Photo by Photo submitted
FRIGID ASSIGNMENT – A Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. crew replaces the transformer this morning which is across First Avenue from the new Whitehorse Public Library. Photo By Paul Getson
Thousands were left huddling in the dark
Some 4,000 customers of Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. lost power Wednesday evening, some of whom were out for three hours as the mercury hovered at –40.
Some 4,000 customers of Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. lost power Wednesday evening, some of whom were out for three hours as the mercury hovered at –40.
Dwight Redden, the company's general manager, said today the outage started at 6:40 with Valleyview and the Canada Games Centre and cascaded north from there, up the Alaska and Klondike highways.
"We got the power restored to the majority of customers at approximately 7:20,” he said. "However, there were customers out until 10:15.”
Residents of Balsam and Cedar crescents in Porter Creek were the last to get power back.
Redden said as a result of the transformer failure in Shipyards Park Tuesday that caused a lengthy outage downtown, Yukon Electrical was re-routing the delivery of service around the transformer until it could be replaced.
The system, he added, is designed to take additional loads.
But with the re-routing of power, on top of the high dinner time demand and frigid temperatures, the protection devices determined the load was abnormal and shut down the system.
It's not supposed to happen, but it did, Redden said.
Yukon Electrical did do its periodic evaluation of the distribution system just last year to make sure everything was in order, he added.
The general manager said the Shipyards transformer should not have failed either just because of the cold weather and the high demand.
They're designed to handle the elements, he said.
The transformer is being sent out for a forensic examination to determine the cause of the failure and whether it can be repaired and re-used as a spare, as the value of that type of unit is in the ballpark of $200,000 new, said Redden.
He said crews have already installed a replacement transformer and will hopefully have it hooked up and on line Friday.
Because electricity demand was so high when the outage occurred, Yukon Electrical had to restore power in sections, to avoid overloading the system all at once, he said.
The company had 10 staff members out working on the problem last night.
Redden said Yukon Electrical is thankful to customers for ensuring they're prepared in case there is a power outage.
Tuesday's outage downtown began at 12:42 p.m. Power started to come back on at 2:32, with full restoration occurring shortly before 4 p.m.
The cold snap that settled over the territory last weekend has driven consumption to record levels, even higher than back in the day of the Faro lead-zinc mine with all its jumbo electrical equipment.
Output on the united grid over the last 24 hours peaked this morning at 79 megawatts, approximately 69 generated by hydro resources and 10 by diesel generators.
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Comments (25)
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Northone on Jan 28, 2012 at 6:45 am
Anonymous,
I think you're over-stating things a bit. Yukoners are friendly, welcoming people. But, as I've discovered in my extensive travels overseas, almost all communities resent being told how to do (or not do) things by new-comers. This is a universal view in communities that receive large influxes of new-comers, Yukoners are no different in this way than other people, other places.
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Yukoner since age of 7 on Jan 27, 2012 at 9:16 am
As the arguments have shifted to slamming southerners and stating that they want to change Whitehorse I would like to point out that the vast majority of people actually living in Whitehorse are from southern regions and either moved here as children with their parents or have recently moved here because they love the outdoors and are tired of cities. Most people who have lived in the Yukon their whole lives tend to leave because they don't appreciate what they have here. Funny thing is their stupid "I'm so tough cause I'm from the Yukon" or their belief that they are a real somebody here soon has them crawling back to the Yukon because they couldn't hack it in the city. Granted a few of them manage but those are the mild mannered individuals who don't have the Yukonner mind set.
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Anonymous on Jan 27, 2012 at 8:17 am
Welcome to Yukon everyone, hospitality at its best. People who are using the internet yet at the same time want to be left alone and remain "least advanced". I am not whining about power outages - I am criticizing...
I don't like living in big cities - thank you for your small-minded judgement, and I love small towns and like being in the country and outdoors... but it is 2012, there is nothing wrong with advancement. There is nothing wrong with a proper balance in today's world. No one is asking you to give up everything to keep its charms left behind from the past (ie. cosmetically). This is not supposed to be a 3rd world or developing country where we can blame squarely on squirrels and birds (as believe it or not, squirrels and birds DO exist in other parts of the world too). If it's an ice-storm or 100 km/hr winds that knock down the power... understandable. But multiple and repeated outages because of squirrels and birds??
If such "Yukon extremists" are insisting so much on "resenting people from the South etc" and that this place should stay as it did back in the 1800s, then I think its time for you to cut off the internet, get rid of your jobs and vehicles, and camp out on the Peel or wherever you wish - it's a big country here. See how "simple" life will be. That toughness shouldn't be spared if you even try it out in Northern Ontario or the Caucasus Mtns in Eurasia... or is there a rule and fine line specifically above the 60th parallel?
Nothing wrong with preparedness, but in our case, in a capital like Whitehorse - many of these outages have little or nothing to do with real natural elements (severe weather, etc). And many of you here seem to be so blinded and brainwashed by the silly excuse of "this is the Yukon"... you know, the world cannot evolve around Yukon.
