Photo by Vince Fedoroff
POWER DEMAND SURGES – The territory established a new record for the consumption of electricity on Sunday, Yukon Energy reports. Its LNG plant in Whitehorse is seen here in December 2019.
Be prudent about power use, Yukoners urged
With a new record for consumption of electricity in the territory being set on Sunday, Yukon Energy is asking consumers to be wise with their consumption.
With a new record for consumption of electricity in the territory being set on Sunday, Yukon Energy is asking consumers to be wise with their consumption.
The Crown corporation would like Yukoners to avoid adding to the load during periods of peak demand at breakfast and dinner times, as the daytime highs and nighttime lows are expected to drop even further heading toward the weekend.
It suggests delaying the use of dishwashers, washing machines and dryers until after 8 p.m.
Using a block heater timer set to come on just two or three hours before the vehicle is needed will help, says the Facebook notice posted Monday afternoon.
Yukon Energy noted it is still recruiting for its PeakSmart program.
The two-year, $1.3-million pilot project was announced last spring.
The intent is to put 400 homes with electric heat or electric hot water heaters on smart devices that would allow Yukon Energy to control the heat and hot water tank.
The intent is that Yukon Energy would heat up the home to a couple of degrees above normal prior to peak periods, then let the home slowly drop to normal through the peak.
Yukon Energy spokeswoman Stephanie Cunha told the Star Tuesday morning they have 90 homes signed up and are looking to recruit more.
They expect to hook up the first of the homes in the next couple of weeks, she said.
Cunha said by avoiding consumption through the peak, Yukon Energy has to burn less fossil fuels to meet the demand, particularly diesel fuel.
Compounding the situation is low water in the Mayo Lake reservoir that supplies the Mayo generating facility.
Cunha said the record load of 95 megawatts was set at at 5:01 p.m. Sunday, when the temperature was -18 C in Whitehorse, -32 in Dawson City and -25 in Faro.
The previous record of 93 megawatts was set on Feb. 5, 2018.
Yukon Energy has a total generating capacity in the winter of 116 megawatts, not including the 18 megawatts of diesel generation capacity it is renting.
Environment Canada is calling for daytime highs through the weekend in Whitehorse of around -30 and nighttime lows of -35 beginning Friday.
On Tuesday morning, a quarter of the electricity on the grid was being generated with natural gas and diesel fuel.
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Comments (42)
Up 12 Down 11
Apex Parasite on Jan 13, 2020 at 11:58 am
We are such a shallow and unwise species.
Everything has to be just so. Everything has to be lit and bright when portable lighting would fill the bill. It's like we're afraid of the dark. Light pollution is a real thing and I'm happy every time we stand on the deck and look up that there are no street lights on our stretch of road.
Government buildings lit all night. Huge houses. Heated winter hot tubs (was at a party years ago and heard a woman say how she couldn't live without her hot tub in winter...wanted to batman slap her before she was finished what she was saying).
Many examples but all point to us being a parasitic species with little awareness of where we fit into the big picture and as such try to repaint it to suit our needs.
Also the prevalence of pimping out the power we have so that we can line the pockets of the VIC gold investors is troubling. Yes we work for peanuts on projects like VIC gold to feed those we love and think we should be grateful, and we should, but the big slice of the pie is being eaten by stuffed suits that are willing to pay for the power we are being asked to scrimp on and knowing that they will largely write the costs off as an operating expense. So messy.
Deep deep issues on every side with no answers in sight. I could for sure live with less light though.
Up 19 Down 3
Ginger Johnson on Jan 13, 2020 at 11:01 am
YEESH - shut down 90% of the Yukon Government this week
It's not like any work will get done as people stumble in and out of offices.
Up 5 Down 5
Darrell Drugstore's smartest neighbour on Jan 13, 2020 at 10:53 am
Wilf Carter on Jan 11, 2020 at 12:58 pm
Is your mirror broken ?
You don't have to look very far to see that top level people don't run for city government !
Up 7 Down 2
Faroite on Jan 13, 2020 at 7:31 am
Faro, running the diesel plan...
Up 20 Down 15
Wilf Carter on Jan 11, 2020 at 12:58 pm
Folks the next mayor is going to have a problem cleaning up the financial mess created by this mayor and some Councillors.
Lack of real experience in common sense is the problem with some politicians!!!!
Up 17 Down 22
Chuck Farley on Jan 10, 2020 at 2:36 pm
Juniper Jackson; get a grip; the cold weather has nothing to do with immigration.
Up 31 Down 5
Mike Grieco on Jan 9, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Don't be looking to the City of Whitehorse, nor YG to be conservative - as they are too busy pretending to be. They appear to have no shame!
Up 32 Down 7
Street Lighting is awful on Jan 9, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Please cut 75% of all the highway street lights. Way too many. Count the new ones at the Carcross Cutoff.. it's staggering.
