About Us

Energy Supply, Reliability
Feb 05, 2015  Comment

On the Job Site at -35

In spite of the frigid temperatures this week, work continues on the LNG site in Whitehorse. The plant is expected to be in service this spring.  Tasks such as welding are going ahead safely under the cover of tarps. Here are a few photos taken yesterday morning. Credit: www.archbould.com. A crew member welds the natural gas piping and the heating/cooling lines.  These pipelines will receive heat tape and insulation. This crew member is measuring the pipe for the installation of the insulation.  The brilliant winter sun peaks through the natural gas storage tanks.
Energy Supply, Reliability
Feb 10, 2015  Comment

Keeping the Lights On

We take our responsibility of providing reliable power very seriously. Each year, about two-thirds of our capital and operating and maintenance budgets are devoted to reliability projects. In 2014 that included improvements to our Whitehorse spillway, a major upgrade to our Takhini substation north of Whitehorse, and overhauls to some of our hydro and back-up diesel generators. Our work is paying off, as you can see from the charts below. The first chart shows the total number of outages we have had over the past five years, which is the royal blue bar graph. We had 55 outages in 2014, compared to 59 in 2013, and 63 in 2012. This graph is broken down into uncontrollable outages (outages caused by high winds, snow or ice on the transmission lines, and trees or animals contacting the lines), and controllable outages (loss of supply, defective equipment or human error). In both cases, these numbers have dropped since 2013. Uncontrollables went from 43 to 41, and controllables from 16 to 14.  The other part of the story is told by the second graph, below. It shows that in 2014, the average number of outages experienced by our customers was 5, down from 10 the year before (see the royal blue bar). The total amount of time in the year that power was out for our customers was 3.8 hours, down from 5 hours in 2013 (yellow bar). The average length of each outage was up a bit in 2014 by less than 15 minutes (light blue bar).  We will continue working to improve these numbers, and commit to providing you with the most reliable service possible.

News, Community Involvement, Energy Supply
Feb 17, 2015  2

Talk Energy Week

Ever wonder how your electricity is generated, and how a hydro plant works? Come visit us next Monday, Feb. 23rd and find out. We are offering a free tour of our Whitehorse facilities, which will include a visit to our System Control Centre, one of our hydro plants, and our back-up diesel plant. You must pre-register by sending an email to: communications@yukonenergy.ca. We are limited to 20 people. The tour is one way we will be marking Talk Energy Week, a national initiative that encourages people to ask questions, learn about, and discuss energy issues.  In addition to the tour, we'll post a variety of articles, videos and games that we hope will increase your awareness of energy and electricity. 
News, Power Outage Updates, Reliability
Feb 18, 2015  Comment

Planned Power Outages - Mendenhall and Champagne

We would like to let our Mendenhall and Champagne customers know that there will be some planned power outages next week. The schedule is as follows: Mendenhall:  Brief 10 minute power outage at some point between 22:00 and 23:30 on Feb 25. Brief 10 minute power outage at some point between 05:00 and 07:00 on Feb 26. Champagne: Brief 10 minute power outage at some point between 23:00 on Feb 25 and 01:00 on Feb 26. Brief 10 minute power outage at some point between 05:00 and 07:00 on Feb 26. This work is necessary so our line crew can replace some damaged power poles.  
News, Energy Supply, Partnerships
Feb 25, 2015  2

Addressing a Drop in Sales

You may have heard Yukon Energy officials talking of late about the fact that our sales to our biggest customer, ATCO Electric Yukon (the company that provides most of you with electricity), have dropped over the past two years. Our sales to ATCO serve most of the territory’s residential and commercial customers. In 2012, Yukon Energy sold more than 310 million kilowatt hours to ATCO. By last year, that number had dropped to just over 295 million kilowatt hours, a decrease of almost five percent. By way of comparison, the average Yukon household uses approximately 12,000 to 15,000 kilowatt hours a year. We have done studies that show the reason for this drop is primarily the warmer weather we have experienced in the territory over the last couple of years. The question is: what is Yukon Energy doing to make up that lost revenue, and why should you care? You should care because the loss in revenue puts Yukon Energy under financial pressure that could lead to future rate increases. However Yukon Energy has no plans to seek a rate increase right now. Instead, we are keeping a very close eye on cost control, and are focusing on increasing our secondary sales. Our secondary sales program gives eligible Yukon businesses the option of using surplus renewable power to heat their facilities instead of more expensive, GHG producing fossil fuels. It’s priced at a discount to furnace oil, saving participating companies about 30 percent on their heating bills. It also gives Yukon Energy the ability to sell any surplus renewable energy we have, providing us with a revenue stream that helps keep rates affordable for our ‘firm’ electric customers. To qualify for the program, businesses have or must install a second electrically fired heating system, and acknowledge that the secondary power is interruptible during times when renewable electricity is not available. Watch this blog for an announcement, coming shortly, about the secondary sales program.
General, News, Community Involvement
Feb 26, 2015  Comment

