensuring reliable backup and dependable winter capacity is essential before taking the next steps. By the second and third chapters of our Road Map to 2050, a modernized, resilient grid will help support more integration of intermittent renewable energy, emerging technologies, and energy storage solutions.  Building a Resilient, Renewable Energy Future  At Yukon Energy, we're proud that so much of our electricity already comes from renewable sources. But we know there’s more work to do. As our territory grows, we’re committed to investing in the infrastructure, technologies, and partnerships needed to keep the lights on— in both the short and long term.  We’re collaborating with First Nation partners who are looking to advance large-scale renewable energy projects in the future. We’re excited to be a part of these conversations, as the critical planning and pre-feasibility work is happening now.   As we look ahead, we know that the actions outlined in our Road Map to 2050 and five-year strategic plan will move us towards a more resilient energy future. They're not just about keeping up—they're about building a more reliable system that will serve future generations of Yukoners.  Sources 1. Based on the 1956 Census: https://yukon.ca/sites/default/files/ybs/fin-yukon-census-historical-population-1901-2016.pdf     2. https://yukon.ca/sites/default/files/ybs/fin-population-projections-2024-2045.pdf  
News, Media Releases
Apr 08, 2025  Comment

Yukon Energy Reveals Bold New Vision and Plans for a Resilient Energy Future

Whitehorse, Yukon – Yukon Energy plans to invest more than $500 million over the next five years to strengthen the territory’s electricity system. This bold investment is outlined in the new Building a Resilient and Renewable Energy Future: Yukon Energy’s Road Map to 2050 and Chapter 1: A Reliable and Robust Grid 2025-2030, a five-year strategic plan.  Yukon Energy is taking action to ensure it can continue to meet the growing needs of Yukoners. On a normal winter day during peak demand, Yukon homes and businesses connected to the grid already use about 80% of the power Yukon Energy can generate at any given moment.   To maintain a reliable electricity system into the future, Yukon Energy will be focusing on three key pillars over the next five years:   An Adequate and Dependable Supply of Electricity: Yukon Energy will upgrade aging infrastructure, advance relicensing for hydro and diesel facilities, build new thermal power centres in the Whitehorse area to provide dependable winter capacity for the near-term, and deliver programs that help reduce peak demand.  A Strong Electricity System: Significant investments will be made to expand the capacity of power lines and substations, build new transmission lines, upgrade business systems and invest in a skilled workforce.  Building Tomorrow’s Plan and Partnerships: Yukon Energy plans to complete a grid modernization plan, and work in collaboration with Yukon Development Corporation and Yukon First Nations to secure critical investments and construction financing to move projects forward.    "The road map and strategic plan represent an exciting and pivotal moment for the Yukon’s energy future" said Chris Milner, CEO and President of Yukon Energy. "By setting a clear path toward 2050, we are taking concrete steps to bolster our critical infrastructure and build out a more resilient energy system that Yukoners can count on in the decades ahead."  As a territory, the Yukon faces the task of navigating rapid population growth, the ongoing electrification of industries, homes, and transportation, a changing climate, and a need to strengthen Arctic security.  The road map and strategic plan respond to these challenges and align with government commitments to a more renewable energy future.  Yukoners can read both documents here.  For media inquiries, please contact: communications@yec.yk.ca 
News
Apr 02, 2025  Comment

Winter Electrical Affordability Rebate Program

The Government of Yukon recently announced that the Interim Electrical Rebate (IER) will be replaced with the new Winter Electrical Affordability Rebate program. The IER rebate will no longer be applied to customer bills as of April 1, 2025. The new rebate program begins in October 2025 and will be automatically applied to customers’ electricity bills from October to March, when electricity bills are highest. On average, residential electricity customers have received a discount of approximately $178 per year through the current Interim Electrical Rebate. The new Winter Electrical Affordability Rebate will see Yukon residential ratepayers receive a discount of up to nearly $203 per year. More information about this program can be found on the Government of Yukon’s website: Government of Yukon increases electricity rebates with new Winter Electrical Affordability Rebate | Yukon.ca
Apr 01, 2025  Comment

Spring Water Levels Update in Southern Lakes

You may soon start to notice lower water levels downstream of the Whitehorse dam. We are installing gates at the Lewes Control Structure, which will slow the dropping levels of Marsh Lake and downstream flows by about 20-30%, through to freshet. Unlike the high waters of the last couple of years, Marsh Lake is trending around the lower end of the typical range, about half a metre below the long-term average.  This year, electricity is particularly important because of the extremely low water levels in Aishihik and the ongoing repair of one of its generators. During these times of low flow, we are also clearing trash racks and conducting preventative maintenance on the hydro units.  
Feb 22, 2025  Comment

