Results from our Latest Public Opinion Survey | Monday, July 25, 2011

You might recall that during the summer of 2010 Yukon Energy hired a firm to conduct a series of phone and on-line opinion surveys for us. The purpose of the surveys was to get a sense of what the general Yukon public and local business and community leaders know and believe about the Corporation. The information gathered assisted us in developing a public information campaign aimed at helping Yukoners better understand who Yukon Energy is, what we are working to achieve, and why.

In early 2011, after carrying out one phase of the public information campaign, we did a follow up survey to see if the public's knowledge about Yukon Energy had changed. The results of the earlier survey can be found here and here, and the latest survey results are here.

Yukon Energy recognizes the importance of providing you with on-going information about our projects and the steps we are taking to provide Yukoners with electricity that is clean, reliable, environmentally responsible, and flexible enough to meet the changing needs of the territory. This blog is just one of a number of methods we are using to try to meet our goal. If you have suggestions about how this blog can be improved, or ideas for other ways of providing you with the information you want and need, please let us know.

Marsh Lake Water Levels | Thursday, July 21, 2011

Each summer Yukon Energy provides a forecast of what we expect the peak water levels will be in Marsh Lake. Here is the latest information we have. The solid blue line indicates the levels to date, and the dotted red line shows our forecast for the rest of this summer and into the fall.

We do not expect this to be an exceptionally high water year nor do we anticipate to see flooding of properties. However we monitor the levels daily and will update this chart on a regular basis over the next several weeks, particularly if anything changes (i.e. a long stretch of very hot weather or a long stretch of heavy rain) in terms of our forecast.

Yukon Energy and Climate Change | Thursday, July 21, 2011

Yukon Energy is often asked if we take climate change into account when planning for future energy needs. Indeed we do.

This summer we have hired scientists from the Yukon's Northern Climate Exchange to gather information for us on the expected impacts of climate change on the glaciers that feed our hydro systems. The scientists will also make recommendations about what Yukon Energy should do to better prepare for any changes in flow from glaciers.

The work will start next month. The scientists will gather information through satellite and aerial photographs and will verify it through work on the ground. They will then compare it with historical data. We expect a report in about a year from now.

Some of our staff will also receive training that will help them better understand climate change science, and provide them with tools that can be used when doing current and future resource planning.

Cause of Today’s Outage | Tuesday, July 19, 2011

We now know the cause of the overnight power outage. A malfunctioning speed sensing device on one of our hydro units caused power to go out early this morning. The unit has been taken off line and will remain out of service until any necessary repairs/replacements are made. In the meantime, the electricity demand will be met with our other three Whitehorse hydro generators and our Aishihik hydro units.

Energy Charrette Update | Tuesday, July 19, 2011

You may remember that Yukon Energy hosted a three-day energy charrette this past March. Close to 100 people came together to talk about how to meet the territory's future energy needs. The purpose of the charrette was to educate the participants, help inform Yukon Energy's updated 20-year Resource Plan, develop guiding principles for energy decision making and to find out how Yukoners want to be involved in planning Yukon's energy future.

We also held discussions in three rural Yukon communities, and input from those meetings was included as part of the charrette process.

We have completed a summary report of the charrette and community meetings, and we want to share it with you. Charrette participants have already had a chance to review it and have made some comments, which you will see at the back of the report.

Charrette participants and the general public is invited to an  ‘After Hours’ event  on Monday, July 25th starting at 4:30 p.m. at the High Country Inn, Whitehorse. Together we'll review the summary report. We'll also talk about next steps, including the progress of our updated 20-year Resource Plan, a draft of which we expect to have available later this year.  We hope you can make it.
 

Overnight Outage | Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Power went out this morning at 3:45, affecting customers on the Mayo-Dawson line, some areas of Whitehorse, and communities south of Whitehorse including Carcross, Teslin, Tagish and Marsh Lake. Power was restored to all customers shortly after 5 a.m. The cause of the outage is still under investigation. We should know more later today.

Yukon’s Newest Energy Conservation Kids | Thursday, July 14, 2011

Earlier this week Yukon Energy and the Yukon Conservation Society hosted an afternoon of learning and fun for a group of pre-schoolers. The aim was to teach the youngsters about using electricity safely and wisely. This was done through music and dance, storytelling, hands-on science and crafts. Here are a few photos. We hope to work with YCS to offer the program to other children in the near future. Photo credit: www.archbould.com

How to Use a Boat Lock | Thursday, July 14, 2011

Last week a group of people in three canoes chose to go through the control gates at our Lewes River Control Structure instead of using the boat lock as they should have. One of the canoes capsized and a female was trapped under water for several minutes. While she managed to escape, the end result could have been tragic. We cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to swim or take a boat through the gates.

On Wednesday July 20th at 7 p.m. we will hold a safety information night to show people how to use our boatlock and to explain why it is so dangerous to try to take a watercraft through the control gates. Everyone is welcome. It will take place at the Lewes River Control Structure, just off the Alaska Highway on the way to Marsh Lake. Please contact us if you need directions.

Instructions on how to use out boat lock can also be found on our website.

Southern Lakes Public Meetings | Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Just a reminder that Yukon Energy will host a public meeting tonight starting at 7 o'clock at the Marsh Lake Community Centre to talk about the Marsh Lake Enhanced Storage Concept, and to give our forecast of expected peak lake levels. We'll provide the same information tomorrow night to Tagish residents. That meeting begins at 7:30 at the Tagish Community Club. Everyone is welcome.