Let’s Talk Energy

Several days ago on this blog, we told you about Talk Energy Week, which is going on now. It's an opportunity for people to learn and share ideas about energy-related topics. We encourage you to visit this webpage, which features a whole host of bloggers who write about energy matters. As well, if you come across other articles, websites, videos, etc. that you think would add to the conversation, please share them here.
News, Energy Supply, Environment, Regulatory, Reliability
Mar 02, 2015  4

Our 2015 Work in the Southern Lakes

As you are likely aware, Yukon Energy has spent the last several years doing a great deal of research and engaging with Yukoners on this concept for enhanced water storage to increase peak hydro power generation. We want to bring you up to date on our work and tell you about our 2015 plans. First though, some background for those of you who may not be familiar with the project: during the summer and fall, we have to spill water at our Whitehorse facility because we don’t have the ability under our current water license to store it in the Southern Lakes system. However in winter there isn’t enough water to meet the demand and Yukon Energy must at times resort to using diesel to meet peak loads. Burning diesel is costly and emits greenhouse gases and other pollutants. The Southern Lakes Concept proposes a change to our water license so we could store some of that water that is currently spilled, for use in the winter. It would involve a change to the existing Full Supply Level (the controlled maximum lake level stipulated in our water license) of 30 centimetres for a limited period in the late fall, and change of 10 centimetres to the Low Supply Level during the spring. In many years the water level of the Southern Lakes naturally exceeds this conceptual full supply level. The Benefits The Southern Lakes Concept could contribute about seven GWh/year of low cost energy, during the winter months when we need it most. This is sufficient to power about 600 to 800 homes, and save Yukoners up to $2.3 million a year at today’s diesel prices (up to $2-million annually of blended LNG/diesel at today’s prices), helping to keep electricity rates affordable. This renewable energy project would reduce GHG emissions by up to 5,600 tonnes a year (diesel) or up to 4,900 tonnes a year (blended LNG/diesel). Yukon Energy is looking at other renewable options too, but squeezing the most out of our existing assets should be, and is, the first energy supply option we consider. It's important to point out that there are already naturally occurring erosion and groundwater issues in the Southern Lakes. The mitigation work we would do as part of this project would address those issues systematically and effectively, providing a long term benefit to Southern Lakes residents. In terms of our 2015 plans: over the next four or five months, we will do the following: Meet one-on-one with Southern Lakes residents who could see groundwater or erosion impacts as a result of this project to discuss possible mitigation measures; Continued engagement with the affected First Nations; and Continued discussions with other stakeholders. Yukon Energy has undertaken many studies on the potential impacts of this project on wildlife, wetlands, shorelines and sub-surface structures. These studies – in combination with the focused engagement process we are doing - will inform a decision as to whether we would move ahead into the regulatory phase. Permitting would involve an amendment to our current water use license and an evaluation of potential environmental and socio-economic effects under YESAA. That work would likely take a year and a half to two years, so the earliest we can see this going ahead as an approved project would be in 2017.
News, Energy Supply, Environment, Partnerships
Mar 12, 2015  Comment

Secondary Sales Benefits all Yukoners

You may have heard the news that the Yukon Hospital Corporation recently re-joined our Secondary Sales Program after a hiatus of a few years. The program gives eligible Yukon businesses the option of using renewable power to heat their facilities instead of more expensive, GHG producing fossil fuels. It is priced at a discount to heating oil, saving participating companies about 30 percent on their heating bills. Our sales have dropped in the last two years, in large part because of warmer temperatures. This program gives us the opportunity to make up some of that lost revenue, so we can keep rates affordable for other ‘firm’ electricity customers. It also lowers Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions, making it a win for the entire Yukon. Whitehorse General Hospital used the secondary sales program from 2003 to 2010, but that tapered off with the limited availability of surplus renewable energy. Now that it has re-joined the program, the hospital estimates heating costs could be reduced by $100,000 this year alone. To qualify for the program, businesses must have or install a second electrically fired heating system, and acknowledge that the secondary power is interruptible during times when renewable electricity is not available. A key component is that the company be connected via computer to Yukon Energy’s system control centre, so that the business can be automatically turned on and off based on the availability of surplus renewable power. There is currently one other automated secondary sales customer – the Canada Games Centre. In 2014, the Centre has been able to access secondary sales approximately 97 percent of the time, saving Whitehorse taxpayers close to $100,000 in heating costs. We are interested in adding one or two more automated secondary sales customers in the coming months. If you are a business interested in learning more, please contact us. Photo: Yukon Hospital Corporation CEO Jason Bilsky (left) with Yukon Energy President Andrew Hall in front of one of the Whitehorse hospital's electric boilers.
Community Involvement, Environment
Mar 17, 2015  Comment

