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

Billing
May 11, 2009  Comment

The Updated Bottom Line

A couple of months ago, we provided some information on this blog about bill changes you've experienced over the last several months and what you might expect to see in the future. Since that time, there have been some new developments that have changed the numbers. We wanted you to be aware of these changes. As we did in the original blog posting, we'll use the example of a homeowner who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each month (the average usage in Yukon is about 750 kilowatt hours per month). Last July, this person’s bill would have been $132.80, including GST. The Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. asked the Yukon Utilities Board to approve an 11 percent increase in rates. While the YUB considered the request, it approved on an interim basis an increase of five percent, starting on August 1 of last year. Assuming our sample homeowner used the same amount of power in August as in July, their bill increased to $138.60. Then Yukon Energy asked for a rate decrease of 17.8 percent for residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours or less a month. While the YUB considered our request, it approved an interim decrease of 3.48 percent, starting December 1, 2008. As a result, our homeowner’s bill decreased to $134.56 starting in December. Again, this is based on 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity used. Are you still with us? There’s more! Early this year, the two utilities announced that the Fuel Adjustment Rider (Rider F) had been reduced to zero for bills starting March 1, 2009, and continuing until the YUB determines Yukon Electrical Company Ltd.‘s final rates. This will save our sample homeowner $19.53 per month during this period, decreasing his or her monthly bill to $115.03. With this change, power bills are lower today than at any time since at least January 2006. And they may go even lower soon. We are still waiting to learn the final amount that the Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. will be allowed to charge its customers. But based on a recent ruling from the Yukon Utilities Board, the Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. will not receive the full 11 percent increase it asked for. Instead, the revised rate changes that have been proposed would see the homeowner's bill dropping to $114.05 a month. There's one more piece to this puzzle. The Rate Stabilization Program is a Yukon government subsidy you will notice on your power bill. The program is scheduled to end in July of this year. If that happens in combination with Yukon Energy’s request for a 17.8 percent decrease and all other expected rate changes, the monthly bill for a residential customer using 100 kilowatt hours of power in a billing period would be $115.44. The bottom line for Yukon Energy is that we're doing everything within our power to keep your electric bills as low as possible.
News
May 13, 2009  Comment

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish…Your Fish?

It's a special year for us here at Yukon Energy. We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder. The ladder was completed in June 1959 as a way of helping the migrating Chinook salmon get around the newly built Whitehorse dam. As the old saying goes, "You've come a long way baby!" The fishladder has grown over the years into one of the most popular visitor attractions in Yukon. Since the fishladder holds a special place in a lot of people's hearts, we decided to do something special to mark its 50th birthday. We've hired local artist/snow carver Donald Watt to coordinate a public art piece for the ladder. Donald's concept involves creating a school of salmon, each one-of-a-kind fish having been painted by members of the public. If you're interested in taking part in this project, all you need to do is call Donald at 332-3669 and arrange to pick up a life-sized wooden cut-out of a salmon. You can paint the salmon any way you wish, as long as you use weatherproof paints. You then return the salmon to Donald by mid-June. He'll assemble the fish at a location within the fishladder compound and the art piece will be unveiled in late July or early August. There are some other ways we're marking the fishway's 50th birthday too. We've had a podcast produced that outlines the history and significance of the fishladder. It can be heard by scrolling to the bottom of this web page. We're also planning a public celebration in August. Watch this blog for details. If you have any stories or memories about your own visits to the fishladder, we'd love to hear them! If we publish your story on this blog we'll send you a beautiful salmon art poster, based on the carving "Salmon's Journey" by Yukon artist Eugene Alfred. The poster can be viewed here. The carving itself is on display at the fishladder, which re-opens for the season on June 1.
News
May 25, 2009  Comment

