In early 2022, you will notice construction starting up in the area around the Riverside substation on Nisutlin Drive as we begin work to upgrade the substation.
These upgrades include:
Demand for electricity in Yukon is expected to grow by 40% in the next 10 years.
To meet this demand, we’re working on a number of projects in our 10-year renewable electricity plan that will increase the capacity of the Yukon grid – uprating our hydro units in Whitehorse, building a new grid-scale battery, replacing end-of-life diesel generators, and purchasing hydro power from Atlin.
But these new sources of electricity need a way to reach Yukoners. Upgrading the riverside substation will connect this additional electricity to the Yukon grid and make it available for Yukoners to use.
We own two substations near the Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station specifically designed to connect electricity to the grid. One is in our parking lot and the other, the Riverside substation, on Nisutlin Drive.
The substation in our parking lot is at capacity. The Riverside substation is the only one that has the space around it to add the new equipment we need for the upgrade.
Yukon is growing and so is the demand for electricity. The upgraded substation will make more electricity available to Yukoners during peak times of use in the winter.
Upgrading an existing substation and transmission line instead of building new ones reduces the project’s impact on the environment, wildlife and the Riverdale community. It also costs less.