Photo by Dan Davidson
AN UNDESIRABLE PLIGHT – It was a dark and ice foggy night in Dawson City on Thursday. The power was out downtown and in the north end, but Seventh Avenue, between Princess and Queen streets, was not affected. This photo was taken just after midnight this morning.
Portions of Dawson were without power for five or six hours on a brutally cold Thursday night until right around midnight.
DAWSON CITY – Portions of Dawson were without power for five or six hours on a brutally cold Thursday night until right around midnight.
Crews had completed restoration of power to everyone by 8:00 this morning.
Other parts of town remained basically unaware of what was going on until updates from Yukon Energy and comments from various citizens, including Mayor Bill Kendrick, began appearing on Facebook as the evening wore on.
A resident at the Eliza apartment building on Queen Street indicated the power had failed there at around 6 p.m.
At around 7 p.m., Yukon Energy posted, “We are aware of an outage affecting some customers in Dawson. Crews are investigating. There is no ETA for restoration at this time.”
A few minutes later, the utility said the cause of the problems was a downed power line.
“Crews are working to restore power as quickly as they can.”
An hour later, YEC notified resident that power may be out for the next three hours. “Thank you to everyone for your patience.”
Crews were having to work in temperatures that were -45 C or lower at that point.
Kendrick posted: “The arena and the school are open if you need a place to stay while Yukon Energy works at getting the power back up. The RCMP are offering rides to get you there; call them at 867-993-5555!!!”
At about 11:45 p.m., YEC posted: “Dawson outage update: Repairs are complete and we have begun the restoration process, however we will be restoring power in small sections due to the cold temperatures. Thank you again for your patience, we know it is cold and our team is working as quickly as it can!”
About 20 minutes after that, there was this post from YEC: “To all Dawson residents with electricity: please reduce your electricity consumption by turning off any unnecessary lights and unplugging any non-essential electronics. This will help to speed up restoration.
“Residents between King St. and Albert St. and along Front St., particularly businesses – if possible, please shut off your hot water heat and non-essential breakers until one hour after power returns. This will help us to restore power quicker. Thank you!”
Mayor Kendrick had offered similar advice at around 11 p.m.
“Power in some areas has been restored. In the North End, it was restored briefly but then there were obviously some issues and it’s off again. It is a good idea to unplug vehicles and other heavy loads for now, until the system is back up for awhile. Let’s give it a fighting chance!!”
At around 1 a.m., YEC posted: “We are working hard to restore power to all Dawson residents but are aware some people have lost power again. If possible, please reduce your electricity use so we can get everyone back on the grid as quickly as possible.”
As of 8:00 this morning, YEC had posted: “Power has been restored to the remainder of customers affected by last night’s power outage. Thanks to everyone for their kindness and understanding last night and this morning.”
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Comments (17)
Up 0 Down 0
Mark on Jan 4, 2023 at 5:58 am
@DL
It is prudent to have particularly a back-up source of heat, and preferably electricity. There are back-up generators - automatic and manual configurations - available.
The set-up I installed at my home cost about $3,000. Do you believe that tenants are willing to pay a premium for this security whether such a requirement is included in the building code or not?
Up 3 Down 1
DL on Dec 31, 2022 at 9:10 pm
Keep in mind that tenants are at the mercy of landlords with regards to 'prepping' for backup heating systems during power failures. Electric heat is the only source of heat for most apartments in Whitehorse. There's nothing tenants can do in case of power failures, other than pray they are of short duration. When we had that 8 hour power failure at minus 30 in 2006, apartments were starting to freeze by the time the power came back on.
Prolonged and erratic power failures are going to be the new normal, by the looks of it, so there should be an addition made to the code for apartment buildings and other residential rental properties that some sort of backup heating system has to be installed.
Up 13 Down 10
Mark on Dec 31, 2022 at 1:24 pm
@Miss Information
Bart suggested you look-up “economies of scale”. Also consider that competition may actually result in negative consequences for consumers and tax payers. Let me illustrate using a couple of examples.
What if there were 15 different grocery stores operating in Whitehorse all trying to be profitable to stay in business. I think that we can agree that mark-ups would have to be pretty skinny to attract the scant few customers in this market to a given store. Appreciate that each store has to pay its employees (and compete against government wages and benefits), pay various taxes, pay for utilities, finance the cost of the property, maintain the property, compensate shareholders. and the list goes on and on and on. It is likely that many of the stores would have to close because there is no profitability. The remaining stores would likely still be in a tenuous state and would have to either collectively INCREASE mark-ups or more properties would succumb to the pressure. In reality, what eventually occurs in an efficient and unencumbered business environment is that there is an optimal number of suppliers (ex. grocery stores) and prices are a reflection of this environment. Adding more suppliers in a fixed market will either push other suppliers out or result in higher prices so that all stores are profitable.
You make reference to the telecom industry which operates in an environment encumbered by government interference. Constituents - like yourself - demand lower rates for phone and internet services. Our Federal Government has responded by “facilitation competition” in many ways including direct subsidies to upstarts/non-incumbents, funding specific programs (esp. broadband), altering policy (eg. relaxed foreign investment restrictions), and by directing the CRTC on policy matters. We often hear that our cell phone and internet rates are amongst the highest in the developed world and that the solution for this is more competition. Is it relevant what citizens in other countries pay? Well if you consider a comparison with the USA, it has a population/market that is 10x the size of Canada, geographically condensed, and operates in a favourable tax/business/regulatory environment. There are significant reasons why US citizens pay a different amount and experience a different service level that what Canadians do.