Smoke at the Dawson Diesel Plant - February 22, 2025

If you were walking or driving by our Dawson diesel plant this afternoon, you might have noticed smoke or the Fire Department at the facility. Shortly after 1 p.m this afternoon, a fire alarm in the diesel plant was set off by what we now suspect to be exhaust from one of our diesel engines. The four diesel engines running at the time were shut down immediately and on-call staff in the community and the Dawson Fire Department were called as a precaution and part of standard safety procedures.  The Fire Department has since left the diesel plant and confirmed that there was no evidence of a fire in the plant. There was also never risk to public safety or the facility.  Thank you to the staff and volunteers firefighters who responded to today's events so quickly. We appreciate all you do.
Feb 14, 2025  Comment

Customer Service Update

Yukon Energy is currently experiencing billing delays and a higher-than-usual call volume. For billing-related questions, you can reach our customer service team at (867) 993-5565 or email us at billing@yec.yk.ca, and we'll get back to you within 2-3 business days. Please leave a voicemail if we miss your call to help us assist you as quickly as possible.  Please note: Do not call the emergency or power outage line for billing inquiries, as it clogs the line dedicated to emergencies. The team on that line does not have access to customer billing accounts and will not be able to assist you. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
News, Reliability
Jan 17, 2025  Comment

Aishihik Generating Station Update - January 17, 2025

One of the three generators at the Aishihik Generating Station remains offline as we continue repairs. Contractors are on-site and work is progressing. At this time, we expect the generator to be back online this spring, however this could change depending on weather and equipment delivery. Pictured: the removal of 108 old Stator Coils that will be replaced.
News
Dec 20, 2024  Comment

Whitehorse Fish Hatchery Vandalism and Fuel Spill

On the morning of December 13, 2024, Yukon Energy discovered a fuel spill at the Whitehorse Rapids Fish Hatchery, caused by vandalism and tampering with a fuel tank. The affected tank was located outside the building but within the locked perimeter fence. Thankfully, Yukon Energy crews responded swiftly, containing and recovering the spill, and preventing further damage.  We are also relieved to report that no fish were harmed during this incident, as our staff quickly restored the fuel supply to the hatchery’s backup generator. Had an outage occurred, we could have faced the loss of both adult and juvenile fish stocks within hours without backup power. A working fuel supply for the backup generator is crucial to maintain facility operations in the event of a power outage.  All established spill procedures were followed during the cleanup to ensure safe remediation of the site, including the removal of contaminated soil, snow, and ice. Safety remains our top priority, and we are grateful for our staff who demonstrated a high degree of professionalism in their response.   
News, Reliability
Dec 19, 2024  Comment

Progress at the Whitehorse Grid-Scale Battery Storage System Site

Progress is being made at the site of our new grid-scale battery storage system in Whitehorse. Almost all major equipment and infrastructure is now installed on location, except for the batteries which are expected to arrive early in 2025. This includes the transformers, inverters, containers for the batteries, and an e-house that will serve as the control building for the system. Crews are currently on-site testing and commissioning the installed equipment.  Since Yukon Energy’s last update, there have been some changes to the project timeline, as our contractor is experiencing delays in obtaining certifications that are needed to bring equipment that is on site into service. We look forward to sharing updates as we revise our work schedule in the new year.  Our new battery-storage system is designed for operation in subarctic conditions and as part of a small, isolated electricity grid. Once complete, it will be the first of its kind in the Yukon and the largest grid-scale battery storage system in Northern Canada.   With a new battery storage system on our grid, we can store extra electricity when there’s low demand for it and then use it when demand increases. This will help us meet peak demands in the winter and restore power outages faster, as the system can be turned on at the flip of a switch.   The battery storage system will also play a role in supporting grid reliability and the safe integration of intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar. This project remains a key part of our efforts to build a more robust and resilient electricity system.   Learn more about the grid-scale battery storage system here.  

