Government of Yukon partners with power utilities and Whitehorse to strengthen emergency protocols

November 7, 2024

This is a joint news release between the Government of Yukon, Yukon Energy, the City of Whitehorse and ATCO Electric Yukon.

Reliable electricity supply is critical for Yukoners to stay safe and connected, especially during the winter months. The Government of Yukon has been working with Yukon Energy, ATCO Electric Yukon and the City of Whitehorse to improve and test the inter-agency emergency protocols in case of power supply challenges in the territory.

In September and October, all parties came together to develop and test the emergency protocols and successfully completed a drill on October 21. The drill simulated a transmission line failure and mutual-aid response. This included testing a key component of the protocol, which is shifting large buildings onto backup diesel generation to reduce the load on the electrical system and keep power flowing to Yukoners.

During the drill, the Canada Games Centre and Whistle Bend Place successfully switched off their main electrical power supply and onto diesel generator backup, without disruption to services. This allowed utilities to measure the impact of the emergency protocol and for all parties to test and evaluate their roles in a controlled setting. At the time of the exercise, the total system load was around 68 megawatts. Switching the Canada Games Centre and Whistle Bend Place to backup power saved approximately one megawatt of electricity. The drill highlights the importance of backup diesel generation in the Yukon, especially during the winter.

Everyone has a responsibility to prepare their homes and loved ones for an emergency. Yukoners are encouraged to visit Yukon.ca to find out what to do before, during and after a power outage.

The Yukon government has worked closely with our partners to develop and test robust emergency power outage plans to help ensure the safety of Yukoners. As we head into winter, I urge all Yukoners to make their own plans for an extended power outage and ensure you have a 72-hour kit to keep you and your family safe and prepared.

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

Emergency preparedness is top of mind for Whitehorse residents. By working together with our partners to test our plans and procedures, we can ensure we have effective systems in place to respond to emergencies. We all have a role to play in emergency preparedness and I encourage all residents to be prepared. A little planning goes a long way.  Be sure to make an emergency plan and prepare a 72-hour kit.

Mayor of City of Whitehorse Kirk Cameron

Safety is our first priority as we provide the reliable and affordable energy that customers and communities depend on. By practicing incident response, it allows us to go through our individual operational procedures to identify any gaps in advance of a crisis rather than doing it live when safety is at risk.

Vice President of Northern Development and Indigenous Relations of ATCO Electric Yukon Jay Massie

In the Yukon, extreme cold weather can put significant strain on our electrical grid, increasing the risk of disruptions. By testing our response protocols, we can support a safe, coordinated response with our partners during emergencies.

President and CEO of Yukon Energy Chris Milner

Quick facts

• Participants in the drill included operations, emergency management and communications teams from ATCO Electric Yukon, Yukon Energy, Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse.
• In a real-world emergency where the Yukon grid was at or near capacity, large industrial users, such as mining companies and government buildings, would voluntarily shift to generator power to reduce load on the electrical system. If required, government would then ask Yukoners to limit or restrict their electricity use.
• The Yukon has an islanded electrical system with no connections to other grids.

Media contact
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

Julia Duchesne
Community Services
867-332-4188
julia.duchesne@yukon.ca

Matthew Cameron
City of Whitehorse
867-689-0515
matthew.cameron@whitehorse.ca

Erin Newell-Lupien
ATCO Electric Yukon
780-264-7627
erin.newell-lupien@atco.com

Lisa Wiklund
Yukon Energy
867-393-5398
lisa.wiklund@yec.yk.ca

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