High rates, midnight sun, and some of Canada's most compelling off-grid solar economics. Whitehorse residents pay 18–20¢/kWh. Remote communities pay much more. Here's the full picture.
Yukon's electricity story is defined by dramatic contrasts. Whitehorse residents on Yukon Energy's hydro grid pay approximately 18–20¢/kWh — high by Canadian standards, but manageable. Remote communities on diesel generation pay effective rates of 24–40¢/kWh or more. And the territory's solar resource is unlike any other in Canada: the midnight sun delivers extraordinary summer production peaking at over 8 kWh/kW/day in June — better than Mexico or Spain. Winter is the opposite extreme. December averages just 0.4 kWh/kW/day. Understanding and planning for this extreme seasonal swing is the defining challenge — and opportunity — of Yukon solar.
Yukon has no territorial sales tax — only the federal 5% GST applies to electricity. Rates vary significantly by community depending on the generation source (hydro vs diesel) and the utility serving that area.
| Rate Component (Whitehorse) | Rate (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Monthly Charge | ~$14–$18/month | Fixed regardless of consumption |
| Energy Charge | ~16–18¢/kWh | Flat rate on all consumption |
| GST | 5% | Federal tax only — no Yukon territorial sales tax |
| All-In Blended (Whitehorse) | ~18–20¢/kWh | Including fixed charge and GST at 1,000 kWh/month |
ℹ️ Yukon Government Rebate Programs: The Yukon government has periodically offered electricity rebates and subsidies to reduce the burden on residents, particularly in rural communities. Check current Yukon government energy programs as these have changed over time and may affect your effective rate. The Government of Yukon also supports Indigenous community energy independence programs that can reduce effective rates for First Nations communities through solar and storage investment.
🏛️ Yukon Energy Corporation
A Crown corporation serving Whitehorse and most grid-connected Yukon communities. Operates the Yukon Electrical System including hydroelectric generation at Whitehorse Rapids, Aishihik, and Mayo stations. Transmission lines connect the Yukon Integrated System across the southern and central territory.
🏢 ATCO Electric Yukon
A subsidiary of ATCO Ltd. (Alberta-based utility) serving Watson Lake and some rural communities. ATCO operates isolated diesel microgrids for communities not connected to Yukon Energy's main grid. Also manages some remote community power systems on behalf of the territorial government.
⚠️ Diesel Dependency in Remote Communities: Dozens of Yukon's smaller First Nations communities, hunting camps, lodges, and remote properties rely entirely on diesel generation. Diesel must be transported by road — often over winter roads accessible only a few months per year — at significant cost. Fuel prices in remote Yukon can reach $2.50–$4.00+/litre, creating effective electricity costs of $0.60–$1.20/kWh when all costs are factored in. For these communities, off-grid solar is often the most important economic and energy sovereignty intervention available.
Whitehorse, YT. Source: NASA POWER database.
❄️ The Winter Challenge: December's 0.4 kWh/kW/day is the lowest monthly figure of any location in our entire 23-city Canadian dataset. A 5 kW system produces only 2 kWh on a December day — barely enough to power a refrigerator. Off-grid Yukon systems must be designed around winter autonomy, not summer production. This means large battery banks (10–15 days autonomy minimum), propane or wood backup heating, and a properly sized generator for the November–February window.
💡 The Net Metering Strategy: For grid-tied Yukon customers, the extreme summer surplus creates a powerful net metering opportunity. A well-sized system generates far more than you consume in summer — banking large credits with Yukon Energy. Those credits are then drawn down through the dark winter months. Effectively, Yukon's midnight sun lets you pre-pay your winter electricity bills in summer sunshine. This is one of Canada's most compelling net metering use cases.
| System Size | Annual Production | Annual Savings at ~19¢ | Est. System Cost* | Simple Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | ~7,365 kWh/year | ~$1,399/year | ~$18,000–$25,000 | 13–18 years |
| 10 kW | ~14,730 kWh/year | ~$2,799/year | ~$28,000–$40,000 | 10–14 years |
| 15 kW | ~22,095 kWh/year | ~$4,198/year | ~$40,000–$55,000 | 10–13 years |
*Yukon system costs are 15–25% higher than southern Canada due to freight, cold-weather components, and specialist labour. Assumes 3% annual rate increases and 0.5%/year panel degradation.
