News & Events

Check this section for Yukon Energy's latest news and coming events.

If you have questions about any of the information posted here, please contact:


Communications and Community Relations
Phone: (867) 393-5398
Email: communications@yec.yk.ca

Community Involvement, Energy Supply
Feb 09, 2012  Comment

What Was Said

In December, we held the second in a series of workshops on the energy options that we are considering. The December session was focussed on biomass (using firekill or bettle kill wood to produce electricity and district heat). The summary of what was said at that workshop and public meeting is now available and we want to share it with you. We welcome your comments on this or any of the other energy options we are investigating.
General, Energy Supply
Feb 10, 2012  Comment

New Videos

We have just completed two new videos about two of our projects...Mayo B and our research into Waste to Energy. Take a look and let us know if you have any questions. Our plan is to produce short videos about all our current major initiatives. It's one more way of sharing information about the work we do here at Yukon Energy.
Energy Supply, Environment
Feb 20, 2012  Comment

Is Waste to Energy a Sound Option for Yukon?

You may be aware that Dr. Paul Connett was in Whitehorse last week promoting zero waste. While here, he was very vocal in his opposition to Yukon Energy's research into turning municipal waste into electricity and heat for homes and offices. We are open to hearing all opinions and reading all sound research into waste-to-energy; we are still in the early stages of looking into whether this is a viable energy source for Yukon. While Dr. Connett is on one side of the spectrum, we have heard from other experts who believe waste-to-energy is an environmentally sound option for the territory. A search on YouTube shows all kinds of videos on this topic. We encourage you to watch some of them and let us know what you think. To get you started, a couple of the videos can be found here and here.
Community Involvement
Feb 23, 2012  Comment

Rendezvous at Yukon Energy

The Sourdough Rendezvous Winter Festival is in full swing in Whitehorse and Yukon Energy is getting into the spirit of things. Happy Rendezvous everyone!
General, Energy Supply
Mar 01, 2012  Comment

Did You Know?

A few months ago, we put together an information sheet with some of the questions that we are most often asked. The document also explains some of the challenges we are facing, and how we are working to address them. We realized that we had not shared that information sheet here, so we are posting it now. If you have any questions after reading it, please let us know.
General, Energy Supply
Mar 02, 2012  Comment

More New Videos

We have two more videos for you...these ones are on the Carmacks-Stewart Transmission Line Project, and the Southern Lakes Enhancement Concept.
Community Involvement, Energy Supply
Mar 15, 2012  Comment

Celebrate Our Water; Come for a Tour

With our bountiful supply of fresh, clean water, Yukoners can count ourselves among the luckiest people in the world. Here at Yukon Energy, we rely on water for 99 percent of the electricity we generate to power your homes and businesses. To help celebrate the territory's water supply, we are participating in Canada Water Week (March 19th to 23rd). Canada Water Week is an opportunity to learn about the good work being done around Yukon and beyond on water protection, use and management. On Thursday the 22nd we are offering free tours of our Whitehorse hydro facilities. If you've always wondered how power gets produced here in the territory, now's your chance to find out firsthand. We'll offer one tour at 10 a.m., and if there's demand, we'll give a second one at 1 p.m. The tours are limited to 20 people each. If you are interested, please contact us no later than Wednesday, March 21st at 4 p.m. by calling 393-5333 or emailing communications@yukonenergy.ca. Children must be at least seven years old to participate in a tour. For more information about Canada Water Week activities in Yukon, visit www.gov.yk.ca/water.html. Photo credit: Derek Crowe.
Community Involvement, Energy Conservation
Mar 22, 2012  2

Take the Earth Hour Challenge

Once again this year Yukon Energy is participating in Earth Hour. It's an opportunity to see just how much we as Yukoners can reduce our electricity usage between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Sarturday March 31st. We'll measure the results and share them with you. Last year during Earth Hour, Yukoners reduced power consumption by about one megawatt. Let's see if we can do even better this year. Here are some ideas to get you started. Go to our Facebook page and tell us what you'll be doing for Earth Hour, and your name will be entered in a draw for a selection of energy-saving devices, courtesy of the Yuon government's Energy Solutions Centre, the Yukon Conservation Society and Yukon Energy. But remember...Earth Hour isn't just a one night stand! It's about taking action to reduce energy use year round.
Energy Conservation, Energy Supply
Mar 27, 2012  Comment

Conservation…an Electrical Resource for Yukon

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 Then the following day, Yukon Energy will host 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 the Bellekeno mine 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
Mar 29, 2012  2

Results from our Liquefied Natural Gas Workshop

A few months ago, we held the third in a series of workshops to share information and get your input about the various energy options we are considering. The January session was focussed on using liquefied natural gas as a transitional fuel to replace diesel while we continue to look for new viable renewable options (liquefied natural gas could be brought on fairly quickly whereas options such as new hydro will take at least ten years). The summary of what was said at that workshop and public meeting is now available for you to read. As always, we welcome your comments. A reminder that the next in our workshop series, this one about energy conservation and efficiency, is taking place on April 19th at the Old Fire Hall in Whitehorse. The daytime session for stakeholders runs from 12:30 to 5 p.m. with a meeting for the general public from 7 to 9 p.m. that evening.
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.
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

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