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News, Energy Supply
Nov 18, 2014  Comment

Thermal Back-up Proves to be Life Line

We are making good progress in getting rid of the ice causing problems for our Whitehorse hydro units. Yesterday afternoon we managed to get our largest Whitehorse hydro generator back on line, and this morning only had to use a small amount of Whitehorse diesel generation to help meet the morning peak. At the time this is being written (noon), we are not running any diesel at all. Divers are still working to clear the ice from the trash racks (metal grates that prevent debris from getting into our turbines) for our three other Whitehorse hydro units. We expect they will be back in operation later today. The problems began on Saturday night, when mild temperatures and high winds caused slushy sheet ice to break away from the shoreline of Schwatka Lake. The ice attached itself to the trash racks of all four of our hydro generators. We were forced to burn a substantial amount of back-up diesel to meet the demand for electricity. This is an example of why Yukon needs thermal back-up. While it’s desirable to not use diesel or natural gas for generation, in a case like this, it was a life line. We lost hydro capacity at our largest hydro generating facility, and yet no one lost their power.  Yukon Energy spent about $192,000 on diesel over the last few days. If the two natural gas units had been in operation, we would have saved at least $34,000 for those three days alone. Here are some photos of the work that's going on to de-ice our trash racks. Photo credit: www.archbould.com. Diver Regis Groleau of ITB Subsea heading under water to melt the ice with help from a steam wand. Yukon Energy staff monitor the work of the divers with the help of underwater camera equipment.
Energy Supply, Partnerships
Nov 19, 2014  Comment

Thank You City of Whitehorse!

We’d like to give a shout out to the City of Whitehorse, and in particular to the team of city employees who helped us deal with the recent icing issues at the Whitehorse dam. Mark Iceton, Real Stoker and Jason Krause, under the supervision of Mark Vainio, spent long hours operating the city’s steam truck for us. The truck was used to melt ice that was preventing us from operating our hydro turbines. Thank you as well to City of Whitehorse dispatcher Dale Van Damme, who took a call from us in the wee hours of the morning and arranged for the appropriate city staff to be contacted and mobilized to the hydro site. Photo credit: www.archbould.com. Jason Krause (left) and Mark Iceton operate the steamer truck.

Energy Conservation, Environment
Nov 21, 2014  Comment

Challenging Ourselves to Save Energy

For the month of November, Yukon Energy staff have issued a challenge to themselves: to see which of our departments could reduce our energy consmption the most. We all realize that even small savings help, especially in the winter when we must at times burn diesel. We were especially vigilent earlier this week when icing issues prevented us from using our Whitehorse hydro generating units, meaning more diesel that usual was burned.  Staff have enthusiastically gotten behind this challenge. Here are just a few of the things we are doing: -Some of our Operations staff are hanging their work coveralls to dry instead of using an electric dryer. -Some have decided to swap out electric hand tools for non-electric ones. -Many have only turned on their lights in the early morning hours, and have shut them off once the sun comes up. -A number of meetings have taken place by candlelight (see photo on the right). -Lights in common areas such as the lunch room, washrooms, etc. are only turned on if necessary. -Computers and monitors are turned off over lunch and at the end of each day. -Heat has been turned down in the work spaces, and people have opted to instead wear sweaters or layers of clothing. We would like to encourage other work places to take the Energy Challenge and see how much energy you can save!
News, Energy Supply
Dec 05, 2014  Comment

Yukon Energy’s 2015 Wind Program

Yukon Energy is moving ahead in 2015 to complete the work necessary to select a site for a five to ten megawatt wind farm in the territory. Starting next year, we will install wind monitoring equipment on Mount Sumanik near Whitehorse. The equipment will allow us to collect a full year of wind data at the site. We did gather some information from the site several years ago, but it was incomplete. We need to collect data that is similar in scope to that gathered at Tehcho near Stewart Crossing, the other location we are considering for a wind farm. That way we can make an 'apples to apples' comparison and determine which is the better site.   As you know, our parent company Yukon Development Corporation is looking at long term hydro solutions for the territory (20 to 50 years out) but we still need to look at the nearer term (0 to 20 years) needs, and explore all possible renewable options. We see a wind project as an appropriate mid-scale solution to meet the territory’s mid-term electricity needs.   Once the Corporation has data from both sites, we will update the energy yield and cost estimates for the development of similar-sized wind farms at those two locations. We can then choose which site to take forward for more detailed engineering and assessment work.   We know that wind power is intermittent, meaning it is challenging to integrate as an energy source into an isolated grid such as ours. That’s why, as a key part of this work, we will be taking a close look at the integration of wind energy into our system and assessing different technologies and options for firming up wind supply.   Historically the options available in the territory included diesel back-up and hydro spinning reserve, but there are a number of emerging technologies we will look at, including large scale batteries, compressed air storage and ultracapacitors. Integration with options such as pump storage and electrical thermal storage will also be reviewed as part of the study.   Over the next 18 months, Yukon Energy plans to engage with First Nations, stakeholders, and members of the public on key topics related to this work.   In a related piece of news, we have decided to take down the small (Bonus) turbine on Haeckel Hill. The turbine was built in 1993 and has reached the end of its life. The company that produced it no longer exists, and parts are next to impossible to come by. The turbine will be decommissioned and removed at some point next summer or fall. Photo credit: www.archbould.com.
News, Energy Supply, Power Outage Updates, Reliability
Dec 08, 2014  Comment

