Minister Laking updates on the Yukon’s Winter Reliable Energy Plan

Press Release

June 29, 2026

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ted Laking has issued the following statement:

“Yukoners know our electricity system is under strain. We saw that this winter when record demand, extreme cold and equipment failures pushed our system dangerously close to rolling blackouts.

“We are at a crossroads. Energy will either move us forward or hold us back. If we do not act now, we risk falling further behind.

“Work is well underway to develop the Yukon’s Winter Reliable Energy Plan. This plan will strengthen our electricity system and ensure we have the reliable energy needed to support Yukon families, communities and our economy.

“Recently, I met with fellow Energy and Mines Ministers from across Canada to discuss the importance of reliable winter energy to Canada’s economic growth, security and sovereignty.

“The Government of Canada recognizes our critical energy challenges and the need for action. Canada’s electrification strategy describes the strain on the Yukon’s electricity system as ‘a matter of life and death’.

“Canada’s strategy also recognizes that northern energy security is essential to achieving Canada’s critical minerals and Arctic defence objectives. Investments in Yukon energy infrastructure support national priorities that extend far beyond our borders. Addressing the Yukon’s energy challenges is important for Canada.

“For many years, the Yukon has underinvested in the infrastructure needed to support a growing population and economy. As a result, our electricity system now operates with very little margin for error during winter peaks. We cannot solve challenges that have built up over a decade overnight, but we can make the decisions today that put the Yukon on a stronger and more secure path.

“The goal of the Winter Reliable Energy Plan is simple: to ensure Yukoners have safe, reliable and affordable energy. The plan will set out the steps we need to take over the next 20 years to increase supply, manage demand, improve reliability and keep people safe.

“Our first priority is to keep the lights on in the coming winters. That means investing in the new Whitehorse Power Centres projects and making critical repairs to the Mayo Hydro Facility. For the last several months, we have been in discussions with the Government of Canada on how we can partner to address the energy challenges of the territory because the hundreds of millions of dollars in necessary investment cannot be borne by Yukon ratepayers alone.

“We are also taking immediate action to reduce electricity demand during winter peaks. Yukon households can now access direct support to install non-electric heating systems and shift electricity usage to off-peak periods through enhanced demand side management programs.

“As we approach this winter, we will be examining ways to improve efficiency, strengthen existing programs and reduce the Government of Yukon’s own energy consumption.

“But we cannot continue moving from one energy crisis to the next. Yukoners deserve a plan and that is exactly what the Winter Reliable Energy Plan will provide.

“The plan will include:

• transparent long-term forecasts of the Yukon’s residential, commercial and industrial energy needs;
• identification of the generation and transmission infrastructure investments needed to meet future demand;
• policies and programs to diversify energy use, improve affordability, reduce demand, prepare for outages and support emerging energy opportunities such as geothermal, small modular reactors and microreactors; and
• an assessment of the Yukon’s fuel supply vulnerabilities and the steps needed to ensure we can maintain critical fuel supplies during emergencies.

“When temperatures reach minus 40 degrees, energy is not simply about convenience. It is about keeping homes heated, hospitals operating, businesses open and people safe.

“Yukon First Nations are essential partners in the Yukon’s energy future. To support their involvement, we will provide capacity funding to support participation in energy planning and help advance potential First Nations-led generation projects.

“Finally, connecting the Yukon and British Columbia electricity grids remains a promising long-term opportunity. It could create jobs, improve reliability and reduce our reliance on diesel generation. However, it will not solve the challenges we face in the next few years. Even if an intertie proceeds, the Yukon will still require significant new electricity generation capacity here at home.

“That is why the Yukon will prioritize practical, near-term solutions that improve reliability now while the long-term potential of the Yukon-B.C. Grid Connect project is examined. Any future intertie project will also require meaningful engagement and partnership with Yukon First Nations and affected communities.

“Reliable and affordable energy remains a top priority for the Government of Yukon. I look forward to working with First Nations, governments, utilities and all Yukoners to build a stronger, more reliable electricity grid that can power our future.”

Media contact

Tim Kucharuk
Press secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
tim.kucharuk@yukon.ca

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