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News, Energy Conservation, Energy Supply
Jan 06, 2015  3

Another All Time Record Broken

Last evening at 5:53, we broke the all time record in Yukon for electricity consumed at any one time. We were generating 83.69 megawatts at that point. This broke the previous record of 83.43 megawatts set on December 18th, 2013. Of that 83.69 megawatts produced, 12.4 megawatts of that was with diesel. For every hour that we produce one megawatt with diesel, it costs Yukoners between $300 and $350. That means just for that one hour over dinner last night, Yukoners paid up to $4,340 for back-up diesel. And diesels have been running for several hours, and are still running this morning. During times like this we ask that you keep your non-essential power usage to a minimum. Why not take a minute right now and turn off all electronics and lights you are not using? Thank you! By the way, our energy consumption charts that show the amount of diesel being burned are not working properly at the moment. We are looking into the issue and hope to have it fixed shortly.
Energy Conservation, Environment
Jan 15, 2015  Comment

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Did you receive any gift cards for Christmas? Many of us did. Here's an idea of what you could do with a $25 card...buy one or two LED light bulbs. For the second year in a row, Yukon residential customers who purchase ENERGY STAR® LEDs at retailers across the territory are eligible for a rebate on their electricity bill ($7 per package of bulbs), through our inCharge electricity conservation program. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving...not only do you get cash back through the rebate, but over their 25 year lifetime, each LED bulb can save you $170!
Safety
Jan 16, 2015  Comment

Snowmobiling and Power Lines

Photo credit: www.banffadventures.com. Snowmobiling is a popular sport in Yukon. But we ask that you take precautions, especially around power lines, to ensure a safe ride.  Here are some things to consider. Following these suggestions could save your life. Reduce your speed around utility poles. Guy wires that anchor the poles normally have yellow covers to make them more visible, but sometimes the covers have been damaged or removed, or are difficult to see because they are covered by drifting snow.    Steer clear of downed poles and power lines. Nearby objects can be energized by a live power line, so avoid the entire area. Report the danger by calling us at 1-800-676-2843.     If someone does make contact with a downed power line, either directly or through their machine, do not touch them or any objects around them. Seek help from emergency services.   Avoid the areas around hydro substations and any other hydroelectric facilities that you may come across, on or off the trail.   Stay off waterways near hydroelectric dams and generating stations where fluctuating water levels and currents may result in unstable ice conditions.

News, Energy Conservation, Partnerships
Jan 19, 2015  Comment

A New Rebate from inCharge

inCharge, the electricity conservation program created by Yukon Energy and ATCO Electric Yukon, is offering a new rebate. Now Yukon residential customers who purchase eligible block heater timers at participating retailers across the territory can receive a $10 rebate on their electricity bill. Between now and the end of April (or until supplies last) each household is eligible for rebates on up to two block heater timers. You can get all the details by going to the inCharge website.  Using a timer can result in significant savings - as much as $30 or more per month on your electricity bill. Don't forget that inCharge is continuing to offer rebates on LED light bulbs. You'll find more information here. In 2014 we gave out almost 3,000 rebates to Yukon residential customers.
Energy Supply, Partnerships, Safety
Jan 27, 2015  Comment

Are You Ready for an Emergency?

We've had a pretty mild winter so far in Yukon, but the recent storms in Eastern Canada and the U.S. are a good reminder that we should be ready at any time for a big weather system. A few years ago, we put together this booklet with help from the Yukon government's Emergency Measures Organization. We encourage you to give it a read.
Energy Conservation
Feb 02, 2015  Comment

The Perfect Time for a Block Heater Timer

We are in for a cold week Yukoners! If you don't already have one, now is the perfect time to purchase a block heater timer. These timers can save you up to $30 or more a month on your electricity bill, and right now our electricity conservation program inCharge is offering $10 rebates on block heater timers. You can find details on the inCharge website. 
News, Energy Supply, Reliability
Feb 03, 2015  Comment

A Major Reliability Project Complete

A major reliability project that we have been working on for the past two years is now finished. The Takhini substation, first installed in the 1970s, has received a significant upgrade. This investment allows for new customer load in the Whistlebend subdivision and west and north of Whitehorse. It also means the entire Yukon grid has a greater protection from widespread outages. Project like this are not inexpensive...this one cost $12-milliion. But the only other viable alternative would have been to spent an estimated $20-million on a parallel transmission line in the area. This approach has saved ratepayers $8-million.                      
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.  
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
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.
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, 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.

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