Mr. Speaker, it has been a challenging summer for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. During this past summer the Taltson hydroelectric plant and the transmission lines between the Snare plants and Yellowknife were threatened by forest fires. Fortunately, all major infrastructure was preserved; however, these same fires were responsible for half
of the power outages experienced on the Snare system.
The same drought conditions that contributed to this being one of the worst forest fires years in history is also responsible for low water on the Snare system. Water levels at Snare are at a 64-year low and prompted the corporation to apply for a 3.7 cent rate rider to cover the additional 16 million litres of fuel it anticipates burning up until June 2015 at a cost of about $20 million. This government recognized that customers could not afford an increase in power costs and agreed to cover this unavoidable expense.
Mr. Speaker, the corporation recognizes the current way of operating is no longer sustainable; rates have reached their limit of affordability. What occurred this past summer, while an environmental anomaly, has been a catalyst that has initiated serious discussion on potentially game-changing direction and focus.
We look forward to the upcoming Energy Charrette as it will provide direction and guidance for the future of power generation in the territory. NTPC and the Government of Northwest Territories are open and willing to consider any generation option that is sustainable and reliable and that does not increase the cost of power to the customer.
In addition to a new direction, this government also needs to look at what it can do to invest in infrastructure to keep power affordable. While an interconnecting transmission grid, both within the territory and to the southern grid, is still a long-term goal, it is not attainable in the short or medium term. Instead, this government and NTPC will continue to work together to investigate, research and test alternative options that will lower the cost of generating power, reduce dependence on diesel, especially in the thermal communities, and that will potentially create opportunities for economic development in the process.
The ongoing collaboration between the corporation and this government is a great improvement and is continually strengthened through projects like heat sales in the South Slave region. GNWT and South Slave towns will be offered surplus energy from the Taltson system at reduced rates with all revenues going to support conservation efforts and renewable energy projects.
Mr. Speaker, NTPC has made inroads in alternative energy and conservation this year. Construction of the solar farm in Colville Lake started in August with completion expected this month; more than 800 of the thermal zone’s 2,000 streetlights have been converted to LED, and the Net Metering Program was launched in April, giving residents the opportunity to install alternative power generation systems on their property and receive credit for power they produce. This is just a sample of the work being done. More information will be available
on the “Energy Alternatives” section of NTPC’s website in the coming days.
Conservation as our lowest cost alternative to building additional generation is an important area of focus for NTPC. The corporation is working at developing an extensive conservation section to their website as a first step in informing customers about the way they presently consume electricity and how they can be more efficient with energy use. Beyond their website, NTPC will also be sending out conservation information with customer bills along with running a conservation campaign later this fall.
Mr. Speaker, the corporation continues to build capacity in the territory through its hiring local people into apprenticeships and this year has hired an additional three Northerners in positions where they are developing skills on the job and have full-time employment.
As we move into the last year of this government’s mandate, it is important to keep moving forward, making thoughtful, educated decisions that are in the long-term best interest of the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.