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 11, 2011  Comment

Down it Goes

The mission: to lower a 34 tonne hydro generator 110 meters (about 360 feet) underground. Certainly no easy task, but it was accomplished with precision and grace recently at our Aishihik facility. The seven megawatt unit, commonly referred to as Aishihik 3, is being added to the two existing hydro generators at the plant to help us manage our available water in the most efficient way possible. The generator has had quite a journey. It was manufactured in India, travelled to Vancouver by boat, and was trucked up the Alaska Highway to Aishihik on a large flatbed. A heavy duty crane lowered it to its final resting place in our hydro plant through an underground tunnel. The lowering took close to two hours; with a clearance of only about 15 centimetres (six inches) on each side of the generator, the unit had to be carefully positioned and monitored so that it would not hit the rough rock blasted walls of the service shaft. In preparation for the lowering, crews spent about a month doing planning and preparation, including carrying out detailed inspections and engineering work to ensure the installation would go smoothly. The next step is to finalize placement, and bolt and cement the unit and associated equipment in place. The penstock pipe (the pipe that carries water to the turbine) must also be tied in. Aishihik 3 is scheduled to be operating by late this year. Photos: 1) getting ready to lower the generator down into the tunnel; 2) in its final resting place.

Energy Supply
Aug 23, 2011  1

Young Talent and a New Substation for Mayo

Yukon Energy is fortunate to have a highly skilled and dedicated staff. However we also have some pretty cracker jack contractors working for us. Today we'd like to tip our hat to F & M Installations, the company that is doing a large portion of the work on the new substation that is being constructed in Mayo. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or from low to high in an effort to properly route generated power to where it is needed. Think of them as traffic circles for electricity. In this case, all the power coming from our existing and new Mayo hydro facilities will be routed so that it can be transmitted to any and all communities connected to the Yukon grid. Our existing substation in Mayo is at the end of its life and needs upgrading. That's particularly important with our new Mayo B hydro facility coming into service at the end of this year. F & M Installations is in the first stage of construction, carrying out the civil and foundation work for this project. That involves building and pouring forms that will hold some 500 cubic meters of concrete, establishing the new grounding structure (a mat of 88 underground rods that serves as a protective measure) and installing fencing. Essentially they are constructing the foundations to which the steel lattice work, control building and major pieces of electrical apparatus can be placed in the spring of 2012. The job is going very smoothly and is on time and on budget. What's interesting to note is that the man who's supervising the crew is only 24 years old! Trevor Styan started working at the age of 12 as a ‘shop rat’ at his uncle’s business, Graf Excavating. Now with F & M Installations (a business that works closely with Graf), Trevor has a working relationship with some of his key staff that dates back a dozen years. "I have been, and still am, very fortunate to work with such talented tradespeople so young in my career," said Trevor. "Working together, we become a team that is efficient and effective." In spite of his young age, it's clear by watching the F & M employees that they look up to and respect Trevor. He has the confidence and demeanor of someone twice has age. "I can see that there might have been some trepidation at the beginning of this project with me being so young," said Trevor. "Thankfully the job has gone well and so now I think people can see that I do have the skill and knowledge necessary to ensure the successful completion of projects like this. It's gratifying to have our team put their trust in me." Trevor is modest when talking about himself, preferring to put the spotlight on his staff instead. "Ultimately it is a team of innovative people that lead our projects forward on time and on budget. The owners, project managers, office staff , truck drivers, warehouse mangers, site supervisors, trades, labourers all know what their job entails and every member of our team excels at their tasks." The civil work started July 22 and is expected to be finished in mid-September. FMI’s electrical and structural crew will take over in the spring, and the substation should be in operation by next fall, serving the new Mayo B hydro facility and existing infrastructure for many years to come.  

Media Releases
Aug 25, 2011  Comment

Yukon Energy Temporarily Resumes Secondary Sales Program

(Whitehorse) – A surplus of available water for electrical generation has allowed Yukon Energy to once again offer its 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 emissions. 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 Yukon Energy to indefinitely suspend its wholesale Secondary Sales to Yukon Electrical Company Limited (YECL). Secondary Sales were also suspended to Yukon Energy’s retail customer, the Mayo school. However this summer all the Corporation’s reservoirs are essentially full and it has more water than it needs for power production. That's why it can offer the program for the next several weeks. “We’re pleased that we can resume this program, if even for a short period,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “It means businesses and governments can see some savings on their energy bills, and we can receive some financial benefit instead of just seeing the water being spilled.” There are 13 Secondary Sales customers in the territory. -30- Contact: Janet Patterson Supervisor, Communications Yukon Energy Corporation (867) 393-5333 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca