Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya says the hamlet of Enterprise is in dire need of an upgraded power supply, but there appears little likelihood of that arriving any time soon.
In the legislature last week, Yakeleya said the hamlet had been “fighting for its very survival” since being badly damaged in a 2023 wildfire – and needs three-phase power to get back on its feet.
“Without it, Enterprise cannot truly recover,” she told fellow MLAs.
Most homes run on single-phase power, which delivers electricity in one continuous wave. Three-phase power delivers it in three overlapping waves simultaneously, making it better suited to heavy industrial equipment and large facilities that need more consistent, higher-capacity electricity.
Enterprise does have some industries present in or near the community, like a railyard that has grown to become a territorial logistics hub in recent years.
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Yakeleya said three-phase power is a “basic requirement for any modern community,” without which Enterprise will struggle to attract investment or bring back displaced residents.
However, both the NWT government and the utility firm serving Enterprise, Naka Power, say Enterprise didn’t have three-phase power before the 2023 wildfire. Naka says installing it now looks prohibitively expensive without outside assistance.
“I gather there had been some requests prior to the fires with some of the industrial developments in and around the region, that there was a request to consider moving up to phase three,” Caroline Wawzonek said in response to questions from Yakeleya in the legislature, adding that as energy minister, she possessed “no ability to require or force” Naka Power to upgrade the transmission line.
Naka Power told Cabin Radio its representatives recently met with the Enterprise hamlet council and three-phase power remains “under active consideration,” but the money isn’t available to go ahead with the work.
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The company said single-phase power had been restored following the 2023 fire “because the community’s electrical load did not require it” and bringing back electricity quickly and safely was the priority.
“Extending three‑phase power is a significant capital project and external funding would be required to move forward without impacting rates,” Naka Power chief executive officer Cathy MacDonald said in a written statement.
MacDonald said the company “is committed to working closely with the Hamlet and government partners to assess the need, explore funding options, and determine the best path forward.”
