Yukoners are finding out how much they will get back on their electricity bills later this year as part of an expanded rate relief program touted by the Yukon energy minister.

Electricity customers will see the rebates automatically applied to their bills from October to March 2027, according to a Yukon government press release. That works out to about $106 in savings each month from October to December, and up to $112 per month from January to March 2027.

The release says the rebate will cover 25 per cent of charges on the first 1,500 kilowatt hours used per month. That’s up from 1,000 kWh in 2025.

The new rebate comes as some previous rebate programs intended to drive down power bills recently ended. The $13-million affordability measure is intended to help Yukoners out during the months when electricity bills tend to be highest, per the release.

Following the Yukon government’s recent repeal of the Clean Energy Act, this week the government also launched a slew of rebates for homes that use electricity for heating and homes currently under construction.

The range of rebates under the so-called dependable grid program is meant to incentivize Yukoners with electrically heated homes to get secondary or dual-fuel heating systems, or to switch from electric to fossil fuels, as noted in a press release.

In the legislature, NDP energy critic Lane Tredger expressed disappointment with the latest rebate program.

Tredger wasn’t pleased with the non-answers to their questions about how much the program is projected to impact greenhouse gas emissions, or how it will impact Yukoners’ power bills.

They said it will leave Yukoners paying out of pocket for more fossil fuels while bearing the brunt of the “climate crisis.”

In response, Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking reiterated his department is finding ways to reduce strain on the electrical grid while bringing more supply online amid what he calls an “energy crisis” in the territory.

Government House Leader Scott Kent informed legislators that representatives from the Yukon Energy Corporation and Yukon Development Corporation, as well as Yukon University, are set to take questions from MLAs in the Legislative Assembly in the coming weeks.

Mining moratorium motion fails

NDP and Liberal MLAs voted together in favour of a non-binding motion related to a moratorium on mining put forward by Riverdale North NDP MLA Carmen Gustafson.

The motion calls on the Yukon government to put a moratorium on mineral staking and exploration in municipalities and within 10 kilometres of their boundaries. That hold on mining would stay in place until the Placer and Quartz Mining acts are repealed or changed, according to the wording of the motion.

The motion on the moratorium failed without the majority Yukon Party’s support.

When speaking to the motion, Premier Currie Dixon said he hasn’t received any requests from Yukon municipalities or First Nation governments to “implement such a sweeping moratorium.”

City of Whitehorse spokesperson Matthew Cameron told CBC that the city isn’t asking for such a moratorium.

An order-in-council put in place in 2012 already prohibits mineral staking in most of Whitehorse.

Cameron confirmed the city is currently working towards a mineral exploration and development framework.

Jane Robinson-Boivin, who works in communications for the NDP, said by email the Yukon government is the mining regulator, not municipalities.

Election financing motion passes

Before the week ended, MLAs unanimously voted on another non-binding motion to establish a special committee on electoral financing, composed of three members from the government caucus, one from the Official Opposition and the Liberal party leader.

The final text of the motion, which was amended before it passed, notes the committee would “examine the provisions of the Elections Act regarding financial contributions to political parties and report to the House on its findings” by Oct. 31.

According to the motion, the committee would retain the power to call for people, papers and records.