EDA TD - Summer 2022 by annexbusinessmedia

EDA Advocacy Sets Stage for Post-Election Partnership

Bryce Conrad Becomes EDA Chair /4

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FROM THE CHAIR

An Invaluable Touchpoint for Queen’s Park

At the time of writing this column, Ontarians hadn’t yet completed casting their votes in the still-upcoming provincial election. But sometime after June 2, either a re-elected or new government will take office. With that will come a new cabinet, new commitments in a Throne Speech, and at least some changing-of-the-guard at the senior levels of the civil service.

It’s a pivotal time in the public life of our province – and for organizations such as the EDA, which are active on legislative and regulatory advocacy. I believe that electricity and distribution-related issues will be an even more important focal point for the next government – whoever may lead it – and that the EDA is very well positioned to be a trusted partner to and source of insights for that government.

That’s partly a function of big-picture policy considerations, and partly a function of simple but highly significant day-to-day realities.

On the policy side, I’m thinking primarily of the accelerating drive towards net zero carbon emissions – in terms both of the environmental imperative behind it, and of the economic opportunities embedded within it (think electric vehicle manufacturing).

Electrification will be among the single biggest enablers of progress towards net zero, and the province will count on local hydro utilities to meet some of the key challenges, such as maintaining grid stability even as the demand profile changes dramatically. This was evident in the pre-election period, with milestones such as advancement towards a new ultra-low overnight charging rate largely geared to EV users.

In terms of day-to-day realities, governments at Queen’s Park have tended to pay close attention to the interests and perceptions of electricity consumers; and they have also typically understood that no other part of the electricity system is in closer proximity to customers than distributors are. Perhaps more than any other single consideration, this positions the EDA and its members as an invaluable touchpoint when government assesses evolving customer expectations and how best to meet them.

We took the opportunity in the pre-election period to reinforce this and other key considerations – including the instrumental role local utilities play in economic development – through our renewed Power of Local Hydro awareness campaign, which reached audiences across the full partisan spectrum.

Combined with our long track record of constructive engagement with governments of all stripes, I’m confident this positions the EDA well to effectively advance member interests over the mandate of the government Ontarians are about to elect.

Sincerely,

Bryce Conrad President & CEO, Hydro Ottawa Chair, Electricity Distributors Association

The Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) publishes The Distributor for its members and stakeholders. All rights to editorial content are reserved by the EDA. No article can be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the EDA.

PUBLISHED SPRING 2022 FOR:

Electricity Distributors Association

3700 Steeles Avenue West, Suite 1100 Vaughan, ON L4L 8K8 www.eda-on.ca

EDA STAFF CEO’S OFFICE

Teresa Sarkesian, President and CEO

Natasha Galati, Executive & Administrative Assistant

POLICY, GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

Ted Wigdor, VP, Policy, Government & Corporate Affairs

Derek Nardone, Director, Corporate & Public Affairs

Kathi Farmer, Senior Regulatory Affairs Advisor

Brittany Ashby, Senior Regulatory Affairs Advisor

Brendan McClughan, Senior Advisor, Government & Stakeholder Relations

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEMBER RELATIONS

Andrew Temes, VP, Marketing, Communications & Member Relations

Marica Macura, Director, Member Relations

Lesia Kostecki, Member Marketing Specialist

Sari Maritzer, Communications Specialist

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Tamara Orlova, Chief Financial Officer

Arlene Klemmer, Accounting Clerk

Matthews Joseph, Senior IT Analyst

Chrissan Pascal, Office Services Assistant

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Power Knowledge The of

How IHSA supported Ontario’s electrical utility workers with COVID-safe guidance, consultations, and training

Working in the electrical utilities sector isn’t exactly an easy job. Fulfilling? Yes. Important? Definitely. But it’s also challenging. To work safely requires skill and knowledge—which have been put to the test time and again throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deemed an essential service, electrical utilities workers have kept the province humming by installing and maintaining the systems that transmit power to everything from long-term care homes to airports. And they’ve done it with the support of the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA).

An integral part of Ontario’s workplace health and safety system, IHSA has the unique ability to help its members manage the hazards of high-risk work activities. With COVID, those activities suddenly became even riskier. So IHSA’s subject-matter experts drew up task-specific guidelines and resources to reduce the risk of infection, such as disinfecting and cleaning personal protective equipment (PPE) and performing powerline technician tasks under pandemic conditions.

After the initial shock of lockdowns, staff at IHSA began modifying its training offerings, including its Powerline Technician Apprenticeship and Line Crew Ground Support programs, to ensure that workers could continue to learn vital skills—both virtually and in physically distanced classrooms with mask mandates and careful sanitization.

