Photo by Vince Fedoroff
POWER CONSUMPTION UP – Yukon Energy records show consumption on the Whitehorse-Aishihik-Faro grid hit highs over the weekend that have not been seen since 1996, when the Faro mine was in full operation.
Cold snap ushered in record power consumption
Yukoners are using a record amount of energy, according to figures provided by Yukon Energy.
Yukoners are using a record amount of energy, according to figures provided by Yukon Energy.
At supper time Saturday, the Whitehorse-Aishihik-Faro (WAF) grid was generating 70.5 megawatts. That's the highest since the all-time record of 79.53 megawatts was set in January 1996, when temperatures hit -47 C and the Faro lead-zinc mine was in full operation.
Remove the 27 megawatts to service the mine back then, and domestic energy consumption alone would have been about 52.5 megawatts, far below Saturday's peak usage, even with the four megawatts needed to supply the Minto Mine.
Of the 70.5 megawatts being generated Saturday evening, approximately 56.4 were being produced by hydro and 14 by diesel generation, according to Yukon Energy figures.
Yukon Energy spokeswoman Janet Patterson pointed out the more effort there is to conserve energy at times like this, the less diesel fuel the system needs to keep up with demand.
Currently, she said, the WAF grid has a total generating capacity of 88 megawatts, with all its hydro and diesel generators, so there's no concern about the ability to meet peak demand.
There could be a point, however, when the need to use diesel generation will start showing up as additional cost on electrical bills, but there's no talk of that yet, Patterson said.
She explained when Yukon Energy applied to the Yukon Utility Board for a new rate structure in 2009, it had to show its costs and how much revenue it required to operate.
Under that process, if cost estimates for diesel or otherwise are slightly higher than estimated, Yukon Energy must absorb the cost of underestimating the expenses.
Should something like the use of diesel generation jump into a category of unusually high demand, there is a process to go back to Yukon Utility Board to ask for an increase in revenue to account for the unexpected, she explained.
Patterson emphasized, however, that nobody is talking about going back to the board at this point.
The need to burn diesel on both the WAF and Mayo-Dawson grids began with the cold snap in late November. It has remained fairly constant so far this winter, with below-normal temperatures dominating the forecast, she explained.
Last Friday morning, the WAF grid hit a post-1996 record as well, with generation peaking at 68.72 megawatts.
It peaked this morning at 65.3, of which 56.8 was generated by hydro and 8.5 megawatts by diesel.
When the WAF grid was hitting a new record for domestic consumption Saturday, generation on the Mayo-Dawson grid was also reaching new heights at seven megawatts, of which 1.5 is required by the Bellekeno mine and mill.
Approximately four megawatts are generated by the Mayo dam and the rest by diesels.
The Mayo-Dawson grid was generating 6.9 megawatts at noon today.
Patterson said consumers need to remain aware anything they can do to conserve energy use helps reduce the reliance on diesel generation and its financial and environmental implications.
In 2010, diesel generation on the WAF grid consumed 751,461 litres, of which 439,764 were burned last month, according to Yukon Energy figures.
Diesel generation on the Mayo-Dawson grid burned up 677,581 litres last year, of which 327,828 were consumed in December.
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Comments (13)
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Joel on Jan 25, 2011 at 5:21 am
Yup, it does. I don't see any rolling blackouts due to lack of power. When I plug something in, there is power to that plug. Electricity is convenient the same as petroleum is convenient for vehicles.
There is no excess electricity now because it is being used...not wasted.
I didn't know Yukon Energy borrowed 100million from the Yukon taxpayers....guess my bill got lost in the mail. First time they have not billed me for my portion.
Parts of what is scary is trying to figure out how much power is going to be used next month/year/decade. I have no idea and I have a feeling neither do you. What is that excess power used for and what benefit is it to have it not being used? There is none.
Maybe a coal fired plant is more your answer; it is cheap and can produce lots of power. Maybe we would be better with nuclear? Natural gas and then there will be another reason for the Alaska highway pipeline!
Once again there are issues and there always will be issues...overall, we have it pretty good.
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Bob Wagner on Jan 21, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Joel, electricity is only easy and convenient and inexpensive if you "spin" all the problems away. We are in debt for $100 million for Mayo B because that is what Yukon Energy borrowed to complete the project. In case you didn't know we are the owners of Yukon Energy. There is no excess power "most of the year" because Yukon energy has promised all excess hydro power to the mines. David Morrison, CEO of Yukon Energy, says he is "scared" of the future. Does this sound like we are doing quite well.
Bob Wagner
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Joel on Jan 21, 2011 at 4:12 am
The comments, just like the presentations by YEC are just so full of half truths it is funny. Everyone out to make themselves think they know everything by presenting the part of the story that they like....