Up 39 Down 3
2ManySnowflakes4Me on Jan 9, 2020 at 5:05 pm
What the Yukon needs is a feasible, reliable power source. At this time windmills and solar do not cut it without massive subsidization from you and I the taxpayer. The Yukon doesn't have coal and nobody wants coal because it is not green. There are many rivers that could supply hydro power but with land claims and such it can be difficult if not next to impossible to develop. Unless everyone is willing to sit in the dark and shut off their computers, tv's and all other electrical appliances be ready to pay big dollars for what you have and don't be surprised if brown-outs or blackouts occur. A pipeline full of natural gas would also help but pipelines are frowned upon as well.
Up 57 Down 8
Denise Leschart on Jan 9, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Of course we did!!! Has anybody noticed how many new homes there are in Whistle Bend? We didn't think these new builds were going to add demand onto the grid? Piss poor recognition of what the real problem is and as usual we the long term customers are being asked to pay for the inept planning and forethought of corporations AGAIN!!!
Up 38 Down 4
Iceface on Jan 9, 2020 at 11:01 am
I have to agree with Groucho d'North turn off all the lights in YG and the city at 6 pm and turn off even half the computers each night.
Demand side management is not only Yukoners responsibility but YG and other organizations also.
I also have to agree with BnRs first comment as YEC began to fail for energy planning in the mid 2000s to currently.
I think they also should be upgrading the 30 to 50 year turbines, it is 2020 and I think technology has advanced to upgrade to modern technology which would increase the efficiency and production greatly.
Up 19 Down 17
Wes on Jan 9, 2020 at 7:58 am
Some other ideas worthy of consideration.
Typically, your domestic hot water is the largest electrical load in your house. Put all electric hot water heaters on a time to start their regeneration later in the morning when everyone is at work. Stagger the regen times. Use larger storage capacity tanks with better insulation,
In new construction, create a benchmark heat loss, where if you are above that threshold, you must use fossil fuels on site. Below that threshold, you can use electric heat.
Up 40 Down 13
Lol on Jan 8, 2020 at 9:03 pm
This is the same government that declared a climate emergency the same week they said they were going with diesel instead of green energy.
The rich liberals in Whistlebend are the ones with their Christmas lights on. The rich liberals running city government make the choice to run the Christmas lights 24/7 downtown.
Maybe it's time for mines to become self sufficient energy producers.
When will Yukoners realize we are "in the black" with carbon emissions, and reducing emissions here has a non-consequencial effect on Canadian net carbon emissions.
When they stop being virtue signaling fools, who refuse to analyze facts and make decisions based on emotions.
Oh ya, and when the rich liberals get out of office. Poor people cannot afford to be liberals.
Up 39 Down 1
Oya on Jan 8, 2020 at 4:19 pm
BnR, your comment is spot on. "In a normal business setting, the top brass would be losing their jobs."
Unbelievably short-sighted.
It's not like the Yukon just started to get freezing temperatures; it's not like the push for electric heat just started yesterday.
As someone else said, why doesn't YEC have pricing incentives to get the public to change? I'd absolutely pick non-peak hours to do laundry or run the dishwasher if it was cheaper than during peak times, but now? I don't even think about that... ever.
And yes, please COW, turn off the lights at least during daylight hours!
Up 50 Down 3
Paul on Jan 8, 2020 at 3:35 pm
Who is paying for the 1.3 million dollar Peak Smart Program to save all this energy, and how much could it possibly save? 1.3 million/400 homes is $3250 per household, and that is not to save energy, only defer the use to a different time. In the fine print is says that you give Yukon Energy permission to turn off your heating device for a few hours prior to a peak event up to 12 times per heating season. Wow!!! Good luck... Let's spend 1.3 million so we don't have to start the 4 million dollar generators for peak load.
At some point ALL of us ratepayers are going to have to pay for YEC's mistakes, including the 120 million dollar Mayo B which currently generates 2.5 of the 15 megawatts it was designed for.
Yukon Energy now wants to spend 80 million to replace a transmission line between Stewart and Keno to power a mine that they apparently don't have enough power on their grid to support (based on this article). Didn't we just spend 30 million to put a new transmission line in from Mayo to Dawson less than 20 years ago?
https://yukonenergy.ca/customer-service/saving-energy/peak-smart
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-energy-transmission-line-stewart-keno-1.3611775
Up 28 Down 34
Gretarded on Jan 8, 2020 at 2:41 pm
More subsidized solar panel and windmills would have prevented this....right?