A New Season at the Fishladder

The Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder opens a week from today (June 1). Since the ladder is marking its 50th birthday this year, it will be a summer of celebration. Come join us to: See the Chinook salmon and local freshwater fish travel through the ladder Get up close and personal with the fish in our aquariums Enjoy our colourful new exhibit that tell the history of the fishladder Use our high powered microscope to see fish like you’ve never seen them before Check out our underwater camera system and our ‘salmon cam’ that allows viewing of the fish from a home computer Listen to elders’ stories in our First Nations tent (twice a week starting in July) Participate in Environment Yukon’s fish talks (starting in July) Watch for a new commemorative public art piece (unveiling in late July/early August) Join us for a birthday celebration in August  Entrance by donation (suggested $3 per person) or we sell a $10 season pass that will give you and your entire family entrance to the fishladder all summer!   Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. in June (Mon. to Fri.) 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. in July/August (seven days a week) 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Labour Day week-end   For more information, contact the fishladder at (867) 633-5965 or fishladder@northwestel.net
News
May 29, 2009  Comment

Go Free Little Fry!

You may not be aware that Yukon Energy's facilities include the Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder and Fish Hatchery. Each year, female and male Chinook salmon are removed from the fishladder, eggs and sperm are collected and mixed, and the fertilized eggs are incubated over the winter at the hatchery, which is located in the Riverdale area of Whitehorse. In the spring, the fry are released into the Yukon River system. They will stay in small tributaries for a year or two, and then head out to the Bering Sea, where they live and grow for about five years, after which time they will return to their natal grounds to spawn. This Sunday (May 31), you and your family will have a chance to take part in the fry release at Wolf Creek just south of Whitehorse. This annual event is always popular with children. Not only will they have a chance to release fry into the creek, but there will be hot dogs, cake and refreshments. The release takes place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. We hope to see you there!  Photo credit: www.archbould.com    

News
May 29, 2009  Comment

Federal Government Funds Mayo B Project

We received some wonderful news today that we want to share with you. The federal government announced that it is providing up to $71 million for our Mayo B project and for the completion of the Carmacks-Stewart transmission line. These are the first projects to be funded anywhere in the country under Ottawa's new $1 billion Green Infrastructure Fund. Yukon Energy is extremely grateful to the federal government, and to the Yukon government that went to bat for us and lobbied for federal funding.
Community Involvement
Jun 01, 2009  Comment

Yesterday’s Fry Release

Here are some images from yesterday's fry release at Wolf Creek near Whitehorse. We'd like to thank the Yukon Fish and Game Association for organizing this event and to everyone who came to help us to send 15,000 of our Whitehorse Rapids Hatchery fish on this first stage of their journey to the Bering Sea. Photos: 1) Lawrence Vano from the fish hatchery arrives with a truck load of fry; 2) transferring the fry to buckets, which are carried down to the creek; 3) each child gets a baggie full of fry; 4) a child ready to release her fry into the creek.    
Community Involvement
Jun 08, 2009  Comment

A Historical Look Back at the Fishladder

We have written here before about the fact that this year is the 50th anniversary of the Whitehorse Rapids Fishway. The fishladder, which is owned by Yukon Energy and operated by the Yukon Fish and Game Association, was built in 1959 to allow the salmon to continue their journey past the Whitehorse dam to their spawning grounds further south. When the fishway was first built there was no visitor reception centre attached. However there were three viewing windows that allowed people to watch the salmon as they travelled up the ladder, and an information booth was set up and summer students hired to provide information to the public about the ladder. The visitor's building was constructed in the 1980s. The site has become one of the most popular visitor destinations in Whitehorse and each year new displays and programs are added. We thought you might enjoy seeing some photos of the early days of the fishladder. This shows the fishladder when it was first built in 1958. Photo: Yukon Archives/Whitehorse Star Viewing the salmon in the ladder - circa 1970. Photo: Yukon government Summer student working at the fishladder in the 1970s. Photo: Yukon government Diver doing maintenance work in the fishladder circa 1970. Photo: Yukon government.  
News
Jun 08, 2009  Comment

