The Government of Yukon is taking action to reduce the impact of electricity rates during the coldest months with an expanded Affordability Rate Relief program.
From October 2026 to March 2027, the Affordability Rate Relief will appear directly on Yukoners’ electricity bills and cover 25 per cent of their electricity charge on the first 1,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) of monthly usage. This is up from 1,000 kWh in 2025 affordability measures. Yukoners can save up to $106 per month from October to December 2026 and up to $112 per month from January to March 2027. This represents a seasonal 131 per cent increase from the available rate relief in winter 2025–26.
The program focuses relief on the six months where customer electricity bills tend to be highest. It replaces the Winter Energy Affordability Rebate program that ran from October 2025 to March 2026 and offered a rebate of up to $33.77 per month. It also replaces the Affordability Rate Relief program that ran from January to March 2026 and offered a rebate of up to $26.74 per month.
Budget 2026 includes $13 million to fund the program. Additionally, the Government of Yukon has raised with the Government of Canada that federal investments in energy infrastructure are a key priority to ensure a safe and reliable electricity system that strengthens Canada’s security and is affordable for northern families.
We are committed to making sure families do not shoulder the burden of rate increases on their own. Our challenging fiscal situation limits our options, and rebates are the best short-term measure we have available. The expanded Affordability Rate Relief will provide real help to Yukoners struggling to cover their winter electricity bills. We will continue to step up and ask the federal government to do the same to ensure Yukoners are not on the hook for the full cost of a safe and reliable northern energy system that benefits all Canadians.
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Funding included as part of Budget 2026 is subject to legislative approval.
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Yukon residents will receive a rebate on their electricity bill of 25 per cent off the first 1,500 kWh per month from October 2026 to March 2027.
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The rebate is based on a percentage instead of a cost per kWh to scale with changes to electricity rates as approved by the Yukon Utilities Board.
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The Affordability Rate Relief program helps offset a 34 per cent increase in Yukoners’ electricity rates included in the 2025–27 General Rate Application.
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See table below showing maximum rebate amounts in Winter 2025-2026 versus Winter 2026-2027.
Month Winter 2025–26 Winter 2026–27 October $33.77 $106 November $33.77 $106 December $33.77 $106 January $60.51 $112 February $60.51 $112 March $60.51 $112 Total $282.84 $654
Tim Kucharuk
Press secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
[email protected]
Andrew Anderson
Communications, Yukon Development Corporation
867-471-0798
[email protected]