About Us

Community Involvement, Energy Supply
Apr 02, 2012  Comment

An Award Winning Project

Yukon Energy, along with the engineering firm KGS Group Consulting and the contracting company Kiewit Infrastructure Group, have jointly received an excellence award for the Mayo B hydro enhancement project. The Yukon Engineering Excellence Award was presented late last week to Lawrence Joudry, Yukon Energy's Director of Engineering Services and Operations. It's the first award of its kind ever given out in Yukon. Lawrence is seen on the right in the photo, along with the President of the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon (APEY) Carl Friesen, and Ryan Martin, Chair of the APEY Awards Committee. The award was established by the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon to recognize engineering achievements by local professional engineers and to promote excellence in engineering in unique northern climates and terrain. It takes into account applied research, design, innovation, construction and project management. Other considerations include northern adaptation, services that make environmental consideration and/or increase the sustainability of northern communities, enhancement of community services, and enhancement of the quality of life through engineering and other work. The Mayo B project was chosen over four other entries. We are of course delighted to be recognized in this way. This goes to show just what can be accomplished when you have strong partnerships. We would like to publicly recognize the excellent work on Mayo B by our own employees and by our contractors, which included KGS Group and Kiewit.
Energy Conservation, Energy Supply
Apr 02, 2012  4

Our LED Pilot Project: The Next Chapter

You might recall that in late 2010, in partnership with the Energy Solutions Centre, Yukon Energy installed six Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights in Dawson City. We wanted to find out how they would perform in extreme winter conditions compared to the traditional street lights. We’ve just completed a report of our research. Below are a couple of the key findings, or you can read more in our most recent newsletter on this subject. ~The annual energy used by the traditional High Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlights is 416 kilowatt hours per light. The energy used by the LED lights is 150 kilowatt hours per light, a savings of 64 percent. ~The LED streetlights are estimated to last 38 years, compared with four years for the HPS lightbulbs. While in principle we support moving to LED streetlights on a broader scale, we want to gather more information first. We will do a follow-up pilot this year to choose the specific brand/type of LED light that is best in terms of price and quality (the Dawson City pilot project tested six of a single type of LED light). The locations for the follow-up pilot are still to be determined. We will also continue to research advances and pricing changes in energy efficient street lighting. Photo: our LED streetlights in use during -40 degree temperatures in Dawson City. Photo credit: www.archbould.com
Community Involvement
Apr 10, 2012  Comment

Investing in Young Yukoners

With high school graduation just around the corner, we are now accepting applications for Yukon Energy scholarships. We offer two types of scholarships: 1) for post secondary students studying electrical or maintenance engineering, electronic systems engineering, civil engineering, and energy-related studies; and 2) for students entering pre-apprenticeship or entry level programs in the areas of electrician, power line technician, electronics technician, heavy duty mechanic, industrial instrument mechanic, industrial mechanics (millwright) or machinist. You can find more information and download application forms by visiting our website. The application deadline is June 29, 2012.
Community Involvement, Energy Conservation
Apr 11, 2012  1

Plinko Your Way to Energy Savings

If you've ever watched the TV show "The Price is Right" you'll be familiar with the Plinko board. We've now come up with our own version of Plinko, with prizes that will help reduce your electricity bill. We'll be giving you a chance to play Plinko, Yukon Energy style, starting on April 21 and 22. We'll be set up at Swan Haven at North M’Clintock during this year's Celebration of the Swans. On May 4, 5 and 6 you'll find us at the Lion’s Trade Show at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre in Whitehorse. Prizes will include, among other things, coupons for discounts on various energy-saving products.  Everyone who plays will win a prize, so come join us and Plinko your way to energy savings.
Community Involvement, Energy Conservation, Energy Supply
Apr 17, 2012  Comment

Reminder About Our Energy Conservation Workshops

We wanted to remind you about a couple of workshops taking this place this week related to conservation of electricity. You might remember that last year, Yukon Energy, Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. and the Yukon government's Energy Solutions Centre engaged an energy firm to find out how people use electricity in the territory and where the greatest gains might be in terms of electricity conservation/efficiencies. The results are now in and you're invited to come find out what was learned: Wednesday April 18th Gold Rush Inn (Town Hall Room), Whitehorse 2:30 - 5 p.m. for participants of last year's Conservation Potential Review workshops 5 - 7 p.m. for the general public You can read a summary of the report here, or go to the bottom of this page to read all six parts of the full report. Then the following day, Yukon Energy is hosting another in our series of workshops looking at possible energy options for the territory. This workshop will focus on energy conservation possibilities. There'll be presentations by Alexco about a conservation initiative between themselves and Yukon Energy, by the Yukon Conservation Society and the Yukon Utilities Consumers Group. There'll also be a recap of the Conservation Potential Review study results given the day before. Thursday April 19th Old Fire Hall, Whitehorse 12:30 - 5 p.m. for invited stakeholders 7 - 9 p.m. for the general public If you wish to attend either day session, please RSVP by calling (867) 393-3897 or by emailing stephanie.whitehead@yec.yk.ca. There is no need to RSVP for the evening meetings.
Energy Supply
Apr 18, 2012  Comment