Up 39 Down 14
Groucho d'North on Jan 8, 2020 at 2:12 pm
@Kooter
It's easy to point fingers at heavy industry and assert blame for shortfalls in electrical energy supply. But the truth is that without these mining projects and their capital investments to the energy sector, the Yukon would be woefully behind the eight ball today. The power line that runs to Faro and other points north which is used today as a backbone for the Yukon energy grid, was created to power the giant shovel formerly used in the Faro Zinc mine. In fact the Aishihik plant and line or WAF (Whitehorse, Aishihik, Faro) provided the opportunity to expand the grid to serve many other locations and reduce dependence on privately-owned fuel powered generators.
I recall when we arrived in the Yukon back in the mid 70s, many rural people, some as close as Deep Creek, had a green Lister diesel generator chugging away in an outbuilding because grid delivered energy was not available and would not be for some time.
The Victoria Gold energy deal is explained here: https://yukonenergy.ca/about-us/news-events/yukon-energy-and-victoria-gold-sign-power-purchase-agreement
Up 53 Down 8
Wes on Jan 8, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Curious what the MW gain would be by YEC holding back late summer water levels in the southern lakes. Would it make an appreciable difference in our fuel consumption? If so, why are we letting a few influential home owners stop it?
Up 45 Down 8
Kooter on Jan 8, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Do the #s include the new Gold Mine near Mayo that hooked into the grid late last winter and is now in full production? How many MW consumption does that add? For perspective when comparing previous years to now.
Up 67 Down 10
Mike on Jan 8, 2020 at 9:41 am
And the plan is to get 1500 homes off heating oil onto electric.... and 6000 EVs on the road? On what infrastructure? Electricity rates are already high and continually on the rise. Time to go nuclear.
Up 70 Down 18
Daniel Collon on Jan 8, 2020 at 8:41 am
Government: Switch everything to electric it's a climate emergency! No more fossil fuels! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Yukon Energy: Stop using so much electricity, you're going to max out the grid! We need more generators! We need to increase capacity! We need to increase rates!
Public: Don't build any more generators, it's bad for the environment! No more hydro dams, they disrupt entire ecosystems! Why is my electric bill going up?! Who's going to save us, we're all doomed!
Government: We'll save you, just give us more money! Carbon Tax to the rescue!
Up 54 Down 5
Pjt1959 on Jan 8, 2020 at 7:00 am
With WhistleBend almost 100% electric and colder seasonal temperatures what do they expect. YEC should have expected this as the population grows. Wind & solar won’t fix the problem but that is all anyone looks at. It’s going to get worse as more buildings go up and YEC and government sit on their hands. No proper planning means problems. YEC likes to have their profit short fall rate on the the bill.
A clean burning incinerator for the dump would help. But environmentalists hate that thought so I put it to them what’s the best. That’s my rant.
Up 33 Down 18
Paul Lemieux on Jan 8, 2020 at 6:30 am
Suggestions for power corporation:
1. Stop sending out 1/2 million dollars worth of shiny pamphlets asking permission for something that you already have a license for.
2. Have a residential multi-rate serving area whereby the perimeter people feeding off the host would pay a slightly higher cost for electricity owing to the fact that distribution and maintenance for their services are a little costlier than stock customers.
Up 53 Down 8
Whatever on Jan 7, 2020 at 9:56 pm
Where are the folks who protested about Yukon Energy planning several years ago.
They are not around giving constructive ideas on new energy. They are not helping negotiate new plans with stakeholders to access new capacity. They are not on the side of the road with signs complaining about natural gas now.
Skeeter Write https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/man-loses-challenge-of-lng-project-decision
Sally Wright https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/hydro-options-questioned-at-workshop-public-meeting
I'm talking to you. NDP insiders. Time to own up.
Up 73 Down 4
John Robert DICK on Jan 7, 2020 at 9:01 pm
Our City counsel declared a Climate Emergency last September. An EMERGENCY, not an inconvenience, not a minor discomfort. As much as I appreciate all the lovely Christmas lights, I can't help but wonder if the emergency is over or if no one actually cares. Maybe the whole thing was "feel good" BS. I certainly haven't seen any of my eco-friends on city buses and I doubt if any of them put on sweaters while lowering their thermostats to 15C. They're happy to pay a carbon tax but God forbid they suffer any inconvenience or discomfort even in an emergency. No wonder there are skeptics.
Up 40 Down 8
yukonmom on Jan 7, 2020 at 8:49 pm
How many megawatts does the Victoria Gold mine use? What was the temperature when the previous record was set? This seems like a pretty warm temperature to be setting records and wondering if it is because of Victoria Gold. Ask a few more questions please Chuck.
Up 54 Down 9
Turn down the city’s Xmas lights on Jan 7, 2020 at 8:37 pm
Start by turning off the Christmas lights downtown at peak demand! Most other people have timers for their lights!
Up 47 Down 5
CM on Jan 7, 2020 at 8:21 pm
Easy target for sacastic remarks.