Resignations from the Board

It is with deep regret that we learned today that Yukon Energy's Chair, Willard Phelps, and three members of the Board of Directors - Greg Hakonson, Paul Hunter, and Martin Allen - have resigned. Their resignations take effect immediately. They have also stepped down from their positions on the Board of the Yukon Development Corporation (YDC), our parent company.  While it would not be appropriate for us to speak on behalf of these four individuals, a news release that they put out today quotes Mr. Phelps as saying, "We have fundamental differences with Government of Yukon regarding the value, the role, and the governance of these Corporations. We also disagree on issues concerning the role of the Boards. For these and other reasons, we find it impossible to continue to perform in a manner that fulfills the responsibilities and obligations that these positions require." All four board members made a huge contribution to Yukon Energy, and we will certainly miss them. The remaining four members of Yukon Energy's and YDC's Board of Directors will continue to carry out the duties of the boards. Pat Irvin, who until now has been the boards' Vice Chair, has assumed the role of Chair for both boards until a more permanent replacement can be found. It is the Yukon government that is responsible for filling YDC board vacancies. The YDC board is in turn responsible for filling the vacancies on Yukon Energy's board.  
Community Involvement
Jun 09, 2009  Comment

Watching Water Levels

With the hot weather we've had in most of Yukon over the last few weeks, we've had some questions about possible flooding in the Southern Lakes. The summer of 2007 is still fresh in many people's minds, when local residents spent long hours sandbagging to try to save their properties from flood damage. Yukon Energy is often asked what we can do to help prevent flooding of people's properties in high water years. There is a misconception that if we would only let more water through our Whitehorse dam or our Lewes Lake gates, there wouldn't be a flooding problem. The truth is that under our water license, we must have all our gates open no later than May 15 of each year. That means that we hold no water back during the summer months, and we have no ability to increase the water flow from the Southern Lakes. We've had studies done that show even if we opened our gates earlier in the spring, it would have no effect on the peak water levels later in the summer. There's just too much water coming into Marsh Lake compared to what is able to flow out (think of filling a sink with a firefighter's hose....the drain can't handle the volume of water coming in to the sink from the hose). In the case of the Southern Lakes, the Yukon River and Miles Canyon act as bottlenecks. While we can't prevent flooding, what we can do is share information with local residents about what we expect summer water levels to be like each year. This will help people prepare their property for possible flooding in high water years. In 2009, after taking into account the high snow pack from the previous winter and Environment Canada's long range forecast, we expect levels to be in the vicinity of what they were in 2004. Here you will see a chart that shows a solid blue line up to the end of May, and then it turns into two dotted blue lines. The solid line is the actual water level to date. The two dotted blue lines indicate the range of anticipated summer peak water levels. This chart will be updated on a regular basis. We have also committed to emailing the chart to those local residents who request it. Please let us know if you wish to be added to the email list.
Billing
Jun 11, 2009  Comment

A Break on Your Power Bills

Starting on July 1, you'll see a new rebate on your residential power bills. The Yukon government is doing away with the existing electrical subsidy, known as the Rate Stabilization Fund, and replacing it with a new program called the Interim Electrical Rebate. It will give you a maximum rebate of $26.62 per month on the first 1,000 kilowatt hours you use. This is an increase from the maximum monthly subsidy of $18.67 provided under the Rate Stabilization Fund. If you'd like to know more about this fund, you're asked to call the Yukon government at (867) 633-7949 or email roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca.
Reliability
Jun 12, 2009  Comment

Good News!

We have written on this blog before about the work Yukon Energy is doing to reduce both the frequency and the geographical size of power outages in Yukon. This year we implemented an aggressive maintenance schedule to upgrade our equipment and improve reliability of power. One project we recently completed involved making improvements to the governors for two of our Whitehorse hydro generators. Yesterday, we saw evidence that the work has paid off. Because of a problem with Yukon Electrical Company Limited, power went out to part of Whitehorse yesterday afternoon. In the past, such an outage could have caused Yukon Energy's hydro units to shut down, resulting in a wide-spread outage throughout the Southern Yukon. With the new equipment, however, this didn't happen. The equipment did its job and the outage was limited to a part of Whitehorse. While this may be no consolation to those Whitehorse residents who lost power yesterday, we see this as very good news, as it means we have identified and fixed a problem that has caused numerous grid-wide power outages in the past.
Privatization
Jun 18, 2009  Comment

