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

Energy Supply
Aug 25, 2011  Comment

Resuming Secondary Sales

There's good news for 13 Yukon businesses and government departments. A surplus of available water for electrical generation has allowed us to once again offer our Secondary Sales Program for a short period this summer and fall. The program will be available starting tomorrow and will run until approximately October 1, 2011. The initiative began in 1998. It gives eligible Yukon businesses the option of using hydro power to heat their facilities instead of diesel fuel or propane, both of which are more expensive and generate greenhouse gas emisisions. They pay two-thirds of the cost of heating with diesel fuel, in exchange for the service being limited and fully interruptible. They are required to maintain a back-up heating system for use when Secondary Sales are not available. Last September, low water at the Aishihik and Mayo hydro facilities forced us to indefinitely suspend our wholesale Secondary Sales to Yukon Electrical Company Limited (YECL). Secondary Sales were also suspended to our retail customer, the Mayo school. However this summer all our reservoirs are essentially full and we have more water than we need for power production. That's why we can offer the program for the next several weeks. It means businesses and governments can see some savings on their energy bills, and we can make efficient use of our capacity to produce electricity and receive some financial benefit instead of just seeing the water being spilled.
Energy Conservation
Sep 06, 2011  Comment

Partnering With Alexco on Energy Conservation

We've talked on a number of occasions on this blog about the fact that energy conservation is a critical element in helping us meet Yukon's growing need for electricity. The more we all save, the less new generation we will need to find. We're working with all customers classes on various energy conservation projects. Today we are happy to tell you about a new project we are undertaking in partnership with one of our industrial customers, Alexco Resource Corp. We are working with them to have an energy audit done at the Bellekeno mine, mill and camp. The goal is to help the mining operation reduce its current yearly electrical power consumption and peak demand load. The energy audit will be done by Demand Side Energy, a Winnipeg firm that specializes in industrial audits. It will document past and current electricity use, compare that usage to other similar operations, and provide recommendations for energy saving opportunities. The auditing company will also provide a proposal for managing peak load. The audit will be done next week. We expect the report to be completed by the end of this year. Alexco Resources will share the cost of the audit with us 50-50. If as a result of the audit, Alexco implements energy conservation measure that reduce their current annual consumption, we will reimburse them an additional 25 percent of the audit cost.
News, Community Involvement
Sep 06, 2011  Comment

Fishladder Podcast

Our Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder is featured on this week's episode of "My Yukon Life". Check it out!
Community Involvement, Energy Conservation
Sep 07, 2011  Comment

Dollars to Sense Workshop

Looking to save some money on energy? We are partnering with Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. and Natural Resources Canada to offer another energy management workshop. This will be very similar to one we hosted in the spring. Participants will learn how to identify energy savings opportunities and will be offered some low cost or no cost ways to save energy. This workshop is ideal for small business owners and First Nation and Municipal decision makers...essentially anyone responsible for making energy-related decisions. It's taking place on October 26th at the Gold Rush Inn in Whitehorse. Cost is $25 for the day and registration deadline is October 19th. Questions? (867) 393-5313 or stephanie.whitehead@yec.yk.ca. The registration form can be found here.
Energy Conservation
Sep 12, 2011  Comment

The Energy Diet Challenge

The Kitchen/Kuiack household from the Marsh Lake area is setting an example for all of us. They are taking on the Energy Diet Challenge, an initiative set up by Shell Canada and Canadian Geographic. They are one of six families from across Canada going head to head to see how much energy they can save over the next three months. At stake are some great prizes, including a new hybrid car, and more importantly, a cleaner environment. We encourage you to follow their blog, and send them words of encouragement. Perhaps you have some tips you'd like to pass along to them. You might also consider going on an energy diet of your own. If you do, please tell us about your challenges and triumphs through this blog or through our Facebook page. Photo: Energy Diet website.
Energy Conservation
Sep 19, 2011  Comment

Saving Energy: the Baby Shower

Find out how the Kitchen-Kuiack family is doing so far with their Energy Diet contest. This week's entry centres around a baby shower. Got any energy saving tips for them and for the rest of us? On an energy diet of your own? We'd love it if you would share your stories and suggestions on this blog.
Community Involvement
Sep 22, 2011  3

Improvements at the Boat Lock

We are making some improvements to our boat lock at the Marsh Lake control structure. We are replacing some old wood in the area where you tie up your boat, and we are installing new ladders that will make it easier for you to climb out of your boat to use the manual lock system. These improvements are being done starting tomorrow and should be completed by the end of the day on Monday. During this time, you may experience some short delays when using the lock.
Energy Supply
Sep 28, 2011  Comment

Full Tanks

With the leaves turning colour and freshness permeating the morning air, you know winter is not far away. It’s comforting to know that on the cold days ahead will we have sufficient water to operate our turbines, old and new. All our reservoirs, or ‘tanks’ are full. Click on the links below to see water level charts for each lake. Aishihik Lake: High snow pack last winter and high rainfall this summer has resulted in water levels rebounding a great deal this year. Even with having to operate the Aishihik hydro plant for most of the summer due to the shutdown of Mayo A, the lake is at near full supply level.  Marsh Lake: The water levels have gone from low supply right up to near full supply. Contrary to what you might think, our rainy summer didn’t really contribute to that. Summer precipitation is only one component that makes up the annual inflow, snowfall and glacial melt being the other two. What did help was that we closed some of the Marsh Lake control structure gates once our license allowed us to do so (mid-August) and that meant we were able to store enough water to reach our Full Supply Level. Mayo Lake: This past spring we saw Mayo Lake at low levels not seen in over 25 years. Through a combination of careful management of the reservoirs, summer rain, and the prolonged shutdown of the hydro plant because of our work on the Mayo B project, the lake level went from low supply level right over the full supply level.  
News
Sep 28, 2011  Comment

