Hay River, Northwest Territories, March 13, 2026 – Today, Caroline Wawzonek, Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and Cory Strang, President and CEO of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, are pleased to announce that the Taltson Hydro Unit is once again providing primary power to customers in Fort Smith, Fort Resolution and Hay River as well as to Naka Power Utility customers in the South Slave.
When the Taltson unit went offline this summer for its annual maintenance shutdown, the primary goal was to complete outstanding work remaining from the Taltson Overhaul Project. An inspection in late July found that a corrosion issue in the 60-year-old surge tank was more extensive than previously thought. Taltson had to remain offline until it could be safely returned to service when the surge tank issue was resolved. A remediation plan was developed, and work was completed in early March 2026.
The Taltson Overhaul project received more than $17.8 million from the Government of Canada through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). Final costs for the overhaul are still being assessed but are expected to be approximately $101.9 million, after federal funding is applied. This includes project costs as well as fuel and other operational costs required to keep the lights on in the South Slave while Taltson Hydro was offline.
Cost of the surge tank remediation project is currently estimated at approximately $36 million, including fuel costs during the shutdown.
NTPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of NT Hydro, which in turn is 100 percent owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories.
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“The return to service of Taltson marks an important milestone for NTPC. Despite the extended shutdowns over the past several years, the investments made in the hydro unit and supporting infrastructure will ensure that South Slave communities and customers will have access to clean hydropower for decades to come. At a time of fast-rising diesel prices, the return to hydro is extremely helpful in keeping generation costs as low as possible.”
Cory Strang, President and CEO of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Quick Facts
- The Taltson Hydroelectric Facility was constructed in 1965 to support the Pine Point Mine
- The current generation capacity of Taltson is 22 megawatts, although additional transmission and distribution infrastructure would need to be installed to deliver that power to customers
- Taltson began providing power to Fort Smith and Fort Resolution in the 1960s
- Since 1986, the facility has provided primary power to other communities in the South Slave region
- A surge tank is a vital component of a hydroelectric facility that regulates pressure fluctuations and provides a water reserve. It helps to mitigate the effects of pressure surges caused by sudden changes in water flow, especially during startup, shutdown, or load changes, enhancing the overall stability and efficiency of the system.
Related Links:
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program
For media inquiries, please contact:
Doug Prendergast
Northwest Territories Power Corporation
867-874-5202