Electricity bills expected to go up again as Yukoners await new rebate details
End of government rebates and rate rider hikes add up to higher bills
Yukoners can expect their residential power bills to go up again, starting April 1.
The latest expected increase clocks in at about 33.8 per cent compared to a customer’s March bill, according to a breakdown by ATCO Electric Yukon. A home that uses around 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month could see their bill rise by close to $80 in April compared to March.
The increase comes as two Yukon government rebates that were lowering bills — the winter electrical affordability rebate and the affordability rate relief rebate — are ending.
At the same time, two Yukon Energy Corporation rate riders — riders J and J1 — are also climbing.
Premier Currie Dixon said the details of a new, expanded energy rate relief program – and how much it will reduce Yukoners’ power bills in the future – will be announced in the coming weeks.
Dixon said the $13 million in the budget for the incoming rebate is close to 2.5 times more than the amount of money previously allocated for electricity rebates. He said the new program will come into effect if the majority government’s proposed main budget passes.
The Yukon Utilities Board approved the rate increases in January upon finalizing a review of the energy corporation’s general rate application for 2025-27, according to the Yukon Energy web page.
The web page says the approval covers most of Yukon Energy’s anticipated costs for upkeeping reliable energy services including staff increases, fuel, diesel rentals and daily operations.
Interim rate increases to the tune of 10 per cent previously took effect in July 2025 and January 2026.
On the election campaign trail in fall 2025, the Yukon Party pledged to direct Yukon Energy to roll back rate increases.
In the legislature on Tuesday, Debra-Leigh Reti, the lone Liberal MLA, pressed Dixon on his party’s pledge.
When speaking with reporters outside the Legislative Assembly, Dixon said the current scenario isn’t ideal.
“Nobody wants to be relying on rebates,” he said.
“Because of our challenging fiscal situation, this is the best step that we can take.”
Dixon reiterated that the territorial government believes it needs about $1 billion from the federal government to address the energy corporation’s ongoing needs. He said the Yukon doesn’t have the cash or debt capacity to pay for much-needed work on its own.
Yukon NDP energy critic Lane Tredger said electricity rates have “gone up and up” since the new territorial government was elected and sworn in last November.
“They broke that promise,” Tredger said.
“Yukoners deserve electricity they can count on. Yukoners deserve electricity they can afford.”
Tredger suggested the government use grants and money from its own budget to fund energy capital projects instead of relying on ratepayers to pay for it.
Whitehorse resident Toodi Wells said she will be able to handle the rate increase fairly well because her home uses a variety of heat sources.
“I feel very sympathetic for people who are not making a lot … their wages are low and they’re trying to handle these large bills,” she said.
“I’m fortunate, I think, to still be able to afford groceries regularly and utilities, that sort of thing, but I think it is going to be really difficult for a lot of people.”
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Yukon gov’t torches Clean Energy Act, subsidies for EVs and e-bikes, CBC News
Finland: Cold weather perfect to pioneer electric aviation says Finnair, The Independent Barents Observer
Norway: Arctic Norwegian city gets world’s northernmost electric post truck, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Mining boost in Russian central Arctic to feed electric vehicle market, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Giant battery factory bringing economic boom to Northern Swedish city, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska’s first, electric public transit bus ready to hit Anchorage streets, Alaska Public Media