Man, I've been to the least-advanced settlements in Greenland almost cut off from the world, where there are no flushing toilets with power outages from >>windstorms<< - even the hardy villagers there are more open-minded and respectful than such resentful Yukoners.
BTW - stop whining about innovation and the "outside world". Want that "simple life"... then move completely off grid.
(Man I'm still pondering about when they're gonna build that multi-level parkade on 3rd Ave... or that 15-storey skyscraper above Hougen's)
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true southerner on Jan 27, 2012 at 8:12 am
Yukoner's have always resented southerners coming here and bringing their ways-and "We like the Yukon being one of ‘the least advanced places"stated by North of 60- wow, ok- with that statement one can come to the conclusion that why is there all these laws here? ie, helmet, drunk driving ,speeding damn RCMP!! and "least advanced" is dead on when it comes to customer satisfaction here ..don't like it -go back is the attitude...Get your head out of the snow bank the world is here and if you don't believe that your living in the Yukon bubble ..
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Yukon Hootch on Jan 27, 2012 at 4:03 am
Though the power goes out way more than tolerable for the amount of money we all pay, people need to grow up, stop crying and PREPARE.
The Government as gone to great lengths with their ad campaign to stress that everyone should prepare for 72 hours so do it. There are several back up plans available to those of you who would rather complain than help yourselves… I have a wood stove and a generator with a homemade insulated box to reduce noise. I can understand why someone wouldn't want to invest in or make space for a wood stove but what's wrong with a generator? You can't complain when you have other options. A decent generator to give you some power is still cheaper than the cost to relocate down south where maybe perhaps you whiners belong.
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north of 60 on Jan 26, 2012 at 5:43 pm
We don't pay 'a lot of money' for electricity compared with other remote areas. If you're not prepared for power outages then you shouldn't be here.
Yukoners have always resented people who come here from the South, then try to change the Yukon into what they left behind. We like the Yukon being one of 'the least advanced places'. So called 'advancement' isn't an improvement over the simple, unhurried, low-stress life 'up-here'.
Go somewhere else 'Anonymous' where your big city attitudes will be accepted.
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Anonymous on Jan 26, 2012 at 5:25 am
I love 40 Below, and I love Yukon and its wilderness...but only in a geographical sense. But considering it's "vibrant economy" here, this place is one of the least advanced places I've been to in the Western world. Majority of the City councils here don't even know how to run a city properly, but I shouldn't be surprised, as this place is run by nepotism at its best.
All this "Real/true Yukoner" mentality is a clear sign how neglected and ignorant many people here are and wish to be - and as many people who live here in their right mind would agree (with whom I've met since living up here for the numerous years): Yukon is truly an unfriendly place with such unnecessary grudge against "the Outside" or the South, and it's a hotspot for people who cannot function or belong anywhere else. I love the North, and I frequent places stretching from Northern Alaska to Scandinavia (including places actually more northerly than Yukon or Whitehorse), this place is by far the most backwards and inhospitable place I've been to.
Get out of the territory more "Real Yukoners", it's a big world out there. The fact that you "live in the Yukon" doesn't make you tough, as there are places farther south more inhabitable and colder than this place... How about opening up to the mind of building multi-lane highways, overpasses, mega shopping centres, and multi-level parkades in Whitehorse... now there's a TRUE YUKON FOR YA!! Think you can handle that, AND the 40 Below? If not, move to Saskatoon or Siberia to toughen yourselves out a tad bit more.
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Anonymous on Jan 25, 2012 at 5:36 am
I think the real problem is that we pay a lot of money for this service and it is never constant. Hands down we have the most power outages in the country. It's not so much that people are unprepared for extreme conditions it's just irritating to see what we pay for this service when it can not be steadily or reliably provided.
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Northerntut on Jan 25, 2012 at 3:54 am
here is some news for everyone - Canada is COLD in the winter! The Yukon in particular is extremely cold. Not surprising to most of us. What is surprising is the lack of planning by individuals for emergencies and extreme weather conditions. Why? No incentive I would hazard to guess. The restrictive policies of Governments and insurance agencies when it comes to having alternatives to the grid does not create any will to do so. Yukon and Canada should make every effort to promote and foster an environment which garners individual initiative on creating own source energy. Whether that be wood fueled, solar or otherwise. Cooperation from insurance companies would also help if they would lower premiums when these alternatives are installed properly, as opposed to the opposite. There's my rant, by the way, I LOVE the YUKON, even if the power went off for good this will still be my home.
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Patrick on Jan 24, 2012 at 9:03 am
Its almost like the spokesperson spins a wheel that conveniently provides a sketchy reason why there is a power outage.
There are symbols on the wheel which provide explanations for outages: a squirrel, raven, snowload breaking an insulator, tree falling on the line, defective switch, human error by a harried but sincere employee, and old equipment which suddenly failed.
