The Yukon government has quietly put an important energy program on hold while it studies its future – and the Yukon Party doesn’t like it.

The micro-generation program was something the Yukon government was bragging about as late as November, Yukon Party MLA Scott Kent told the Star this morning.

However, he said, last week, in an “on-air segment” with a local media outlet, a government energy auditor let it slip the program has been frozen – without any public fanfare or announcement.

Scott referred the Star to comments made by John Streicker, the minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, in the legislature on Nov. 8 and 15.

On Nov. 8, Streicker said: “For example, we are further ahead on some things, like electric vehicle uptake, on micro-generation, on independent power producer — those programs are ahead of schedule, moving faster than we anticipated.”

On Nov. 15, Streicker said: “The microgeneration program has moved faster and further than we anticipated. We need to see how it will work with our grid as we change our grid.

“The utilities are saying to me right now that it’s time for us to press pause, review that program, and redesign what it should look like on a go-forward basis and where we should take it from there. This is part of that whole move toward our transitioning of the energy system across — and in anticipation of the demand that is coming as we move off of fossil fuels,” Streicker said.

“We’ve exceeded what our target was, so we’re about to pause the program.”

However, Kent reiterated that there was no formal announcement of when the program would be frozen.

The Star attempted to arrange an interview with Streicker this morning – but was told he will not be available until Wednesday.

Kent told the Star it seems as if most people aren’t aware of what has happened.

He said the Solvest company, which is one of the businesses involved in the program, is still advertising it.

He explained the program is linked to the government’s renewable energy strategy. Mostly, it involves homeowners with solar systems.

The program’s official website says “the Yukon government’s Micro-Generation Program allows Yukoners to offset their electrical consumption by connecting renewable energy technologies to their homes or businesses while remaining connected to the Yukon’s electrical grid.

“The Micro-Generation Program allows you to sell the surplus energy you generate if you:

add a solar photovoltaic (PV) or another renewable energy system to a site; and are connected to the electrical grid.

“The program applies to homes, businesses and industry. We’ll reimburse up to a maximum of 65 per cent of your system’s annual modelled generation capacity every April. This applies to new, newly purchased (with your home) or modified systems.”

Kent said the review of the program is scheduled to be finished in May 2024.

There’s no guarantee it will return, however.

Kent said his main goal is to “see some certainty” from the government when it comes to micro-generation.