Power corp increasing capacity at diesel plant
Northern News Services
Friday, July 10, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Northwest Territories Power Corporation will spend $6 million to increase the power generation capacity at its Jackfish power plant as low water levels continue to plague production on the Snare and Bluefish systems.
The power corp. is installing five modular diesel generators at Jackfish, increasing the station's capacity from 27 megawatts to 32.8 megawatts by November, said spokeswoman Pam Coulter. It brings the station up to 13 generators of various capacities.
As well, Coulter said maintenance and repair work is underway to have the station ready for peak power demand in the winter. The two largest generators at Jackfish will undergo an engine rebuild, which means replacing older parts.
The spending is already built into the company's capital budget and it won't impact customers, said Coulter.
The Jackfish power plant must be able to produce enough power to meet the needs of the city, Dettah, Ndilo and Behchoko as a backup should something fail for the main generation source, and the added capacity will allow that.
The work, including the additional generation capacity, was planned in advance of the summer and is part of the power corp.'s budget, she said.
This year's low water levels mean the power corp. will be burning more diesel at the Jackfish power plant than it would in an average year. Approximately 30 per cent of power generated for the communities is being produced with diesel. Increased use of diesel continues to cost the power corp. about $45,000 to $50,000 per day.
Coulter said it's too early to say whether the company will apply for a rate rider again this year to cover the added cost of producing power at Jackfish.
That decision will come after the spring melt water works its way down to the dams around late July, Coulter said.
"Until we can do a proper forecast we won't know that," she said.
Coulter urged people to conserve their power use to help reduce the demand for electricity.