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J.Creighton on Jan 23, 2012 at 10:42 pm
lol@Darcy ..I wasn't complaining if you would have read my post correctly.As for being a southerner ,don't be so hateful.I'm from the other side of the border .If I can come up this far north and adapt to odd situations ,live with wildlife that thinks it's their sole role in life to knock out the power or be charge a higher rate because of limitations then that's life.I will still say the Yukon isn't for sissies.If you cannot adapt to the way things are here , move on.We don't have a big city nor will it ever be so things are costing more .But ,despite all the flaws Whitehorse has it still the best in my book .
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Billy Polson on Jan 23, 2012 at 11:04 am
If the Yukon can be taken seriously it needs to walk the talk...what a silly argument to call someone a sissy...it takes between 48-72 hrs for pipes to freeze with no heat at -40 in a Yukon home, built whenever..the point is should anyone be considered a sissy if this happens?...I can move into the wall tent, camper or just pull the ducts off the wood furnace to make it through the whole winter...but I expect there to be power (as Darcy said) in 2012.
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Darcy MacDonald on Jan 23, 2012 at 4:45 am
OMG, really ,the Yukon isn't for "sissy's" NICE!! oh so don't complain you southerner ..Once again this is the Yukon so suck it up ..Ya this the Yukon where you can expect a raven, squirrel to take out the entire grid ..pay top dollar for a service that you may or may not get ..it is 2012 here isn't it?
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north of 60 on Jan 21, 2012 at 11:10 am
"$200 for ELECTRIC heating is low."
Yes, for a house. NOT for a correctly built condo.
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Groucho d'North on Jan 21, 2012 at 10:36 am
I think people need to get a little independence from the infrastructure. When things go wrong...and they do; most are without a clue on how to get by.
The government beats its gums telling us to prepare for 72 hours on our own- does anybody pay any attention to that message? Yet when something goes wrong in our comfy world- the phone lines to the utilities are jammed and people begin to panic because they have not planned to look after themselves or their homes.
Don't say you were not warned. Learn how and do it, because ultimately; it comes down to your own smarts.
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DG on Jan 20, 2012 at 3:31 pm
@ north of 60
$200 for ELECTRIC heating is low. consider how much others pay for wood/propane and oil heating.
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J.Creighton on Jan 20, 2012 at 1:44 pm
We were without power for 1 1/2 hours the house temp only went as low as 67 f/19.4 c . Our home is a 30 years old modular .I dragged out the battery operated lights,put on my heaviest robe and did my dishes and other house work,if the electricity was off longer ,then I would just add layers for warmth.Also be known I have only been here 13 years from milder weather region but I do know how to survive in this northern region . The Yukon isn't a place for sissies.
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north of 60 on Jan 20, 2012 at 9:54 am
"And what is a correctly built house in the Yukon? Are any of the houses built prior to 10 years ago an example of that? Any of the houses built since?"
'Yes' to the last two questions. Smart people have been building 'correctly' for the past 30 years in the Yukon.
The answer to the first has been freely available at the Energy Solutions Centre for over a decade. The truth is out there, you just have to look.
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north of 60 on Jan 20, 2012 at 8:09 am
"we just bought a new condo that has only electric heat! You are charging me 200 hundred dollars a month for electricity"
I'm not charging you for electricity, direct your compliant to someone who cares. If you're spending that much on electricity then you're doing it wrong. That inefficient condo was your choice. Live with it or move.
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Billy Polson on Jan 20, 2012 at 5:08 am
Nof60- Yes this is the Yukon...and in the Yukon, real Yukoners keep their heads in the sand about the poor quality of service available here?
Is it unreasonable to ask that power be available at -40? You should ask why such a high grid load exists in the Yukon...the same entities that suck up all available power are permitted by the Yukon Government to do so and they are also responsible for the wonderful inflated boom we are experiencing too... those idiotic Southerners, expecting so much.
And what is a correctly built house in the Yukon? Are any of the houses built prior to 10 years ago an example of that? Any of the houses built since? If you're a true Yukoner you can answer that question.
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Anonymous on Jan 19, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Yeah we take what precautions we can when we just bought a new condo that has only electric heat! What a lovely 3 hours with no power that was!!!
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Don't depend on Yukon electricity! on Jan 19, 2012 at 12:03 pm
A new Yukon tradition is forming, when it gets cold the power goes out. You can count on it. The colder it is the longer the power outage.
We move closer and closer to third world status in electrical system reliability every year.
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J.Creighton on Jan 19, 2012 at 11:30 am
It might help if people would turn off items in their home if they aren't in the room but also people really don't need outside Christmas light on at this point ..
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anonymous on Jan 19, 2012 at 9:14 am
How do you prepare when it is -40? There is no heat...we freeze. Not all of us have wood stoves. Our house gets cold within ten minutes with no heat with the risk of pipes freezing as well. You are charging me 200 hundred dollars a month for electricity and I want electricity when it is -40. This happens way too much here.
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north of 60 on Jan 19, 2012 at 8:20 am
If they were "huddling in the dark" then they're not real Yukoners. Most of us just turn on our battery lights and crank up the woodstove when a power outage happens. They never last more than a few hours and a correctly built Yukon house won't cool off much in that time even at -40. Suck it up or move South. This is the Yukon.