Francias...when you drain your hot water tank, how does it heat all that water again? It is very efficient if you never use it.
Bob...when did Yukon taxpayers start paying $100 million for Mayo B?
YukonEnergy...how can the mines be paying more % than the rate-payers when we pay more per unit?
Here is the reality...everyone is using more power. Homes, stores, mines, offices, street lights, car warmers, the list can go on forever. Electricity is easy and convenient and inexpensive.
It makes sense to put the mines onto the grid to use the excess power that is there "most" of the year.
There will always be problems with any implementation (and there are still issues now) but I think in the grand scheme of things, the Yukon is doing quite well.
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Bob Wagner on Jan 20, 2011 at 6:22 am
Interesting spin Yukon Energy. I believe it is taxpayers who provide government with the means to subsidize us. Government has no money except what they take from all of us. I also fail to see how a mine paying 10.5 cents/kilowatt hour is subsidizing a ratepayer buying diesel generated power at 30 cents/kilowatt hour (incidentally I am using figures Yukon Energy presented in a public forum - this newspaper). Finally, perhaps Yukon Energy would explain why Yukon taxpayers went into debt to finance Mayo B, to the tune of 100 million dollars, so that the new energy produced by this project - approx. 10 megawatts - could be promised to a future mine (Victoria Gold). This promise is also taken from a public presentation by this mining company.
How about considering other communities for your charrettes so that all Yukoners can participate in decisions about their future?
Bob Wagner
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Michael on Jan 20, 2011 at 4:11 am
Anthony made some valid points and Janet continues to spin like a DJ at the T&M on Saturday night.
Anyone can tell you that any Corporation's mandate is to earn money. They earn money by selling goods or services. In the case of YEC, it seems implausible from a business perspective that they'd want to sell less of their product. The reason for that is simple, they simply can't deliver more of their product.
Diesel generation is one of the most irresponsible and environmentally destructive ways of generating electricity, and those plants are running more and more. As many recall they are also prone to catastrophic failure. YEC cannot blame customers for using too much energy and 'making them burn diesel'
----
Check it out:
E = F + H
E: Energy consumed by Yukoners
F: Fossil Fuel generated electricity
H: Hydro generated electricity
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E is a virtual constant, while we'd all like to see its downward trend that is beyond the control of the supplier YEC.
YEC needs to get away from burning fossil fuels so that only leaves more hydro generation as an option (unless they jump the shark to wind, solar or nuclear).
YEC knows this although they won't admit it.
As the world (and Yukon) migrate toward greener technologies like electric heat in homes, electric cars the 'E' will actually increase which not a bad thing because less people will be burning fossil fuels in their homes and cars. Less greenhouse gases, happier planet.
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DG on Jan 19, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Just wanted to point out that sometimes those lights that are on are due to a tradesman at work. Painters, carpet layers, and so on need light to work by. Gov won't let them work during the day because it is to much of an interruption.
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Yukon Energy on Jan 19, 2011 at 10:45 am
We thought it might be helpful to provide a few facts to readers that they may not be aware of.
1. Yukon Energy has not gone to the Yukon Utilities Board seeking a rate increase for residential customers since the 90s. In fact, when the Minto mine came into production we were able to provide residential customers with a 2.48 percent decrease on your bills.
2. Right now, mines are paying more than 100 percent of what it costs us to supply them with power. Residential customers are paying less than 80 percent of what it costs to provide them with power. Government is paying more than 140 percent of the cost of its power. So mines and government are subsidizing residential customers.
3. Anthony is right when he points out that the territory is growing in all areas. It's not just mines that are requiring power...so are new subdivisions, big box stores, government facilities and the like. When Whistle Bend is built in Whitehorse, it will require power equivalent to two Minto mines. We're running diesel not just because of mines but because all our customer classes are demanding more power.
4. Our operating costs, like everywhere else, are increasing. However we have been able to avoid asking for a rate increase this year because the Keno mine has provided us with a new source of revenue. We are using the money to help maintain our system and provide all of you with power. Bottom line is that it's very easy to criticize the mines but the mines are in fact helping to keep your power bills down.
Yukon Energy is working as hard and as fast as we possibly can to find new sources of clean energy. We're open to your ideas. In fact we're holding an energy charrette on March 7, 8 and 9 and the public is invited to attend the evening sessions to give us your thoughts and input. We would love to see each and every one of you there. Watch our blog for details on this, and on other energy-related matters. You can find us at blog.yukonenergy.ca
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Insa Schultenkotter on Jan 19, 2011 at 5:30 am
The pro development camp is always ready to blame "environmentalists" for their woes. Yet, when any decision is made that is supported by the overwhelming majority of Yukoners, that doesn't suit them, they are the first to "bare their teeth." I think the problem is this - there is simply no long range plan for any of the major issues facing the Yukon. The blame for this can, first of all, be put on all of us for not being actively involved in our future, and second on the decided lack of leadership shown in all sectors of our society. To let special interests decide what is "success or failure" for Yukon (and I don't just mean the people living here - but the place itself), will only lead to decisions being made that don't "fit" us. Whether it be power or environment or development etc. citizens need to be involved and make informed decisions. And when these decisions are made special interests need to understand and respect that this is the direction this Territory wants to go and "shut up."
