Ottawa Named Yukon Grid Projects. It Did Not Cut a Power Bill.

Canada's budget, tabled Thursday, Nov. 5, names Yukon power projects and other northern works, CBC News reported. It proposes $1.6 billion in Canadian funds over 10 years for energy reliability in the North. Of that, $713 million would help communities move away from diesel and other fossil fuels, and $929 million would upgrade or replace electrical equipment.

The list includes Yukon's Mayo hydro facility and the Atlin expansion in northern British Columbia. CBC said it is not clear how much goes to each project. Yukon Energy has separately said Mayo needs major work, including a $180 million replacement of a failing component. That engineering estimate is not the same as a budget line.

Premier Currie Dixon welcomed the decision to name territorial projects and called energy the Yukon's first priority. The budget also proposes $3.1 billion for the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Amounts for two planned Whitehorse thermal plants were not specified. No new Yukon electricity rate was posted with the funding promise.

Does Thursday's budget lower a Yukon power bill now? No rate cut was announced. Ottawa proposed multi-year funding for northern grids, including Mayo and Atlin, without a new posted electricity price.