Sharing the Knowledge

Yukon Energy's Environmental Coordinator Shannon Mallory spent an afternoon recently back in the classroom. She, along with Brian Horton from the Northern Climate ExChange (NCE) of the Yukon Research Centre, gave a presentation to the Grade 11 Experiential Science class about the research being done into climate change in the Southern Yukon. Yukon Energy has worked with the NCE for the past several years to gather new information about how climate change could affect hydro generation at our Whitehorse dam. In future, we expect to have similar research done with regard to how changes in climate could affect our Mayo and Aishihik hydro operations.
Media Releases
Mar 11, 2015  Comment

Whitehorse General Hospital Re-joins Secondary Sales Program; Provides Win for Yukon as a Whole

The Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC), Yukon Energy, and the territory as a whole are all benefitting from a program that makes use of surplus renewable electricity. Whitehorse General Hospital recently re-joined the Secondary Sales Program after a hiatus of a few years. The program gives eligible Yukon businesses the option of using renewable power to heat their facilities instead of more expensive, GHG producing fossil fuels. It is priced at a discount to heating oil, saving participating companies about 30 percent on their heating bills. It provides Yukon Energy with a revenue stream that helps keep rates affordable for other electric customers, and it lowers Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions. Whitehorse General Hospital used the secondary sales program from 2003 to 2010, but that tapered off with the limited availability of surplus renewable energy. Now that it has re-joined the program, the hospital estimates heating costs could be reduced by $100,000 this year alone. “Our heating system provides steam and hot water that support many of the hospital’s vital needs, including space heating and a variety of processes such as laundry and instrument sterilization,” Yukon Hospital Corporation’s CEO Jason Bilsky said. “Using renewable energy whenever possible makes sense as it not only reduces our environmental footprint and significantly cuts costs, but it also directly supports our role in ensuring quality health care for Yukoners.” To qualify for the program, businesses must have or install a second electrically fired heating system, and acknowledge that the secondary power is interruptible during times when renewable electricity is not available. A key component is that the company be connected via computer to Yukon Energy’s system control centre, so that the business can be automatically turned on and off based on the availability of surplus renewable power. “Yukon Energy’s sales have dropped in the last two years, in large part because of warmer temperatures,” Yukon Energy president Andrew Hall said. “This program gives us the opportunity to make up some of that lost revenue, so we can keep rates affordable for other ‘firm’ electricity customers.” “The secondary sales initiative also provides opportunities to reduce fossil fuel use in the territory. In this regard, it’s a win for the entire Yukon,” Hall added. There is currently one other automated secondary sales customer – the Canada Games Centre. In 2014, the Centre has been able to access secondary sales approximately 97 percent of the time, saving Whitehorse taxpayers close to $100,000 in heating costs. Yukon Energy hopes to add one or two more automated secondary sales customers in the coming months. -30- Contact:   Janet Patterson                                                              James Low Manager, Communications                                            Manager, Communications Yukon Energy Corporation                                            Yukon Hospital Corporation (867) 393-5333                                                             (867) 393-8698 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca                                             james.low@wgh.yk.ca
Energy Conservation, Environment
Apr 08, 2015  Comment

Why Energy Conservation?