Stepping Back from Waste-to-Energy

You may recall that over the last year or so, we've been doing research into using municipal waste as a source of energy and building heat. We've had a detailed analysis done, and as a result we have determined that waste-to-energy is not a viable option for Yukon at this time. Our study took into account the City of Whitehorse's goal of diverting 50 percent of its municipal waste from the landfill by 2015. Using that number, a waste-to-energy plant with the ability to produce two megawatts of power would have capital costs of about $40-million. The electricity produced from that plant would be very expensive; at about 31 cents a kWh, it would cost as much, if not more, than diesel. That being said, technology is changing rapidly, and it's possible that in several years the cost of a waste-to-energy project would be substantially lower. However for now we will turn our attention to exploring other potential energy options, including wind, hydro enhancements, biomass and liquefied natural gas.
Community Involvement
Apr 19, 2012  Comment

The Swan Cam is Back

The trumpeter and tundra swans have returned to the Southern Yukon and so has Yukon Energy's swan cam. The camera is located on the northwestern shore of M'Clintock Bay at the north end of Marsh Lake, very close to the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre. It's an chance for you to watch the swans in real time as they feed and rest in the water and on the shores of the bay. A reminder that  this Saturday and Sunday it's Family Week-end at Swan Haven. Yukon Energy will be there with our new plinko game, handing out energy-saving prizes. We hope to see you there. For more information about Celebration of Swans activities, visit Environment Yukon's webpage.
News, Energy Supply, Regulatory
Apr 30, 2012  Comment

After 13 Years, It’s Time for a Rate Increase

Yukon Energy Corporation has filed an application with the Yukon Utilities Board for our first retail rate increase since 1999. We have asked for a 6.4 percent increase for all customer classes (residential, commercial, industrial and government) in 2012 and an additional 6.5 percent raise in 2013. The increases would impact both Yukon Energy and Yukon Electrical customers. Obviously no one likes a rate increase, and over the last 13 years we’ve done everything possible to keep electricity costs low. In fact we were even able to secure a 2.47 percent rate decrease for our customers when the Minto mine came on-line. However seeking a rate increase now is the responsible thing to do if we are to continue providing Yukoners with sustainable energy now and into the future. There are several reasons in particular that a rate increase is necessary at this time: Increased energy consumption in all sectors has strained Yukon Energy’s power grid, and has depleted the corporation’s surplus hydro. While Yukon Energy’s new hydro assets (Mayo B and the Aishihik third turbine) have helped address this problem, expensive diesel generation is still needed to supply an increasing share of the new demand.   The cost of keeping aging infrastructure efficient, up-to-date and safe for Yukoners has increased faster than electricity rates.   Inflation: thirteen years is a long time to go without a rate increase. The last time we raised rates, Gretzky was playing for the Rangers and gas was 60 cents a litre! Meanwhile, salaries have gone up and the cost of our materials keeps climbing. The cost of living in Yukon has gone up more than 20 percent since the late 1990s.   Funding tomorrow’s energy: finding sufficient clean, affordable and reliable energy requires years of public and stakeholder consultation, research, engineering and project approval. All this work comes with a price tag. You can read more about the need for an increase and what we've done over the last 13 years to keep costs low, by reading this document. Note that even with higher rates there are steps most of you can take to keep your bills affordable. We'll be talking more on this blog about the tools and information available to give you more control over your electricity bills.  
Community Involvement, Safety
May 10, 2012  Comment

Using Our Boat Lock Safely

Here's something you might want to mark on your calendar: Yukon Energy is hosting a boat lock information night on June 14th at 5:30 p.m. at the Marsh Lake control structure. It's a chance for you to get hands on experience with taking a boat through our lock (we'll have a small boat there that you can use). We'll also be serving up hot dogs and refreshments. We hope to see you there. If you can't make it though, we do have a boat lock instructional video that you might find useful. Please contact us if you need directions to get to the boat lock.
General
May 11, 2012  Comment

Our Latest Planning Documents

Both our 2012-13 Strategic Plan and our 2012 Business Plan are now available for you to read. We invite you to take a look and let us know if you have any questions.
Community Involvement, Energy Conservation
May 14, 2012  Comment

Another Dollars to Sense Workshop

Looking to save some money on energy? There are still some spaces left in an energy management workshop being offered this week by Yukon Energy, Yukon Electrical Company Limited and Natural Resources Canada. The workshop will cover everything from energy 'basics' to the importance of managing energy. Particicpants will be shown some low cost/no cost energy savings opportunities. The session is open to everyone, although it will likely be of particular interest to small business owners and operators, First Nation and municipal employees who manage energy departments, and anyone else who's job involves making energy-related decisions. The cost is $25. You can pay at the door with cash, cheque or credit card (VISA or Mastercard). To register, please complete the form found at the bottom of this information sheet, and email it to communications@yukonenergy.ca or fax it, attention Janet, to (867) 393-5323. For more information, or to inquiry about bursaries for those participants experiencing financial difficulty, please contact jessica.thiessen@yec.yk.ca or call Jessica at (867) 393-3898.
General, Community Involvement
May 15, 2012  Comment

Heading to the Lakes

Yukon Energy is planning another round of public meetings in the Southern Lakes region. We'll provide an update on the Southern Lakes Enhancement Concept. We'll also share information about this summer's expected peak lake levels. Marsh Lake: Tuesday May 29th, 6:30 p.m. - Marsh Lake Community Centre Tagish: Wednesday May 30th, 6:30 p.m. - Tagish Community Club Everyone is welcome.
Energy Conservation
May 16, 2012  Comment

New Appliance Owner?