Seriously, there are many ways that significant energy can be conserved starting with government and commercial.
Unnecessary and excessive office lighting.
Unnecessary and excessive parking lot lighting.
Unnecessary street lighting.
Cutting the amount of light in half would not significantly affect visibility or security.
Up 48 Down 6
Maybe in the Yukon on Jan 7, 2020 at 7:47 pm
Other places in Canada charge residential customers less per KW during off peak hours. Maybe the Yukon needs to take a look at pricing.
Thoughts?
Up 31 Down 2
Paprique on Jan 7, 2020 at 7:46 pm
Why YEC would not rather implement the off-peak rates to regulate demand by congestion pricing instead of relying on expensive volunteer based project?
Up 37 Down 7
Olaf on Jan 7, 2020 at 6:49 pm
Get the COW to turn off the Christmas lights - I know they are LED but every bit helps.
Up 63 Down 2
Adam on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:45 pm
YEC Just finished destroying all existing fully functional diesel backup generators including one that had literally just finished being fully rebuilt at enormous cost. They then proceeded to rent temporary backup generators at astronomical rates while they fumble about looking for a longer term solution to the problem they created.
Up 47 Down 5
Miles Epanhauser on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:43 pm
A week or so ago diesel and liquid natural gas were producing about 18% of our power.
Yukon Energy promotion of LED lights and smart meters which take control of homes will help somewhat but use has clearly outgrown production.
Hope we have a good look at nuclear or some large and or innovative hydroelectric production, it's long overdue.
Up 45 Down 2
Matthew on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:33 pm
You don't say... with Whistlebend houses popping up like flowers with their electric heat you bet it will continue to rise, just like our bills... time for that 2nd job yet?
Up 34 Down 4
Curious Sasquatch on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Normally utility would have a contigency plan to address the loss of the largest generator during system peaks...or
is this the meh factor??.
Up 38 Down 7
Boyd Campbell on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:25 pm
How many megs is going to Victoria Gold? The details seem to be a bit sparse on this agreement. By the looks of Mayo Lake most of what Mayo is producing is spoken for.
Up 53 Down 8
jc on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:11 pm
I know how the City of Whitehorse could save a whole lot of electricity. Turn off the Christmas lights all over town at day break and turn them on at dusk. Right now, they are burning 24/7. Even though they are led lights - and there millions of them - they still consume electric power. And they don't need to be put in so early in the year and so late after Christmas. How about Dec.1 and shut down at the end of January. My goodness, burning 24/7 for 4-5 months of the year. And the City upped the taxes by 2.2%. Give us a break. Then, we get lectured about saving electric power.
Up 51 Down 7
Gringo on Jan 7, 2020 at 4:57 pm
It hasn’t even hit -30 and we are about to have a Chernobyl type melt down, all that green energy is Whistlebend.....love the hypocrisy.
Up 42 Down 21
Juniper Jackson on Jan 7, 2020 at 4:07 pm
It's not me, or "Yukoners" that are driving consumption up.. keep in mind this government and the federal government have loaded the Yukon with implants and a couple of thousand new people and outlets that were never planned for is going to take its toll.. How many new rental suites have been added to existing housing? How many more rooms rented? how many more vehicles plugged in?
I get it. No one could have foreseen what was going to happen when Trudeau got elected.. but you better start better planning because he's bringing in 1 million people that will not have jobs, right now there is no housing for them..yesterday half the shelves at Superstore were empty.. so, they will all be sitting at home with the heat on watching TV.
Everyone was urged to use electric heat a few years ago, get away from fossil fuels..yeah yeah yeah.. and now they can't pile on another sweater.. their bills are so high.. So..who is cold? Not the welfare folks.. those employed by government are probably not cold..but, they are also smart enough to make every effort to keep their energy usage in need and not wasteful. Seniors are cold, and working poor are cold. It's winter in the Yukon.. I won't repeat what Groucho has said..but he is also right.
Up 59 Down 4
Not a fan of freezing on Jan 7, 2020 at 4:07 pm
So I'm guessing the push to get off of fossil fuels and to equip as many new homes as possible with electric heat was not all that well thought out??
Up 185 Down 13
Groucho d'North on Jan 7, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Put a bounty on every light left on overnight in government owned buildings, all the computers that do not get shut off each day and all the other energy vampires the government ignores while preaching to us about climate change and smart energy use. Walk the Talk you guyz.
Up 150 Down 13
BnR on Jan 7, 2020 at 1:05 pm
"With a new record for consumption of electricity in the territory being set on Sunday, Yukon Energy is asking consumers to be wise with their consumption."
Translation: We've failed to plan for this eventuality.....
In a normal business setting, the top brass would be losing their jobs.
YEC? Meh, business as usual.