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Yukon Energy Salutes Hockey Day in Canada

Full Speed Ahead

Work on the Mayo B project continues on time and on budget. Here are some of the most recent photos, taken within the last couple of weeks. 1) exterior of new powerhouse; 2) interior of new powerhouse; 3) section of the penstock (large pipe) that will be buried underground and that will carry water from the Mayo River to the new powerhouse three kilometres downstream; and 4) close up of one piece of the penstock. It is being brought up the Alaska Highway one piece at a time on trucks. The powerhouse is just about finished; the penstock will be installed this spring. The turbines/generators are in production and should arrive in Yukon from China this summer. Mayo B should be in operation late this year or early next.

Yukon Energy’s Business Plan

Our 2011 Business Plan is now available for you to read.

Trades and Technologies: Our Bread and Butter

Skills Canada Yukon is planning another territorial skills competition this April in Whitehorse. As in the past, Yukon Energy will be involved in this event. We think it's an important one for a whole lot of reasons. Trades and technolgies are absolutely crucial to our business. That's why, in 2006, we started an apprenticeship program for Yukon Energy. It was a way of addressing the shortage of skilled workers in Canada and the challenge of attracting qualified candidates to the North. Perhaps more importantly, it gave us a chance to offer trades training and employment to Yukoners. Since that time, about a dozen Yukoners have gone through our apprenticeship program in the areas of power systems electrician, powerline technician, and heavy duty equipment technician. Almost all of them continue to work for us now that they have their journey tickets. Two more are in the process of getting their tickets. We also created a new scholarship a few years ago that was open to Yukon residents entering a trade pre-apprenticeship program or entry level trades program in the following areas: electrician powerline technician electronics technician heavy duty mechanic industrial instrument mechanic millwright (industrial mechanic) machinist You can learn more about our scholarship program by going to our website. We're really looking forward to this year's territorial skills competition, taking place on April 29th at the Whitehorse campus of Yukon College. What's most exciting for us to to have the chance to show young people what can be achieved through trades and technologies. If you're a young person or know someone who is, spread the word. Hope to see you on April 29th. Photo credit: www.archbould.com

Powering Hot Tubs

Today's question: I am curious to know if the power consumption of a hot tub heater represents a big percentage of the personal consumption during a Yukon winter. This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on the size and energy efficiency rating of the hot tub, and how often you use it. As a rule of thumb though, if you have a six-person hot tub that you heat all the time but only use a couple of hours a week, and if it is well insulated (has an Arctic Package), then you can probably expect to pay between $60 and $75 a month in electricity costs for the unit in the winter. In the summer it will cost significantly less than that. That being said, I have heard about one household that includes people who love to take long hot baths. With the installation of a hot tub, they apparently saw a decrease in their power bills because it costs them less to maintain the temperature of the water in the hot tub than it does to heat water for multiple daily baths. This is merely anecdotal though and I have no proof that this would be the case for other households.

The Change in Energy Prices

Today's question: How can I find out how much energy prices have gone up for those in Whitehorse compared to the rest of the communities over the past 5 years? I want to know for electricity and oil. Thanks! First of all I should explain that for the first 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, all residential customers in Yukon pay the same rate for electricity no matter what community you live in. Above 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, those communities that are on diesel (Old Crow for instance) pay a higher rate, but the majority of Yukon households stay within that first block of 1,000 kilowatt hours each month. Over the last five years, Yukon Energy has not sought any increases in rates for residential customers. In fact once the Minto mine became our customer, we were able to get approval for a rate decrease for our residential customers of 2.47 percent. However in 2009 the utility that distributes most of the power in the territory, the Yukon Electrical Company Ltd., was granted permission to increase residential rates by 10.5 percent. So in the last five years, the net change in residential rates is that they have gone up approximately 8 percent. As far as oil is concerned, you might try contacting the Yukon Housing Corporation, as I believe they keep track of oil prices.

Your Thoughts on Net Metering

We've had lots of questions over the years about when Yukon was going to develop a net meter policy. Net metering would allow homeowners and businesses that produce their own energy to offset their electrical bills by feeding any surplus power back to the grid. Yukon Energy has been working with the Yukon government and the Yukon Electrical Company Limited to develop a draft policy.  The draft is now ready for public review. Give it a read and let us know what you think. You have until April 29th to provide your comments.

Utilities and Government of Yukon to Assess Energy Usage and Conservation Potential

Yukon’s two electrical utilities and the Yukon government’s Department of Energy, Mines & Resources are taking steps to learn more about how electricity is used in the territory and where the greatest gains might be in terms of Demand Side Management (energy conservation). A selection committee made up of representatives from Energy, Mines & Resources, Yukon Energy and Yukon Electrical Company Limited has contracted ICF Marbek to do a Conservation Potential Review. Marbek is considered to be one of Canada’s top energy consulting firms and is a leader in energy management solutions. The review will look at several areas: • How Yukoners currently use energy (i.e. what percentage of energy consumption goes towards heat, hot water, lighting, plug loads, etc.) • How much power would Yukon need in future years if no Demand Side Management (DSM) initiatives were implemented • How much potential is there in Yukon for energy savings through DSM initiatives • Where are the greatest gains to be made in terms of DSM The review will include residential, commercial, and government customer classes and will be further broken down by service regions. An analysis of government and non-government use will also be done. Information will be gathered using customer billing information, stakeholder consultation, customer surveys, and an external advisory committee consisting of some Yukon and some outside representatives from energy sectors and industry. Work to improve the energy efficiency of existing and future industrial customers will be done on a customer by customer basis. The work is to begin later this month, with a final report prepared by this fall. Contact: Janet Patterson Supervisor, Communications Yukon Energy Corporation (867) 393-5333 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca Phil Borgel P. Eng Supervising Engineer Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd (867) 633-7069 phil.borgel@atco.com