Reliability, Safety
Dec 13, 2024  Comment

Diesel Generator Noise Concerns

Yukon Energy is aware that some Yukoners have concerns about the noise coming from diesel generators in different communities.   This year, Yukon Energy has been running more diesel generators earlier in the season for a few reasons:  There has been less water available for electricity generation due to lower-than-average inflows into the Aishihik reservoir this year;    Earlier this fall, a reactor failure at the Takhini Substation caused the North and South grids to be split and resulted in Faro being isolated and running on backup diesel for almost a month;       Yukon Energy has also been completing repair work at the Mayo Generating Station, temporarily decreasing hydro capacity; and    Most recently, there was an equipment failure at the Aishihik Generating Station that has resulted in a generator being offline for the winter heating season.  With an isolated grid, we need diesel generators to keep Yukoners safe, so that we can have the electricity we need for winter demands, emergencies and when renewable resources aren’t available. Yukon Energy operates its own diesel and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) units and rents additional diesel units as a contingency.   Looking to the future, Yukon Energy has a clear vision, with renewable electricity powering us towards a net-zero economy in 2050. On average, over 90% of the electricity we generate is already renewable. Our focus for the next five years is to build a more reliable and robust power system. As we work to advance renewable energy projects, we will become increasingly reliant on diesel and LNG to support the system. Building out renewable energy projects will take strong partnerships and financial support.  In the meantime, to ensure that we can continue to meet the electricity needs of Yukoners, we will be using thermal resources like diesel and LNG into the spring. This means that Yukoners can expect diesel generators to be running for the next few months in Whitehorse, Faro, Dawson City and Mayo.   We are actively exploring noise reduction options in Whitehorse and Faro, and plan to share updates on our website as they become available.   At the Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station, a recent assessment showed noise levels were below permissible sound levels in most locations except in a spot closest to Yukon Energy’s diesel generators (200 metres away) during the evening hours. Yukon Energy will continue to monitor sound levels in Whitehorse using equipment installed at its Riverside Substation.  As always, our top priority remains the safety of Yukoners. Our crews are working hard every day to ensure that we have an adequate supply of electricity in the winter, and a robust transmission and distribution system to deliver that electricity to Yukoners.   
General, News, Safety
Dec 09, 2024  Comment

Smoke at the Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station - December 8, 2024

If you were driving by the Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station on Sunday, December 8, you may have noticed smoke or fire trucks at the facility. At around 2:00pm, Yukon Energy's system control centre operator noticed smoke coming from the direction of the rental generators. The smoke was the result of a small fire located inside one of the rental units. The rental unit was shut down immediately and onsite employees were able to extinguish the fire within minutes. There was never a risk to public safety or the facility, however, the Whitehorse Fire Department was called as a precaution and part of standard safety procedures. Our preliminary findings suggest that the fire was caused by oil discharging onto the turbo. The oil was contained to the unit and there was no discharge of oil to the environment.   We are working with Finning to make sure this problem does not happen to other units. Finning, the owner of the rental units, was on site yesterday inspecting the unit to determine the cause of the initial issue. The unit will be offline until the repair is complete. 
News, Reliability
Dec 04, 2024  Comment

An update on the generator at the Aishihik Generating Station

A few weeks ago in a radio interview, our President and CEO shared that one of the three hydro generating units at the Aishihik Generating Station (AH1) was offline due to equipment failure. We have also indicated that we were performing repair work at the Aishihik Generating Station on our Facebook page. When the issue occurred in late October, we immediately actioned an analysis and repair. The analysis is still underway with technical experts taking the unit apart to determine the extent of the damage. We have determined that the unit will not be operational this winter. The unit generates approximately 15 megawatts of electricity. However, it’s important to highlight that Yukon Energy plans the resources it needs for winter demand in emergency scenarios. This includes a scenario where the entire Aishihik Generating Station (i.e., all three generators, not just one) and the transmission line that connects it to the grid are not operational. Given this, Yukon Energy has enough generation for this winter without AH1. While the loss of AH1 this winter does add pressure to the electricity system, we are not in an emergency situation. Occasionally, machines fail, and when they do we fix them. We are currently completing repairs and expect they will be complete by the spring; however, this will depend on a number of factors including supply chain and the complexity of the repair. In the meantime, we are: performing maintenance on our other generation resources to prevent failure; performing preventative maintenance (removing dangerous trees) on major transmission lines; starting the rental diesel generators earlier than we usually would have to make sure they start in cold temperatures; and using back-up contractors to help us restore power outages more quickly in the event of an emergency; re-assessing the location of our existing diesel generators to ensure there is enough generation in the north and south in the event the grid is split like it was earlier in the fall. We are also adding infrastructure to our existing power generation site in Whitehorse to allow for the potential relocation of rental diesel generators in the event we require additional generation in the south. Currently, around 80% of electricity used in the Yukon is in the Whitehorse region, meaning this is where we need the most generation. We have more than enough generation in the north, even if there was an issue with the transmission line that connects the rest of the Aishihik Generating Station to the north. However, we would be tight on generation if there was an issue with the transmission line that connects the rest of the Aishihik Generating Station to the south. That is why we are making preparations to potentially relocate rental generations to Whitehorse. If the grid were to split without the additional rental diesel generators in Whitehorse, we would use our mutual aid protocol with ATCO, the Government of Yukon (YG) and the City of Whitehorse. In a situation where we were getting close to the limits of our system, we would call upon ATCO to turn on their diesel generators in the communities and for the City and YG to reduce electricity use in their large buildings. We may also ask Yukoners to conserve electricity. Taking small steps like using a block heater timer and delaying the use of major appliances until later in the evening can help reduce strain on the power system.
Dec 04, 2024  Comment

Yukon Energy launches new version of Peak Smart Home

Yukon Energy has launched the bring-your-own-device version of its demand-side management program, Peak Smart Home. Peak Smart Home shifts electricity consumption away from periods of peak demand using utility-controlled thermostats and hot water tank controllers to reduce pressure on the grid. During these periods, Yukon Energy will make subtle changes to the temperature of participating Yukoners’ homes or hot water tanks. Participants will always have control of their devices and can choose to override or change the settings of their devices at any time. In this version of Peak Smart Home, Yukoners can purchase an eligible thermostat or hot water tank controller that is best suited for their home. When they do, they can receive up to 75% off the purchase and installation costs via a rebate from the Government of Yukon. Plus, when people sign up, they will be automatically entered into Yukon Energy’s Peak Smart contest, with $5,000 worth of prizes to be won. For information on eligible devices, how to sign up, and how to apply for a rebate, Yukoners can visit peaksmart.ca. Quotes “As an isolated grid, we only have ourselves to rely on to generate the electricity we need to meet winter peaks. One way we can each contribute to reducing these winter peaks is through programs like Peak Smart. Over 300 Yukoners applied for the first iteration of Peak Smart Home and together we achieved 0.5 megawatts of dependable capacity. This shows that Yukoners are keen to play a role in their energy future and to contribute to a more sustainable Yukon.” - Vice President of Planning, Environment, Health and Safety for Yukon Energy Corporation Michael Muller "This next phase of the Peak Smart program is a great example of how innovative programs can reduce peak energy use and help Yukoners save money. By investing in programs like these and supporting rebates, our government is helping homeowners upgrade their systems and take steps towards a more sustainable energy future for the Yukon." - Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, and Minister responsible for the Yukon Energy Corporation John Streicker -30- Media Contacts: Lisa Wiklund Manager, Community Relations Yukon Energy 867-393-5398 lisa.wiklund@yec.yk.ca Kate Erwin Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources Government of Yukon 867-667-3183 kate.erwin@yukon.ca
News, Billing
Nov 29, 2024  Comment

Simplifying electricity bills

Starting December 1, 2024, ATCO Yukon and Yukon Energy will be simplifying the format of customer electricity bills. In the new bill layout, Rider R (ATCO Electric’s Rate Adjustment Rider) and Rider J (Yukon Energy’s Revenue Shortfall Rider) will be rolled into the Base Rate Components. The Base Rate Components are: the Charge and Energy Charge line items for residential bills; and  the Demand/Capacity Charge and Energy Charge for commercial bills.  See below for an example of how the new bill statements will look.  These changes were directed by the Yukon Utilities Board to reduce the number of line items on your bill and make your electricity statement easier to read and understand. The changes do not impact your overall electricity bill amount.  What does this mean? The new formatting change means that the Base Rate Component line items on your residential and commercial bills will be higher than previous bills, as those line items will now include Rider R and Rider J. It is a different way of displaying existing charges and does not reflect any new charges.  To read our FAQs related to this change, visit Reading Your Bill. 

Community Involvement
Nov 27, 2024  Comment

Yukon Energy Helps Raise the Holiday Spirit in Dawson

This past weekend, Yukon Energy worked with the City of Dawson to raise the community Christmas tree at Minto Park in Dawson City. We are proud to be part of this tradition, helping to source, transport, and raise the tree that will serve as a beautiful centerpiece for the holiday season.  The tree now stands tall and will be decorated before being lit up at the Celebration of Lights on Wednesday, December 4 at 6:45 pm. At Yukon Energy, we take pride in supporting and giving back to the communities that have supported us.

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