☀️ Remote Yukon: Canada's Strongest Off-Grid Solar Case
For diesel-dependent communities and remote properties at 40–80¢+/kWh effective rates, off-grid solar delivers transformational economics. A 10 kW system producing 14,730 kWh/year at a $0.60/kWh diesel effective rate saves $8,838/year. Even at inflated Yukon installation costs of $50,000 for a complete off-grid system (panels, batteries, inverter, generator backup), that's a 5.7 year payback — and eliminates the logistical burden of winter diesel resupply entirely.
| Scenario | Effective Rate | Annual Savings (10 kW) | Payback Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehorse grid-tied | ~19¢/kWh | ~$2,799/year | 10–14 years |
| Rural community (diesel) | ~40¢/kWh | ~$5,892/year | 7–9 years |
| Remote camp (diesel + transport) | ~60¢/kWh | ~$8,838/year | 5–7 years |
| Extreme remote (fly-in diesel) | ~80¢+/kWh | ~$11,784/year | 4–5 years |
| Household Type | Monthly Usage | Est. Monthly Bill (incl. GST) | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment / 1 bedroom | 300–500 kWh | ~$68–$109 | ~$820–$1,310 |
| Small home / 2 bedroom | 600–900 kWh | ~$119–$174 | ~$1,430–$2,090 |
| Average Yukon home | ~1,000 kWh | ~$190 | ~$2,280 |
| Larger home / electric heat | 1,500–2,500 kWh | ~$277–$452 | ~$3,325–$5,425 |
| Rural / remote (diesel) | 1,000 kWh | ~$420–$840+ | ~$5,040–$10,080+ |
📈 Rate Outlook: Yukon Energy has been seeking annual rate increases of 3–5% to fund grid modernization, new renewable energy projects, and aging infrastructure replacement. The territory's population growth — driven by mining activity and government expansion — is increasing demand faster than generation capacity. Further increases of 3–5% annually are expected through 2030. For remote communities, diesel costs track global oil markets with additional local transportation volatility.
The chart below shows daily production per kW in Whitehorse — Canada's most dramatically seasonal solar profile. No other location in our dataset shows this magnitude of summer-to-winter swing.
☀️ Yukon's Solar Secret: Annual total production in Whitehorse (~1,473 kWh/kW/year) is comparable to Nova Scotia and actually exceeds Newfoundland — despite the extreme winter. The midnight sun months are so productive that they compensate for the dark winter in annual totals. For grid-tied systems using net metering to bank summer credits, annual output is the number that matters most. For off-grid systems, winter minimums define the design.
→ Use our Solar Panel Calculator with Whitehorse's seasonal irradiance to properly size your system.
Yukon Energy Corporation offers net metering for grid-connected customers — and Yukon's extreme seasonal swing makes it one of Canada's most strategically important net metering markets.
✅ System Size
Available for systems up to 100 kW for residential customers on the Yukon Integrated System.
✅ Summer Credit Banking
Surplus summer production banks as credits, drawn down through winter — perfectly matching Yukon's solar production profile to year-round consumption needs.
☀️ Yukon's Net Metering Advantage
Summer surplus is so large that a well-sized system can pre-pay most or all of the winter electricity bill with summer sun credits.