Meter Reading

We hope that you've been following the Kitchen-Kuiack household as they continue on their quest to reduce their energy consumption. They are one of six families taking part in a national energy diet challenge. In the latest installment, the youngest member of their family demonstrates how to read an energy meter.
Community Involvement, Safety
Sep 29, 2011  Comment

Now On Video

Earlier this summer we told you about an information session we offered to help you learn how to use our Marsh Lake boat lock. We have now had a short instructional video produced about using the lock system. We hope you find it useful. Thank you to local photographer Cathie Archbould for putting this together for us.
Energy Supply
Sep 29, 2011  Comment

Why The Diesel?

We've had a couple of questions about why we are burning diesel right now. We are doing some maintenance on our Aishihik transmission line and are doing more of the work needed to commission our new hydro unit at Aishihik (Aishihik 3). This means the Aishihik hydro plant is not available to us right now. That, coupled with the fact that our Mayo plant is down while we tie in our new Mayo B plant, means we are having to burn diesel in Whitehorse, Faro, Mayo and Dawson City. This is temporary situation that should only last two to three weeks.
Energy Supply
Oct 05, 2011  Comment

New Information on our Waste to Energy Research

A simple drawing of a waste to energy facility. 1) blue: adding waste; 2) orange: incineration; 3) green: gas cleaning system; and 4) yellow: electricity production. If you read this blog regularly you will know that we have been looking into the possibility of using municipal waste, supplemented by waste wood (fire killed or beetle killed)  to generate both electricity and district heat. We've just had a study done that examines the viability of using these alternative energies in the territory and we want to share the results with you. It's important to note that the study is based on using the amount of waste available AFTER recycling and composting at current levels. There has been some misinformation in the public lately about Yukon Energy planning to burn material that is currently being recycled. That is not the case. You're invited to a workshop on this issue on Tuesday, October 18th at the Old Fire Hall in Whitehorse. The session will run from 7 to 9 p.m. There'll be presentations from experts, we'll share the study results, and you'll have a chance to ask questions and express your views.
Energy Conservation
Oct 03, 2011  Comment

Thieves in the Night

 Here's the Kitchen-Kuiack family's latest video in their challenge to reduce their energy consumption. This one's on phantom power. We love this family's creativity.
Energy Supply
Oct 12, 2011  Comment

Waste to Energy Reminder

A reminder of our waste to energy/biomass/biogas workshop planned for Tuesday, October 18th at the Old Fire Hall in Whitehorse. The session will run from 7 to 9 p.m. and everyone is welcome. We have been looking into the possibility of using municipal waste, supplemented by waste wood (fire kill or beetle kill) to generate both electricity and district heat in Yukon. We've just had a study done that examines the viability of using these alternative energies in the territory and we'll be discussing the results of that study at the workshop. There'll also be presentations from experts and you'll have a chance to ask questions and express your views. To help you prepare for the workshop, or if you just want more information about our work in this area, here is the technical report and a summary for you to review.
Media Releases
Sep 06, 2011  Comment

Yukon Energy; Alexco Resource Corp. Partner on Energy Audit

(Whitehorse) – Alexco Resource Corp. and Yukon Energy are working together to identify energy efficiency opportunities at the Bellekeno mine, mill and camp operations. As part of Alexco’s continuous improvement process and Yukon Energy’s energy conservation initiatives, the two corporations are sharing the cost of having an energy audit done of the property. The goal is to help the mining operation reduce its current yearly electrical power consumption and peak demand load. The energy audit will be done by Demand Side Energy, a Winnipeg firm that specializes in industrial audits. It will document past and current electricity use, compare that usage to other similar operations, and provide recommendations for energy saving opportunities. Each recommendation for energy efficiency improvements will include a cost-benefit analysis. The auditing company will also provide a proposal for managing peak load. “Energy conservation is a critical element in helping us meet Yukon’s growing energy needs,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “We are working with all our customer classes to find ways of making the most efficient use of the territory’s available electricity, and we’re very pleased to have an opportunity to partner with Alexco on this initiative.” “Identifying and implementing electrical power conservation and reduction opportunities is consistent with Alexco’s overall continuous improvement process and we are looking forward to working with Yukon Energy on this project,” said Brad Thrall, Alexco’s Chief Operating Officer. The audit will be completed by mid-September, with a final report expected by the end of this year. Alexco Resources and Yukon Energy will share the cost of the audit equally, with an additional 25 percent to be reimbursed by Yukon Energy should Alexco implement energy conservation measures that result in a reduction of current annual consumption. Contact: Janet Patterson Supervisor, Communications Yukon Energy Corporation (867) 393-5333 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca Brad Thrall Chief Operating Officer Alexco Resource Corp. (604) 633-4888

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