IHSA also performed numerous on-site and phone consultations to help businesses better understand and enact COVID protocols. Consultants served as a fresh set of eyes by reviewing company procedures for maintaining physical distancing and site hygiene, and providing additional recommendations and resources to further protect workers.

“We’ve been busier than ever during Covid,” says Doug Heintz, IHSA’s Vice President of High-Risk Activity Training and Operations. “That speaks to the quality of our staff. Companies know that we’re going to give them expert advice based on the most up-to-date information available.”

The protocols IHSA developed to help others get back to work safely have also been used by IHSA—enabling the association to continue providing health and safety training to the sectors it serves.

That training helped businesses remain compliant with health and safety regulations over the past two years. The apprenticeship program, in particular, will also be critical moving forward: its graduates eventually take the place of retiring workers.

“Our efforts to keep up with training are part of an effort to make sure there are enough skilled workers to ‘keep the lights on’ down the road,” says Alain Leger, IHSA’s Manager of Powerline Apprenticeship and Training.

Heintz agrees. “Ontario’s electrical utilities workers were essential to keeping the lights on during the pandemic. But to work safely, they needed clarity on health and safety protocols, and had to be able to maintain their existing training requirements.”

“IHSA was proud to be able to support the sector and help its employees work safe for life,” he says. “We’ll continue to do that, pandemic or not.”

As part of Ontario’s health and safety system, IHSA provides skillsbased training, resources, auditing, and evaluation to the construction, electrical utility, and transportation sectors. If your business is registered with the WSIB in one of these sectors, you’re already an IHSA member—and can access many IHSA products and services for no charge or at a reduced price.

Visit ihsa.ca to learn more and to book your training today.

SECTOR SCAN

EDA Thanks Outgoing Chair

Chris White

The EDA thanks outgoing Board

Chair

Chris White, President and CEO of ERTH Corporation for his leadership and dedication to the sector. Chris’s term concluded at the recent AGM, during which the EDA’s leadership and his fellow members expressed their gratitude for his outstanding service.

EDA WELCOMES NEW CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

The EDA is pleased to announce the appointments of Bryce Conrad, President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa, as Chair of its board of directors; and of Tim Wilson, President and CEO of SYNERGY NORTH, as Vice Chair. The EDA looks forward to both Bryce’s and Tim’s continued leadership in their new roles, and to the important contributions they will make towards the success of the Ontario distribution sector during the current board term.

EDA Wins AVA Digital Awards

The EDA recently received two AVA Digital Awards for outstanding digital and content marketing in the “digital publications” category. The EDA received a gold award for its 2021 winter interactive edition of The Distributor - Partners in Making Big New Things Happen and a gold award for its 2021 Year in Review guide.

Read awardwinning EDA publications.

LDC STORIES

Unlocking the Electricity Potential in Ontario’s Communities – Oshawa Power announced its partnership with Peak Power Inc. and Ontario Tech University to complete a pilot project exploring how on-campus distributed energy resources can interact with and help optimize the local and provincial power grids. The project is partially funded by the IESO Grid Innovation Fund, with additional regulatory support provided via the OEB Innovation Sandbox.

Brantford Power And Energy+ Unveil New Name and Logo – The new local hydro utility for Brantford, Cambridge, Brant County and North Dumfries will be known as GrandBridge Energy. The branding was unveiled in March by Brantford Power and Energy+, which will officially join together to form GrandBridge Energy in the second quarter of 2022. The new company’s tagline – “Bridging the way to a connected future” – and corporate structure were also announced. The holding company for all businesses will be GrandBridge Corporation, and GrandBridge Group will be the name for the non-regulated companies.

ENWIN Utilities Supports Child and Youth Advocacy

The Windsor Essex Child/Youth Advocacy Centre will be able to meet increased demand to provide advocacy services to local children and youth who are victims of abuse – this thanks to the generosity of Windsor Essex county residents, ENWIN Utilities and Your Neighbourhood Credit Union. ENWIN raised over $6,000 through its e-billing program, while in total more than $17,500 was donated in support of services to diverse populations of children, youth, and their families.

London Hydro Welcomes Two New Executives

London Hydro has appointed Jac Vanderbaan as VP Operations and Planning, and Allan Van Damme as VP Engineering and Construction. Vanderbaan and Van Damme have both been with the organization for a number of years and will help manage ever-increasing responsibilities to ensure London Hydro continues to provide its customers with safe and reliable electricity.