Are you a Yukoner who’s purchased a new appliance within the last two months? If so, Yukon Energy would like to hear from you. We are gathering some information about people’s buying habits, which will help us develop energy conservation programming. If you are willing to give us five or 10 minutes of your time to complete a survey, we will enter your name in a draw for a selection of LED lights for your home or office. We will not require your name or other personal information for the survey. If you are interested, please email jessica.thiessen@yec.yk.ca or stephanie.whitehead@yec.yk.ca or phone (867) 393-3897 or (867) 393-3898.  
Media Releases
Apr 17, 2012  Comment

Report Identifies Major Electricity Savings Through Conservation and Efficiencies

A study looking into the most effective ways of saving electricity in Yukon has concluded that between 32 and 48 percent of new power consumption can be met by electricity conservation and efficiency programs. Yukon Energy, the Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. and the Yukon government’s Department of Energy, Mines & Resources engaged energy firm ICF Marbek to do the research and prepare a report. The study included residential households, and commercial and government sectors and collected information about how people use electricity in the territory and where the greatest gains might be in terms of electricity conservation and efficiencies. Large industrial customers are being addressed separately since it is more practical to work with the mines directly on a one-on-one basis. The study found that without any energy conservation and efficiency programs, the territory’s total electricity consumption is expected to increase by about 65 percent by 2030. It expects the total peak load to grow to about 107 megawatts (compared with the current peak load of just over 80 megawatts) within that same timeframe. “With the kind of growth anticipated over the next couple of decades, conservation must be an integral part of the territory’s electricity supply options,” Yukon Energy President David Morrison said. “Every megawatt of power that can be saved is a megawatt that we don’t have to build. Energy efficiencies and conservation are among Yukon’s best options for ensuring a secure energy future.” The review suggests that for residences, the most significant savings can come through adopting changes in technology related to space heating (building envelope), domestic hot water, clothes dryers, and standby loads in household electronics (computers, televisions and other home entertainment devices). For commercial and government buildings, the best savings opportunities will be through improved indoor lighting and space heating. “Yukon Electrical sees electricity conservation as just one of the resources that will be a part of the electrical supply solution in the territory,” said Dwight Redden, General Manager Yukon Electrical. “We are working closely with the Government of Yukon and Yukon Energy towards presenting a balanced set of conservation plans and programs to the residential and commercial sectors to achieve new supply through conservation.” The study recommends that Yukon proceed with developing energy conservation and efficiency programs in a collaborative manner that makes the best use of territorial resources. A summary of the report can be found here. The complete report can be found at the bottom of this webpage. Contact: Janet Patterson Supervisor, Communications Yukon Energy Corporation (867) 393-5333 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca Laura Carlson Corporate Communications Advisor Yukon Electrical Company Limited (867) 633-7010
Media Releases
Apr 30, 2012  Comment

Yukon Energy Seeks First Retail Rate Increase in 13 Years

Yukon Energy Corporation has filed an application with the Yukon Utilities Board for its first retail rate increase since 1999. The corporation has asked for a 6.4 percent increase for all customer classes (residential, commercial, industrial and government) in 2012 and an additional 6.5 percent raise in 2013. The increases would impact both Yukon Energy and Yukon Electrical customers. “Over the last 13 years we’ve done everything possible to keep electricity costs low. In fact we were even able to secure a 2.47 percent rate decrease for our customers when the Minto mine came on-line,” Yukon Energy President David Morrison said. “However the cost of keeping aging infrastructure efficient, up-to-date and safe for Yukoners has increased faster than electricity rates, making our current path unsustainable.” Increased energy consumption in all sectors has strained Yukon Energy’s power grid, and has depleted the corporation’s surplus hydro. While Yukon Energy’s new hydro assets (Mayo B and the Aishihik third turbine) have helped address this problem, expensive diesel generation is still needed to supply an increasing share of the new demand. “Thirteen years is a long time to go without a rate increase,” Morrison added. “The last time we raised rates, Gretzky was playing for the Rangers and gas was 60 cents a litre! Meanwhile, salaries have gone up and the cost of our materials keeps climbing.” “Given these factors, seeking rate increases is the responsible thing to do,” said Morrison. “However even with higher rates there are many steps Yukoners can take to keep their bills affordable. We will work with customers to provide them with the tools and information they need to have more control over their electricity bills.” See further information here. The full application can be found at the bottom of this page. Contact: Janet Patterson Supervisor, Communications Yukon Energy Corporation (867) 393-5333 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca  

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