ℹ️ ATCO Communities: Net metering availability in ATCO Electric Yukon territory (Watson Lake and other ATCO-served communities) differs from Yukon Energy programs. Contact ATCO Electric Yukon directly for current net metering terms in your community. Remote diesel-community residents should explore off-grid solar as an alternative to grid connection — net metering is not applicable to off-grid installations.
| Year | Whitehorse Blended Rate | YoY Change | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ~14.5¢/kWh | — | Yukon Energy base rate |
| 2021 | ~15.0¢/kWh | +3.4% | Infrastructure investment |
| 2022 | ~15.8¢/kWh | +5.3% | Energy supply costs rise |
| 2023 | ~16.8¢/kWh | +6.3% | Grid modernization |
| 2024 | ~17.5¢/kWh | +4.2% | Renewable energy projects |
| 2025 | ~18.5¢/kWh | +5.7% | Demand growth, infrastructure |
| 2026 (current) | ~18–20¢/kWh | +3–5% | Continued grid investment |
📈 38% increase since 2020 — among the fastest in Canada: Yukon Energy rates have risen significantly as the territory invests in grid modernization, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure serving a growing population. Mining expansion and population growth are increasing demand, while the territory's remote geography makes supply expensive. Further increases of 3–5% annually are expected through 2030 — strengthening the solar ROI case further each year.
Yukon Energy Corporation's residential rates in Whitehorse average approximately 18–20¢/kWh blended including the fixed monthly charge and 5% GST. Rural and diesel-dependent communities pay significantly higher effective rates of 24–40¢/kWh or more — with the most remote fly-in communities paying effective rates of 60–80¢+/kWh when all diesel costs are accounted for. Only federal GST (5%) applies — Yukon has no territorial sales tax.
Dramatically. Whitehorse receives over 19 hours of sunlight per day in June, delivering approximately 8.0 kWh/kW/day — among the highest in all of Canada and comparable to top solar regions globally. A 5 kW system can produce 40+ kWh on a clear June day. This summer surplus is Yukon's core solar asset, particularly for grid-tied systems using net metering to bank summer credits against winter consumption.
Yes — at 18–20¢/kWh in Whitehorse, grid-tied solar achieves 10–14 year payback periods, with strong long-term savings. For diesel-dependent communities at 40–80¢+/kWh effective rates, payback periods of 5–8 years make solar one of the most economically compelling investments available. The midnight sun delivers exceptional annual production despite the dark winter. Use our Solar ROI Calculator to model your specific situation.
Yes. Yukon Energy Corporation offers net metering for grid-connected customers with systems up to 100 kW. Yukon's extreme seasonal solar swing — massive summer surplus, minimal winter production — makes net metering particularly valuable: summer credits can effectively pre-pay winter electricity bills. ATCO Electric Yukon customers should contact ATCO directly for net metering terms in their community.
Yukon Energy rates have risen ~38% since 2020 — among Canada's fastest — driven by: (1) Grid modernization investment across aging infrastructure; (2) Population and economic growth from mining expansion increasing demand faster than supply; (3) Renewable energy project investment (Yukon is adding wind and solar to diversify from hydro); (4) Remote geography making all energy infrastructure more expensive to build and maintain than in southern Canada.
At 18–20¢/kWh (Whitehorse), Yukon is the lowest-cost territory in Canada — below the Northwest Territories (25–34¢/kWh) and Nunavut (35.4¢/kWh). However, Yukon's rural diesel communities at 40–80¢+ effective rates are comparable to NWT and Nunavut isolated community costs. See our full Canada comparison for the complete breakdown.
See how Yukon's 18–24¢/kWh stacks up against every other province and territory.
Yukon electricity rate data sourced from Yukon Energy Corporation and ATCO Electric Yukon published rate schedules as of July 1, 2026. Whitehorse blended rates calculated at approximately 1,000 kWh/month including fixed monthly charge, energy charge, and 5% GST. Rural and diesel community effective rates are estimates including fuel, transportation, and maintenance costs — not published utility rates. Solar irradiance data derived from NASA POWER database for Whitehorse (60.72°N, 135.06°W). Savings estimates assume 3% annual rate increases and 0.5%/year panel degradation. Yukon system cost estimates reflect 15–25% premium over southern Canada for freight and specialist labour. All figures in Canadian dollars.