Qulliq Energy
Encyclopedia
Qulliq Energy Corporation is a Canadian Crown corporation owned by the Government of Nunavut
, established in 2001 as "Nunavut Power Corporation", and renamed "Qulliq Energy Corporation" (QEC) in 2002. It draws its name from the qulliq (kudlik
), an Inuit oil lamp.
by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
(NTPC), a Northwest Territories
company, from 1988 to 2001, and its predecessor, the Northern Canada Power Commission, a Canadian crown corporation, from 1958-1988.
Two public documents contain useful historical information:
Since the establishment of QEC, periodic discussions continue regarding the possibility of combining Nunavut's fuel delivery and electricity functions under the new QEC project.
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, established in 2001 as "Nunavut Power Corporation", and renamed "Qulliq Energy Corporation" (QEC) in 2002. It draws its name from the qulliq (kudlik
Kudlik
Kudlik or qulliq is a type of oil lamp used by the Inuit. The lamp consists of a crescent-shaped cup of carved soapstone, filled with oil from blubber or seal. Arctic cottongrass, common cottongrass, or moss is used as a wick....
), an Inuit oil lamp.
History
It was established by the Nunavut Power Utilities Act, now the Qulliq Energy Corporation Act. Previously, power was supplied to NunavutNunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Northwest Territories Power Corporation
The Northwest Territories Power Corporation was established about 1988 to acquire and operate the former Northern Canada Power Commission assets within the Northwest Territories, which at that time also included Nunavut....
(NTPC), a Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
company, from 1988 to 2001, and its predecessor, the Northern Canada Power Commission, a Canadian crown corporation, from 1958-1988.
Two public documents contain useful historical information:
- "Ikuma I, 2001 Report (Nunavut’s Energy Options for 2001)” discusses the benefits and anticipated problems of an independent electricity provider in Nunavut, including:
- options: continue with NTPC, change to an independent corporation, change to a government department
- assessment criteria for each option: risk, complexity, cost, suitability
- policy issues associated with each option: outsourcing, subsidies, regulation
- "Ikuma II, 2002 Report (Meeting Nunavut’s Energy Needs – Structures and Strategies for Energy Self-Reliance)” addresses the re-birth of the electricity provider as a more general energy company and provides six recommendations:
- establish QEC and delineate its responsibilities
- appoint an Energy Advisor and delineate the position’s responsibilities
- establish fuel and power pricing approaches
- create an “Affordable Energy Fund”
- determine implementation processes to include a plan and a team
- develop a “Nunavut Energy Strategy” to include business partners and long-term planning
Since the establishment of QEC, periodic discussions continue regarding the possibility of combining Nunavut's fuel delivery and electricity functions under the new QEC project.