Electricity rates are based on how electricity is generated in a community. For example, communities that depend on diesel or gas are called thermal communities, and their rates are higher than those in communities supplied with hydro electricity. The Government of the NWT helps to equalize the cost of power for residential consumers, through a program called the Territorial Power Support Program.
Territorial Power Support Program
If you live in a community that is not linked to the hydro system, the Government of the Northwest Territories subsidizes your residential electricity cost. The Territorial Power Support Program (TPSP) is based on the amount of energy required each season to supply an average household. Approximately 80% of NTPC customers use less than 700 kilowatt hours of electricity each month.
The TPSP helps to make up the difference between the cost of residential power in diesel powered communities and the residential rate in Yellowknife. From September to March each year residential customers pay the Yellowknife rate for the first 1,000 kilowatt hours they use. For the remainder of the year – when there are more hours of daylight – the GNWT subsidy applies to the first 600 kilowatt hours. You can check the current rate schedule for your community to see the impact of the TPSP.
You can also do your part to keep your costs down. If you find your household uses more than 700 kWh per month, check out these energy saving tips or visit the Arctic Energy Alliance for information on how to save power at home.