Broken turbine in N.W.T. costs $40K/day in extra diesel

CBC News
Posted: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 16:34 — Last Updated: Monday, March 2, 2015 at 14:08
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Problem at Snare Falls hydro plant will take 2 to 6 weeks to fix

An aerial view of one of the four plants in the Snare Hydro System about 140 km northwest of Yellowknife. The N.W.T. Power Corporation says it will take an estimated two to six weeks to repair a broken turbine at the Snare Falls plant. (Northwest Territories Power Corporation)

A broken turbine at the Snare Falls hydroelectric plant caused a power outage in Yellowknife last Sunday and continues to cost $40,000 a day in supplementary diesel power, says the N.W.T. Power Corporation.

It will take an estimated two to six weeks to repair the turbine depending on the availability of parts, according to a news release issued Friday.

Snare Falls is one of four generating facilities in the Snare River hydroelectric system that powers Yellowknife, Dettah and Behchoko. It has been contributing 4 megawatts of electricity to the system.

The Power Corporation is urging residents in the three communities to conserve power, especially at peak demand times such as lunch and supper hour, to reduce the amount of diesel fuel used.