We are often asked why a company such as ours that is in the business of selling electricity would be promoting energy conservation and efficiency. Shouldn’t we be encouraging people to use more electricity, not less? The question came up again recently, after we told Yukoners that our electricity sales have dropped about five percent in the last two years…the same period of time that we and ATCO Electric Yukon jointly launched the inCharge electricity conservation program. There are a number of reasons why energy conservation/efficiency continues to make sense for us and for Yukoners in general. While we have seen a drop in electricity sales in 2013 and 2014, (primarily because of milder temperatures as opposed to our inCharge program), we expect that in the longer term, the trend will be towards growth in the territory and thus higher electricity consumption. Yukon Energy is working to find new short- to medium-term renewable energy options to meet that expected growth, and one of the most economical options is conservation/efficiencies. A megawatt saved is a megawatt that we don’t have to build. Developing a conservation culture doesn’t happen overnight. People’s habits change slowly. Our inCharge program is helping to build awareness and creating new thought patterns that should, over time, result in significant energy savings. By starting now, even at a time when our sales are down, it should reap greater benefits a few years from now. Finally, it’s the right thing to do. Just because we might, at certain times of the year, have an excess of renewable electricity, that doesn’t mean that we should not use it wisely. Energy conservation/efficiencies is good for the planet, and thus for all of us. Another question that we sometimes receive from Yukoners is related to our natural gas plant that will be in service by late spring. We are asked if, once that facility is operating, we will continue to promote energy conservation. The answer is yes, of course. The natural gas plant is being built purely as back-up, to be used during emergencies or during cold periods when we don’t have enough renewable power to meet demand. The natural gas units are merely replacing two old back-up diesel generations that must be retired. Yukon Energy remains at our core a renewable energy company, with 99.6 percent of our generation last year coming from hydro and wind, and we see energy conservation as one form of renewable energy that is readily available to Yukoners.
News, Community Involvement, Energy Supply, Reliability
Apr 07, 2015  Comment

Stewart-Keno City Transmission Project Update

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that the Yukon government - through the Yukon Development Corporation - is providing $5.3 million to plan improvements to the transmission infrastructure in the Central Yukon between Stewart Crossing and Keno City. Over the next several months, Yukon Energy wiill use this money to complete engineering and permitting for the Stewart Keno City Transmission Project. This planning initiative will result in a shovel-ready construction project by the spring of 2017. We are hosting some public meetings so you can learn more. The first two are set for next week in the Central Yukon: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 2 p.m. – Keno City Library 7 p.m. – Mayo Curling Lounge We will also hold a public meeting in Whitehorse within the next month (watch this blog for date, time, and location). For more information please call (867) 393-5333 or email janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca.
News, Energy Conservation, Environment
Mar 30, 2015  Comment

Earth Hour Results 2015

Congratulations Yukoners! Collectively you reduced your power consumption during Earth Hour (Saturday night from 8:30 to 9:30) by about 1.6 megawatts. That's a reduction of about three percent in energy usage; the best showing since Yukon Energy started tracking Earth Hour five years ago. The electricity saved would be enough to power about half of the Riverdale subdivision in Whitehorse. Last year savings were 1.5 megawatts. In 2013 Yukoners reduced consumption by about one megawatt.
News, Energy Supply, Environment
Mar 20, 2015  Comment

Innovation Takes Patience

​You will likely remember that late last year, Yukon Energy and Cold Climate Innovation of the Yukon Research Centre began looking at the viability of turning food and yard waste into a renewable energy called biogas. Biogas is methane rich gas produced when organics are broken down anaerobically (without oxygen). The research involved sending two 55-gallon drums full of food and yard waste to a lab in Saskatchewan, where a trial was done to find out how much biogas could be produced with the organics. The results indicate that our samples contained a lower level of methane than what is usually produced from food and yard waste. Biogas is normally around 60 percent methane, whereas our research samples were between 30 and 47 percent. Based on these results, we are considering doing further testing using some different variables. We have shared our results with a number of biogas experts, who suggested several things that could be done differently in a second trial. They believe that the following actions should result in higher methane levels: Shred the food and yard waste before it’s tested. Re-consider the time of year that samples are collected. (For our trial, we gathered samples from the Whitehorse compost facility in November, when compost contained high levels of leaves and grass compared to food waste). Experiment with different ratios of food versus yard waste. Use larger sample sizes. Generating heat and electricity from organics is an innovative idea, and innovation can take time and patience, with lots of trial and error. We still believe this alternative energy source has potential, and what we have learned in this early study will be applied in future research.   Next steps include: Look at getting a second set of trials done; and Have a preliminary design and cost estimate done for a biogas and greenhouse energy centre in Whitehorse. The idea would be to generate heat and electricity using organics from the city’s composting facility and use the energy to service a greenhouse or other on-site facility.

News, Energy Conservation, Energy Supply, Environment
Mar 19, 2015  Comment

Planning for the Advent of the Electric Car in the North

Yukon Energy is looking to learn more about electric vehicles and how they perform in cold climates. While electric cars and trucks are still rare in the territory, they are becoming more popular in other parts of the country and the world. We are about to have a study done that looks at the following: How well do electric vehicles operate in the north, in terms of things like driving range, interior heating, charging times, etc. What kind of trend can we expect to see in Yukon over the next five, ten, fifteen, etc. years in terms of how many Yukoners will be buying and using electric vehicles? What will the impacts be to our grid once electric vehicles become more common in the territory? The study will begin this spring, and we should have some results to share by the end of the summer. Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/indrawarman/electric-cars/

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