Northern Canada facing power struggles over aging electricity grids

Territorial officials say aging electricity grids in Canada's North need billions in federal investment after a December cold snap in Yukon nearly pushed demand to 90% of available generation.

Territorial leaders in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut say their electricity systems are aging and need major federal investment to remain reliable. A frigid spell in December nearly forced rolling blackouts in Whitehorse when demand reached about 90% of available generation. Officials say small tax bases, long supply chains and limited local labour make upgrades more costly in the North. Yukon officials have formally requested more than $1 billion for remediation, capacity and related infrastructure. Key points: - Yukon nearly faced rolling blackouts in December after demand approached 90% of available generation in Whitehorse. - Officials from all three territories describe aging infrastructure pushed beyond its expected life cycle. - Territorial leaders say limited local tax bases and higher supply and labour costs increase the expense of upgrades. - Yukon has requested about $1.025 billion in federal investment, including roughly $520 million for new thermal capacity in Whitehorse. Summary: Territorial representatives warn these shortfalls could affect regional services and resource development if not addressed. They have asked the federal government for major funding while a national electricity strategy has been promised by Prime Minister Mark Carney; the timing and scope of federal funding decisions are undetermined at this time.