Yukon Energy is upgrading its distribution system in Dawson City.
We know that demand for electricity in Dawson is growing. As the second fastest-growing community in the Yukon, the addition of people, homes and community infrastructure are all contributing factors to an increasing demand for electricity. This, coupled with the switch from propane and heating oil to electricity for heating and transportation, means we expect to see demand for electricity in Dawson City double in the next five years. To make sure we can continue to provide electricity safely and reliably in Dawson, we’re converting parts of our distribution system – power lines, poles, and transformers – from 4.2 kilovolts to 12.5 kilovolts. This will be a two-year project.
For Dawson residents, the benefits of voltage conversion include:
Expect to see Yukon Energy crews and contractors working downtown in the streets and alleyways. For your safety and theirs, please stay back from work areas.
Yukon Energy crews and contractors will be removing and/or trimming trees and vegetation (referred to as brushing) that are close to power lines between April 29 and May 15. This is necessary as it provides a safe, usable work area for Yukon Energy crews, contactors, and joint use operators. Property owners that are affected by this work have been contacted. For more information on brushing, visit this page.
We recognize that planned power outages can be an inconvenience and are doing our best to minimize their impact. This includes having crews work overnight. It is also why we are doing the bulk of the outages during the summer, while there is lots of daylight and temperatures are warm. Once the outages are underway, you can check this page for updates. We also recently launched our new Power Watch outage notification system. Through it, you will be directly notified of planned outages via phone, email or text message. If you’ve changed your phone number or email address recently, contact us to update your account at 867-993-5565 or billing@yec.yk.ca.
Contact with power lines can be very dangerous. If you ever come across a downed power line, pole, or other equipment, stay at least 10 metres back and call Yukon Energy at 1-800-676-2843 or 911. Additionally, do not try to remove trees that are near or touching power lines. Call us at 1-800-676-2843.