Now let’s specifically consider Northwestel who is operating as a telco in arguably the most challenging business environment in all of North America (literally). This company serves almost 100 communities (cities, towns, hamlets, etc) across a massive land mass (N.B., harsh environment), inhabited by a sparse and demanding population, and within the previously mentioned business/regulatory environment. What most people are not aware of is that all the telcos from southern Canada contribute to a fund which is used to subsidize high cost serving areas. Northwestel - and its customers - benefit from this fund. Why is it that Northwestel receives subsidy? Because almost all of the 100 communities are not profitable. What is the Federal Governments response to constituents like you? Introduce more “competition” to an already unprofitable business environment (re: billions of dollars in subsidies, programs, etc). Have you ever wondered why competitors fail after the government subsidies stop? Now constituents - like yourself - can feel good about having “competition” but now wonder (or not) how the Federal deficit got so high and what is the cause of inflation. Are you prepared for higher taxes (ex. capital gains tax when you sell your home) to fund government initiatives?
There are good reasons why we pay what we do for goods and services in the north. Incidentally, most people are not complaining about their relatively high Yukon salaries and benefits compared to what our southern friends earn.
Up 22 Down 2
Joe Boyle on Dec 31, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Looking at the comments, there sure are a lot of newbies up here who have no idea how to actually take care of themselves.
Power outages happen. Being prepared for when they do is up to you.
Up 11 Down 12
Yes and No on Dec 29, 2022 at 9:39 pm
@Miss Information Across the north, yes we probably pay the highest rates for internet and phone. But when it comes to power rates, we don't have it that bad at all actually. It just may feel that way sometimes. Plus, just look at all the tax breaks and other benefits we get from living here.
Up 10 Down 3
Bart on Dec 29, 2022 at 2:41 pm
@Miss Information
Look up: Economies of scale
Up 11 Down 8
Byrun Shandler on Dec 29, 2022 at 1:33 am
Where was our man Floop'er Sandy ? I know he must have saved the day in some new wonderful way ; being the Dawson liberal .
By the way by my arithmetic 10:30 p.m. to 7:30 a,m. is 9 hour outage .
Up 33 Down 10
Miss Information on Dec 27, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Why is it we pay the highest rates in Canada for power and internet but get the crappiest service? Do we need competition up here?
Up 50 Down 11
Dallas on Dec 24, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Ole Sandy will be so proud of his constituents that he has offered up more sacrifices for his riding….
Up 54 Down 1
Babe on Dec 24, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Power outage started at 5:45pm. Our household was with out power for 7.5 hours and some were out as long as 13.5 hours.
Up 52 Down 8
DL on Dec 24, 2022 at 3:37 am
And what caused the power line to go down?
The other week a power failure in south-eastern Yukon was caused by a "tripped sensor", but they don't know what tripped it... So many electrical power failures in several Yukon areas lately. What is going on?
Up 34 Down 16
Frontal Lobe Displacement Theory on Dec 23, 2022 at 9:49 pm
Come on everyone let’s go green… What’s the worst thing that could happen? Electric is where it’s at!
By Eddy Grant:
Now in the street there is violence
And, and a lots of work to be done
No place to hang out our washing
And, and I can't blame all on the sun
Oh no we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Workin' so hard like a soldier
Can't afford a thing on TV
Deep in my heart I am warrior
Can't get food for them kid
Good God we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh no
Oh no
Oh no
Oh no
Oh no, we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh, we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Who is to blame in one country
Never can get to the one
Dealin' in multiplication
And they still can't feed everyone
Oh no, we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh no, we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Out in the street
Out in the street
Out in the playground
In the dark side of town
Oh, we gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
We gonna rock down to electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Up 58 Down 3
Mark on Dec 23, 2022 at 6:59 pm
There is a means to provide back-up electricity for those that care to want to know. The “Electrical Shop” in Whitehorse - in collaboration with ATCO - offer a means to plug-in a generator. Just to set the expectation, the cost of the interface is probably around $2500 now, plus you have to add the cost of a generator. I realize this is not an option for everyone, but wanted to share the information.
Up 64 Down 11
Just imagine on Dec 23, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Just imagine if we relied on electric cars in these temperatures. Would absolutely put people at risk in these situations.
Up 41 Down 17
bonanzajoe on Dec 23, 2022 at 5:03 pm
@bruce bark on Dec 23, 2022: Anything to offset JT and his Liberal jet fuel expenditures.
Up 56 Down 2
Nathan Living on Dec 23, 2022 at 4:07 pm
This was unfortunate but Dawson residents are very resourceful.
People with wood heat are in a good position when these power outages occur.
I am not sure if power outages will continue due to the cold weather conditions and other factors. This has been a bad week.
We should give credit to the frontline electrical utility workers who are working under extreme weather conditions.
I hope there is a prolonged period with no power outages that gets us through Christmas and New Years.
Thanks again to the people who have worked hard to restore power.
Up 74 Down 38
bruce bark on Dec 23, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Look on the bright side Dawson Residents. By sitting in the dark and cold for hours, you probably moved us closer to that all important goal of the Paris climate accord. Closing down airports on the busiest travel day of the year because it's snowing, and freezing in the dark will get us to 2005 emission levels in no time. Hooray Dawson, thanks for taking one for the team.....raw raw, go team go.