The cost of electricity in the northwest territories as well as the power cuts weigh on the Ténois.
Monday, a power cut affected the localities of Fort Smith and There is river, to the Northwest Territories.
If the electricity was restored after half an hour to There are Riverit took several hours for the rescue generators of Fort Smith Take the relay, according to a press release from the Energy Society of the Northwest Territories (NTPC).
Northwest territories have the reputation of having frequent power cuts and having to pay the latter more expensive than everywhere else in Canada.
Energyhub.org site, (new window) which analyzes and lists data on electricity, thus classifies the T.N.-O. In the last position among the provinces and territories, with an average price of 41 cents per kilowatt/hour (kWh).
According to data from this site, and as a comparison, the price is 7.8 cents in Quebec, 11.4 cents in British Columbia, and 18.7 cents, in Yukon. An electricity bill can reach up to $ 410 per month for a Ténois which uses 1000 kW.
Jean-Paul Pinard, engineer specializing in energy and wind turbines, says that this situation is explained by the significant use of generators in diesel and an aging infrastructure.
However, according to the government of the Northwest Territories, 75 % of the electricity produced in the territories come from hydroelectric power plants, one of the cheapest sources of energy production.
Asked about this apparent contradiction between mainly hydroelectric electricity and high prices, the NTPC replied in an email that it was complicated to compare hydroelectricity to the territories to that in the rest of the country.
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Diesel generators are extremely expensive for Ténois. (Archives photo)
Photo : Radio-Canada
According to the NTPCthe Robert-Bourassa hydroelectric power station in Quebec can produce up to 5,616 megawatts, that of Limetone, Manitoba, can provide 1330 megawatts. For its part, the largest hydroelectric power station in the Northwest Territories is that of Taltson, which can generate up to … 18 megawatts.
The NTPC Recalls that the electrical network of the Northwest Territories is not linked to the rest of the North American network, which its electricity sales have declined with the decrease in the population of the territories, while its costs have increased.
The company also says that part of its infrastructure is not only aging, but that it approaches its end of life and that it needs important investments simply to be replaced.
Finally, she regrets having an extremely large territory to cover, but with small communities that are not numerous enough to be able to save scale. Several of these localities use electricity produced only in diesel, for lack of other sources.
Jean-Paul Pinard adds that the high price of this electricity is also explained by the fact that the inhabitants of the region of Yellowknifewhich mainly use hydroelectricity, fund the energy of other communities by their invoices.
In the strategic plan (new window) presented by NTPC To improve the situation by 2030, the emphasis is placed on the development of renewable energy sources, new electric lines to better connect the dams to the communities and the expansion of the Taltson hydroelectric power station.
