About Us

How to Remove a 15 Metre (50-Foot) Long Bolt

 Because of the massive size of much of our critical equipment, renovations or major overhauls are never simple or easy jobs. This week, for instance, we began renovating one of the spillway gates and related structures at our Whitehorse dam. Just as their name suggests, the gates allow us to release (spill) water from Schwatka Lake into the Yukon River. The East Gate was refurbished a couple of years ago. Now we are doing the same to the West Gate. The gates operate on a screw-lift mechanism, where large gearboxes sitting at the top of a platform are turned by a central gearbox assembly. These gearboxes act on 15 metre (50 foot) long screws (bolts) that are attached to the gates to move them up or down. Each bolt weighs 5,900 kilograms (13,000 pounds), so obviously this is not a job for your average hand-held wrench! Instead, Project Manager Darrell Johnson called in TMar and R.C. Crane to help us with the removal. The screw covers (the orange and white structures being moved in the photographs) were removed yesterday without incident. The actual screws will be removed this afternoon. The screws will be shipped to Southern Canada where they will be inspected and refurbished. We’ll re-install them next month. Also next month we’ll do some maintenance on the spillgates themselves.

The Southern Lakes Water Level Committee

 As many of you know, Yukon Energy Corporation is considering changes to our water use license for the Southern Lakes and Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station. A group of Southern Lakes residents has formed a committee to act as a conduit between Yukon Energy and the public. The group will be hosting monthly information meetings jointly with us. The first of those meetings is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30th at 6:30 p.m. at the Carcross Community Club. The topic: The Concept. Meeting discussion points: 1. Introduction of the Southern Lakes Water Level Committee, purpose and goals 2. Yukon Energy’s current water use license allowances and restrictions 3. Conceptual water use license changes - height, volume differentials, etc. 4. Potential impacts related to water use license changes and mitigation measures being considered (a summary of our field work conducted to date can be found at the bottom of this page and it will be discussed in detail at future meetings.) 5. Timeline of potential project (current planning stage and next steps) For more information: Southern Lakes Water Level Committee Mary Ann Lewis, Secretary (867) 667-7670 ramal64@gmail.com Yukon Energy Corporation Janet Patterson, Manager of Communications (867) 393-5333 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca At each meeting there will be discussion about specific issues related to the research studies being conducted, potential effects of the project should it go ahead, and possible mitigation measures. The meetings will be held on a rotation basis in Marsh Lake, Tagish, and Carcross. We hope you will join us and provide input on this important issue.

Watch for Us At the Trade Show!

Say Good-bye to that Old Fridge

 Are you looking to get rid of your old fridge? Did you know there’s a program that will not only give you cash towards a new energy efficient refrigerator, but also take away your old one for free? Two years ago, Yukon Energy and the Yukon government's Energy Solutions Centre (ESC) started a fridge and freezer retirement program as a pilot project. Since then, close to 400 older inefficient appliances have been retired, resulting in almost 400,000 kWh in energy savings. Because of its success, ESC and Yukon Energy have decided to continue this initiative, focusing just on refrigerators. Here's how it works: contact the Energy Solutions Centre and tell them you have one or two old fridges that you'd like to get rid of. The appliances must be in current use and they must be five or more years old. ESC will arrange for up to two appliances to be picked up and taken to the landfill. They'll pay the landfill tipping fee and you'll receive $50 towards the cost of each new fridge that you purchase! Most homeowners aren't aware that it can cost $100 or more per year to run an older fridge. This program doesn't just give financial incentives off the top, but it also provides ongoing energy bill savings, as the new energy efficient appliances require less electricity. Call The Energy Solutions Centre at 393-7063 or toll free in Yukon at 1-800-661-0408 ext. 7063 to register for this program. You can visit their website to get further details.

Thank You and Congratulations!

Several weeks ago we invited Yukoners to fill out an online survey about Yukon Energy. Almost 300 people took the time to complete the survey, which we will use to serve you better. We thank all of you for your input.  Everyone who did the survey had their name put in a draw for a selection of energy saving products. The winner is Melanie Brais. Congratulations Melanie! Once we have compiled the results of the survey we will share the information with Yukoners.

A Powerline Tech’s Rodeo

 There was no bull riding or chuck wagon racing, and tree roping took the place of calf roping, but the skill level was high at the Yukon’s first ever powerline technician rodeo, held earlier this week in Whitehorse. Yukon Electrical Company Limited invited powerline techs from Yukon Energy, NuLine, and Arctic Power to join them for a couple of hours of friendly competition and camaraderie. Participants were divided into teams of three (Yukon Energy formed a team with NuLine) and were required to complete a circuit that included six challenges. They were asked to assemble power pole structures, including the cross arms, etc. They had to use a 40 foot stick to remove shoes from a de-energized powerline. They were required to attach a rope to a tree and simulate what they would do to safely remove the tree from a transmission line. Perhaps the most popular event (among the spectators at least) was to have the technicians climb a power pole with a raw egg in their mouths. While some of the eggs were returned unscathed, others suffered a rather messy fate, much to the chagrin of the competitors! Not only did the participants have to perform the tasks as quickly as possible, but they had to work safely too. In fact safety was the theme of the rodeo. Many thanks to Yukon Electrical for hosting this event, and congratulations for taking top spot in the competition (the Yukon Energy/NuLine team was second, and Arctic Power third).  Below are a few images from the event.

Dawson’s Film Find

Congratulations to Laura Mann and her team at the Dawson City Museum for a wonderful debut evening of Dawson's 'lost' films. We wrote about the film find earlier this week. Having attended opening night, we were able to see first hand how valuable these films really are. If you are in Dawson, we encourage you to visit the museum to view the three movie 'programs' that will be shown twice a day throughout the summer. We'd like to send a special shout out to Dawson's famous piano player, 'Barnacle' Bob Hilliard. He improvised all the music for these silent films, making them even more special. Here are a few photos from the opening reception: Note the old clothesline above the guests' heads. We had fun with the theme of valuing what we have and using it wisely; thus the link between saving old films and saving electricity by line drying. We also handed out clothespins and coupons for discounts on clotheslines. What's a movie without the popcorn? One of our staff bags and hands out snacks to the guests.

Releasing the Fry

It looks like we will have beautiful weather for this year's Chinook salmon fry release at the Wolf Creek campground near Whitehorse. The release is always a popular event with families. It's taking place this Sunday (May 26th) starting at noon. There'll be a barbeque and cake, followed by the fry release at 1 p.m.  We hope you come out and help send 10,000 of our Whitehorse Rapids Hatchery fish on this first stage of their journey to the Bering Sea. Thank you to the Yukon Fish and Game Association for organizing this event once again this year. Here are a couple of photos from a previous fry release: