Victoria Gold mine could hike Yukon power rates, says report

An environmental screening report says adding Victoria Gold's proposed mine near Mayo to Yukon's power grid could raise Yukoners' power rates by as much as 20 per cent.

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board says as things stand now, power for the mine would cost about $25 million per year to generate with the company paying about $13 million.

If the other $12 million is passed onto all ratepayers, the increase would be in the 10 to 20 per cent range.

Lewis Rifkind with the Yukon Conservation Society said that's wrong.

"Where does this end? We've got Victoria Gold coming up, there's a whole bunch of other mines possibly coming online; the mines must pay their own way as far as power generation goes," he said.

Rifkind gave kudos to the screening board for looking into the impact of the mine on power rates.

Yukon Energy said it's misleading to suggest rates will go up 20 per cent. Spokesperson Janet Patterson said various factors could change before the mine opens.

Patterson added Yukon Energy would not take on a new customer if it meant increasing rates.