Saturday Night’s Outage

Yukon Energy staff are investigating the cause of a power outage that affected the northern sections of Whitehorse and a part of Dawson City. Power went out at shortly after 10 o'clock on Saturday evening. Power was restored to Dawson City within 15 minutes, and in Whitehorse within about an hour. We believe the outage was caused by a piece of equipment at our largest Whitehorse hydro unit that malfunctioned. We replaced the part and the unit is now running normally. We will send out the damaged part to help us determine why it failed.
News
Dec 08, 2014  Comment

Planned Power Outage for Champagne

Yukon Energy wants to advise our Champagne customers of a series of brief planned power outages on Tuesday, December 16th.  Between 10 and 11 a.m., all residents of Champagne will experience two brief (5 minutes each) outages.  Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., some residents will experience a few more brief (5 minutes each) outages.  We apologize for the inconvenience, but this work is necessary so crews can upgrade some equipment.  For more information please call 393-5333 or email communications@yukonenergy.ca.      
Energy Supply, Safety
Dec 19, 2014  1

LNG and Safety

Today's question: I hear a lot of conflicting reports about whether LNG is safe. How do I know what to believe? Answer: It's true that there have been some Yukoners expressing concern about the safety of LNG. I think that much of the fear here in the territory stems from a lack of familiarity with LNG. Most of us use hydrocarbon fuels in our daily lives...gasoline or diesel in our vehicles, propane and oil in our homes, and we rarely if ever consider the safety of these fuels. Natural gas is new to Yukon, and so people, rightly so, question its safety. The reality is that all these fuels have their own unique hazards and need to be respected. As long as all the appropriate safety measures are taken, we can use these products very safely. Consider this: here in Whitehorse we have two propane tank farms, with a total volume of just over 500 liters. That's about equal to our LNG storage volume. There are diesel tanks at the Whitehorse airport and on our existing Whitehorse site, and we have not heard anyone raise safety questions about them. There are propane tanks near the grocery store in the Riverdale subdivision of Whitehorse, near our generating facilities. Again, we have not heard people express safety concerns about these tanks. It is generally accepted that LNG is a safer fuel than propane. It has a higher ignition temperature, meaning you need a much hotter spark than you do to ignite propane. As well, the storage pressure of propane tanks is higher than that of LNG, making it more prone to explosions.  Natural gas is lighter than air so if you did have an LNG leak, it would disperse upwards. Propane sinks downward and sticks around an area. In a nutshell, we would not be moving to LNG if we did not believe it is safe, and we intend to implement all the appropriate safety measures in the operation of our LNG site. Here is a video that talks more about LNG and safety.
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.

Media Releases
Dec 05, 2014  Comment

Yukon Energy Moves Forward With Wind Work

Yukon Energy has announced plans to complete the work necessary to select a site for a five to ten megawatt wind farm in the territory. Starting next year, the Corporation will install wind monitoring equipment on Mount Sumanik near Whitehorse. The equipment will allow Yukon Energy to gather a full year of wind data at the site. The information will be similar in scope to that gathered at Tehcho near Stewart Crossing, the other location Yukon Energy is considering for a wind farm. “We recognize that wind is a valuable option in our energy tool box,” Yukon Energy President Andrew Hall said. “It is renewable, can be developed in a reasonable time frame, and is scalable. We see this as an appropriate mid-scale solution to meet the territory’s mid-term electricity needs.” Once the Corporation has data from both sites, it can update its energy yield and cost estimates for the development of similar-sized wind farms at those two locations. It can then choose the best site to take forward for more detailed engineering and assessment work. “Since wind power is intermittent, it is challenging to integrate as an energy source into an isolated grid such as ours,” Hall added. “That’s why, as a key part of this work, we will be taking a close look at the integration of wind energy into our system and assessing different technologies and options for firming up wind supply.” Over the next 18 months, Yukon Energy plans to engage with First Nations, stakeholders, and members of the public on key topics related to this work. Contact: Janet Patterson                                                                       Manager, Communications Yukon Energy Corporation (867) 393-5333                                                                       janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca   Background Information Yukon Energy currently has two wind turbines on Haeckel Hill in the Whitehorse area: Bonus – 150 kW unit installed in 1993 Vestas – 600 kW unit installed in 2000 The Bonus has reached the end of its life and will be decommissioned in 2015. The Bonus will not be replaced. Instead, Yukon Energy will focus on doing the work necessary to have a wind project of between five to ten megawatts shelf-ready so it can be built once the load growth develops and other relevant conditions are met. The Corporation is considering two options: 1) a wind farm on Tehcho (formerly Ferry Hill) near Stewart Crossing in the Central Yukon; and 2) a wind farm on Mount Sumanik near Whitehorse. Wind data collection at Tehcho was completed in 2014. Previous to that, Yukon Energy collected some data from Mount Sumanik, but the information was incomplete. The Corporation needs to collect further data from the Mount Sumanik site over the next 18 months, so an ‘apples to apples’ comparison can be made of the two locations. Because of the intermittent nature of wind power, Yukon Energy is looking at a number of technologies for integrating wind into the Yukon grid. Historically the options available in the territory included diesel back-up and hydro spinning reserve, but there are number of emerging technologies the Corporation plans to look at, including large scale batteries, compressed air storage and ultracapacitors. Integration with options such as pump storage and electrical thermal storage will also be reviewed as part of the study.  
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 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. 
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.
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.

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