Approximately 7,000 Yukon households will receive a $150 energy rebate this winter.

The legislation for the proposed program was tabled in the legislative assembly Thursday afternoon, and quickly moved through its first and second readings.

'We have, through the efforts of the Department of Finance, found a way to create this program without any undue delays and complications,' Premier Dennis Fentie told reporters.

'We now have something we can make ready and get the assistance out there to Yukoners' hands no later than early in the New Year.'

The credit isn't meant to simply offset this winter's spiralling costs of home heating fuel. It instead acknowledges the current high price of energy globally is having a trickle-down and very direct effect on all energy users.

'These energy cost increases eventually flow to virtually all areas of our economy and affect Yukoners through increases in other consumer products such as groceries, rents and so on,' Fentie told the legislature.

The rebate will be based on incomes and if individuals were residing in the Yukon in December and receiving a GST credit from the federal government during the last quarter of this year.

The program is available to anyone receiving the credit, not just individuals paying for heating fuel costs.

'If you're renting and not paying for fuel, you'll still be getting a cheque,' said Bruce McLennan, deputy minister of the Department of Finance. 'You're likely still being affected by energy costs in the territory.'

The rebate is also available to seniors who are already receiving the Pioneer Utility Grant and individuals on social assistance.

The money will not be 'clawed back' from those on social assistance either, said Fentie, because it will not be defined as income.

Guidelines of the income levels eligible for the rebate will be available on the department's website and advertised in the media by about mid-December, said McLennan.

Examples of the levels are: a single adult must have an income of under $34,558; two adults living together must make less than $36,698; and a family with two adults and four children must have a household income of under $46,298.

Very simple application forms will be mailed out to every household listed as receiving the GST credit, said McLennan. The form's purpose will be to verify the individuals are still living at the address, he said, and for them to confirm their income level.

The cheques are expected to be in Yukoners' hands by February, he added.

Between the Yukon rebate cheque and the federal energy rebate, McLennan estimated that Yukoners in need should be able to receive a total of about $400.

The average household consumption of heating oil over a year is about 1,600 litres, said McLennan.

In 2004, the cost for heating fuel for the year would have been about $1,300, he said. It's estimated it will cost approximately $1,653 over the 2005-06 winter.

'People will be benefiting from the rebates,' he said.

Fentie agreed.

'Our job is to move ahead here and to start getting cheques out into the hands of Yukoners,' he said.

It's estimated about $1 million worth of cheques will be sent out.

The opposition parties indicated their support for the rebate, but expressed concerns the $150 wouldn't be enough for those truly in need.

'Just as an example, $150 works out to about one-fifth of a tank of fuel one-fifth of a tank of fuel, for one fill-up in a month,' said NDP Leader Todd Hardy.

'In many, many ways, it is a very, very small amount of money. As I said, it goes to a very small group of people. There are a lot of people who will be missed in this area.'

'There are an awful lot of homes of people who won't be helped,' said Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell.

'Our concern is that that includes many of the working poor. There are many people who may not qualify for this particular subsidy.'