(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.
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Contact:
Janet Patterson
Supervisor, Communications
Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333
janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
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