Bob Wagner
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Groucho d'North on Jan 19, 2011 at 2:32 am
In defence of Ms Patterson's position of growth on the demand side of the equation; in some ways this issue can be cast as "We are Wrestling with Success” as our economy grows and new mines create new jobs, and new homes get built, more large screen TVs and surround sound systems get sold for that new house and to upgrade existing home entertainment which consume more juice than the old CRT TVs. The Internet is also a contributing factor, there is the addition of thousands more computers and peripherals drawing power in homes and businesses all over the territory over the past 10 years, and lets not forget all the computers, servers, routers and similar gear NWTel has in racks to provide all these digital marvels. And all that gear produces a lot of heat, so air conditioners are added to the demand side to keep all that equipment cool and functioning. It's not hard to consider the increase in the energy consumption side when all these new and improved apparatus are totaled up.
As for reducing consumption: do we need all these street lights? I see government buildings with lights left on at night and over weekends. Yard lights in commercial, and some residential properties that do not have shut off switches. We can do better.
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Norm Kwiat on Jan 18, 2011 at 6:51 am
Anthony makes a good point about the changes in the draw pattern. I don't think it is reasonable to chalk the problems up to inept planning and management at YEC.
Yes, there are lots of rivers, but if you look at the winding path through money and time that the pipeline project is taking - with environmentalist's teeth bared and ready to bite anyone who even thinks of using the "pristine wilderness (no such thing)" for ANYTHING!!! It is quite understandable that planning and development of new power hasn't gotten very far in the Yukon.
I'd like to see a draw map and statistics for draw types in the Yukon over the last ten years or so - just to see where the real usage patterns have changed.
Then, the general public has to stand up and defend the people who are planning change to meet the power requirements of the Yukon today, and tomorrow.
Our kids need us to do that.
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Insa Schultenkotter on Jan 18, 2011 at 4:57 am
I agree with Francais. Yukon Energy has decided to sell all surplus hydro power, at .10 cents/kilowatt hour, to the mines, and we, the ratepayers and owners of Yukon Energy, can pay for the extra diesel needed to meet the increased demand (at .30 cents/kilowatt hour). I wonder when Yukon Energy will realize that these mines are making a profit partially based on our subsidizing their power needs? At the current rate of production Bellekeno mine is conservatively making millions of dollars profit per month and paying $7300/month for electricity. Miners are constantly calling for everything to be fair and balanced. Does this sound fair and balanced?
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Anthony on Jan 17, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Patterson makes little to no sense.
The previous record set in January 1996 at 79.53 megawatts was also when there were more than 5 thousand fewer people in the territory. Look at the massive residential development in Copper Ridge/Granger/Takhini since '96. Massive box stores have moved in since then. As has the Canada Games Centre. We built a new hospital and added a new wing on to the airport. Add in some fairly massive mines gearing up to production.
Even with all these factors, Patterson somehow seems bedazzled that we'd somehow use more energy.
She pulls the 'green' card and tries to blame the public for forcing YEC to burn diesel. What she fails to grasp is that Yukoners should be using MORE electricity and burning LESS diesel in residential furnaces.
If Yukoners switched enmass to electric heat the carbon footprint for the territory would be a shadow of its former self. This of course is assuming the YEC could actually deliver the much cleaner hydro generated electricity. They've already admitted they can't meet current capacity just imagine if Yukoners switched to greener electric heat.
At fault is inept planning and management at YEC. The Yukon is full of rivers that could be harnessed to generate cleaner energy but YEC chooses to shuttle a train of diesel rigs up and down the highway.
Diesel smoke and mirrors. Shameful.
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Francias pillman on Jan 17, 2011 at 10:22 am
I heard Janet on the radio today with more disinfo about saving energy. Have shorter showers? Someone in her position knows the hot water in your tank has already been paid for even before you turn on the tap. The majority of your hot water just sits in your tank, doing nothing except taking money out of your wallet. Where is the talk about the mines? Ohhh, shhh, they are more of a priority than use regular citizens. You know that, we all know that. Maybe if these mines were not drawing so much power then those diesels probably would never get fired up. Nope she just blames us and our iPods again, typical of YEC, nothing changes. Except the amount due on our bills that seemingly continues to slowly rise every month, hoping us dumb citizens never catch on.