We Are Not for Sale

There has been a lot of media coverage over the last several days regarding the possibility of Yukon Energy being sold to a private Alberta company. Employees at Yukon Energy are worried, angry and upset about the future of their company. Yukon Energy Corporation has given permission for a letter, which was sent to local newspapers by a large group of Yukon Energy staff,  to be printed on this blog. Here it is. We are writing as Yukon Energy employees who feel compelled to talk about Premier Fentie's plans to privatize the public corporation we work for. The secretive manner in which he is dealing with this issue is unacceptable to us. The premier has an obligation to be open and honest about his plans not only with those directly affected (in this case the Yukon Energy staff) but with all Yukoners, who are the owners of Yukon Energy. We would also like to express our dismay over the resignation of four very dedicated Yukon Energy Corporation/Yukon Development Corporation board members. We are saddened that these four felt they could not, as a result of political interference, continue to perform their duties and responsibilities. We have lost a huge bank of knowledge and expertise with their departure.   Yukon Energy is at one of the most crucial times in its existence. Major projects are planned for the near future, including Mayo B. Yet it appears Premier Fentie has chosen this time to try to dismantle the Corporation and hand it over to a private company from Alberta. Why, we don't know. He hasn't given us any explanations. But readers should understand that if he moves forward with his plan, Yukoners will be the poorer for it. As a public corporation, Yukon Energy answers to Yukoners. As a private company owned by outside interests, Yukon Energy would answer to the bottom line and profits would go to Alberta instead of being re-invested in the Yukon.   We are Yukoners who work hard at our jobs and love what we do. We want to stay and raise our families in the territory. But we are worried that if Yukon Energy is privatized, many of us will lose our jobs. For some of us, that will mean leaving the Yukon to seek work elsewhere.   We have a message for Premier Fentie: As you have chosen not to be forthcoming on this issue, we can only assume that you are not interested in what’s best for Yukon Energy or for the Yukon public.  We all make poor choices at times and we hope that you step back from this one. We invite you to meet with us as a group to explain your actions, rationale and plans for the future of our company.   We would also urge any readers who are worried about where the premier is going with this, to please contact their MLAs, write to this newspaper, and use whatever other means they can to voice their concerns.     Nick Balderas David Bourque Darryel Collins Myrna Engren Linda Greer Lynda Harlow Jaeson Henderson Crystal Huebert Mai Ho Scott Hoffmann Attila Janits David MacDonald Wesley Marsh Christina McGillivray Ed Mollard Melanie Pettefer Janet Patterson Ed Peake Al Porter Brian Power Les Rowland Ken Sawyer Matthew Sills And many other Yukon Energy employees who chose not to give their names    
Media Releases
May 11, 2009  Comment

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish…YOUR Fish?

Feeling creative? How about participating in a public art project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder? Yukon Energy is working with Whitehorse artist Donald Watt to have a large outdoor art piece produced that will be installed at the fishladder this summer. “We recognize that the fishladder has a special place in many people’s hearts,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “In marking the fishway’s 50th birthday, we wanted to do something that would not only involve the public but would last beyond the anniversary year.” “We were lucky to be able to hire Donald Watt to coordinate this project for us. He’s come up with a terrific idea that I think Yukoners will really enjoy,” Patterson added. Watt’s concept involves creating a school of salmon, each one-of-a-kind fish having been painted by an individual or group. Watt will provide interested members of the public with life sized wooden cut-outs of salmon over the next couple of weeks. People can paint the salmon any way they wish, as long as they use weatherproof paints. The completed salmon are to be returned to Watt by mid-June. He’ll then assemble them at a location within the fishladder compound. The art piece will be unveiled in late July or early August. Anyone wanting a salmon cut-out can obtain one by calling (867) 332-3669. There are a number of other ways Yukon Energy is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fishladder. A podcast has been produced that tells the story of the ladder. It can be heard by going to Yukon Energy’s home web page at www.yukonenergy.ca. A public celebration will take place at the fishladder in early August. Contact: Janet Patterson Communications, Yukon Energy Corporation (867) 393-5333 janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
Media Releases
May 29, 2009  Comment

Federal Government Funds Mayo B and Carmacks-Stewart Line

Brian Jean, Parliamentary Secretary to John Baird, Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, and Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie today announced that the enhancement of existing hydro power infrastructure at the Mayo hydro facility along with Stage 2 of the Carmacks-Stewart transmission line will be the first project to be funded under the new $1-billion Green Infrastructure Fund, part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our government is targeting investments in green infrastructure to stimulate the economy and improve the environment,” said Minister Baird. “This new Green Infrastructure Fund is part of our government’s Economic Action Plan to create jobs and boost the economy through infrastructure investments, while also promoting long-term growth and improving the environment.” “The Mayo B initiative creates a great partnering opportunity for our government with Yukon First Nations and the Federal government. Expanding hydro-generated power will reduce our carbon footprint by displacing thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, creating a greener Yukon,” said Premier Dennis Fentie. “By proactively developing green energy, we are not only providing more cost effective energy, but also creating lasting employment for Yukoners.” “The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of supporting infrastructure projects that will boost the economy and create jobs for Canadians while promoting cleaner, greener living,” said Brian Jean, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister. ”We are working to get projects, such as the Mayo hydro project and transmission line initiatives started now to help provide economic opportunities for Yukoners while supporting environmentally sound infrastructure growth.” Due to Yukon’s current reliance on diesel for much of its electricity, it is expected that the project will reduce forecast diesel generation in 2012 by over 40 percent. In turn, this will reduce green house gases from energy production by 50 percent from current levels. The governments of Canada and Yukon will be contributing funding for this project. The Government of Canada will provide up to $71 million for this project. The total estimated cost of the project is $160 million. Upgrades to the Mayo hydro facility will include building a new powerhouse downstream from the existing one, while Stage 2 of the Carmacks-Stewart transmission line will complete the development of a transmission line connecting Yukon’s two grid systems. This investment also supports the Government of Canada's integrated Northern Strategy that is focused on strengthening Canada’s sovereignty, protecting our environmental heritage, promoting economic and social development as well as improving and devolving governance. The Government of Canada will provide $1 billion over five years for the Green Infrastructure Fund. This fund supports sustainable energy generation and transmission, along with municipal wastewater and solid waste management infrastructure. The government is working with provinces, territories and other stakeholders to identify and approve more projects under this fund. The Government of Canada is moving forward with one of the largest infrastructure programs in history to create jobs and stimulate the economy. The 2009 Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding recent historic federal investment in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca For more information on Government of Canada investments in infrastructure, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. For further information contact: Kimberley Michelutti Special Assistant / PSA Office of Brian Jean, MP Fort McMurray - Athabasca Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities 613-992-1154 Chris Day Press Secretary Office of Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister 613-991-0700 Infrastructure Canada 613-948-1148 Emily Younker Cabinet Communications Government of Yukon 867-633-7961 emily.younker@gov.yk.ca
Media Releases
Jun 08, 2009  Comment

Yukon Energy Chair and Three Directors Resign

Willard L. Phelps announced that he and three Directors have resigned from the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation Board of Directors effective today. The Directors are: Greg Hakonson Paul Hunter Martin Allen Mr. Phelps said that they came to this decision after lengthy and careful deliberation. He explained, “We have fundamental differences with Government of Yukon regarding the value, the role and the governance of these Corporations. We also disagree on issues concerning the role of the boards. For these and other reasons, we find it impossible to continue to perform in a manner that fulfills the responsibilities and obligations that these positions require.” Mr. Phelps declined to further elaborate about these issues citing the confidential nature of Board deliberations and its communications with Cabinet. However he made it clear that he and the three Directors would be free to respond to comments by the Yukon government and they would likely comment on certain government and Corporate energy initiatives as they are announced. Contact: Willard Phelps (867) 821-4521

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