Bryce Conrad EDA Chair

Tim Wilson EDA Vice Chair

Read the full article online

Customer Empowerment

Via Ultra-Low Overnight Rate

In April, the Ontario government released an OEB report that sets the stage for an optional ultra-low overnight electricity rate, in support of electric vehicle adoption. It will be a third option for electricity customers, in addition to the existing time-of-use and tiered plans. “Ontario’s new ultra-low overnight time-of-use electricity price plan recognizes that electrification is key to the province’s economic growth,” said EDA President and CEO Teresa Sarkesian, as quoted in the government’s media release. “This plan empowers customers with more choice and control over their energy usage, particularly for those looking at EV adoption… Ontario’s local hydro utilities are ready and willing to assist, operate, and own charging infrastructure services to plug in the growing demand for electrified transportation.”

EDA Welcomes New Board Directors and Councils

The EDA officially welcomed the full board of directors for the 2022-23 term at its AGM on March 30, but would like in particular to acknowledge the two new members. They are: John Avdoulos, President and CEO, Essex Powerlines Corporation; and Janice McMichael-Dennis, President and CEO, Bluewater Power. Both represent the medium-sized LDC constituency.

EDA councils and advisory committees play an important role in developing policy positions for consideration by the EDA board of directors, and are an important forum for members to discuss their needs, issues and policy solutions – helping to ensure that the association is always on target in its advocacy efforts.

For 2022-23 council memberships, visit www.eda-on.ca/About-US/Councils

Janice McMichael-Dennis

John Avdoulos

Read the media release

POISED AND READY AS A VALUED PARTNER TO GOVERNMENT

By Derek Nardone, Director, Corporate & Public Affairs, EDA

As this issue of The Distributor went to press, election signs were still filling front yards and high-traffic intersections, and hundreds of candidates were making a late-campaign push for voter support; each of them seeking to be entrusted with the tremendous privilege and responsibility of becoming members of Ontario’s 43rd Parliament.

Elections require immense energy from candidates, and from all of the staff, strategists and volunteers behind them. They are also very important milestones for an association such as the EDA.

Policy-related dialogue with both government and opposition parties is one of the most important things we do on behalf of our members, and over the years EDA has acquired a reputation at Queen’s Park as a trusted source of insight and information on utility- and electricity-related matters.

Well before the actual campaign began, our staff met with key individuals who were developing platforms across all the major

parties. A new set of Power of Local Hydro digital ads were also in-market up until election day. They specifically targeted current MPPs, candidates, political staff, and energy influencers and demonstrated utilities’ place “on the front lines of power”.

We have several objectives during an election campaign: to ensure that all parties understand the unique and vital role that local hydro utilities play; to promote constructive policy positions that align with the interests of our members and their customers; and to position EDA as a valued partner and go-to source of input for whichever party (or combination thereof) forms government.

Below, we recap the key themes and recommendations we put forward to candidates and political insiders in the lead-up to the election campaign – all of them based on a vision of local utilities as vital enablers of economic growth, community vibrancy and an effective energy transition.

LET’S MAKE ELECTRIFICATION HAPPEN

Electrification of (most particularly) transportation is crucial to addressing climate change, and aligns well with economic objectives such as carving out an important position for Ontario in EV supply chains. EDA members are keen to contribute to a provincial electrification roadmap, which should be guided by principles such as “electrification by default” for public transit. (See also page 24)

But to maintain current momentum, utilities need to be able to include community EV charging infrastructure in the “rate base” on

EDA has met with platform development teams across the major parties.

Campaign images from EDA’s pre-election Power of Local Hydro campaign.

which they earn regulated rates of return, and we need continued progress on appropriately tailored rate classes and structures. (See also page 24)

LET US DO THINGS INNOVATIVELY

Our electricity system is changing dramatically, with emerging potential for two-way power flows between utilities and customers, and for leveraging behind-the-meter resources to balance supply and demand and meet other system needs. Customers are keen on new opportunities to more actively shape their own energy futures. Utilities are equally keen to explore, invest in and deliver new customer-benefitting technologies, but are often held back by regulatory frameworks designed for simpler, uni-directional times. One particular gap is lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework for distributed energy resources. Utilities would also like to resume designing and delivering cost-efficient local conservation programs.

LET US DO THINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY

Local utilities will always work in close collaboration with and under tight accountability to the regulatory agencies that are charged with advancing the public interest in safe, reliable and affordable

electricity. But there are big opportunities to make that oversight more efficient, and to eliminate filing and other requirements that add more cost than value. Existing momentum towards Ontario Energy Board modernization needs to be accelerated. More flexible and outcomes-based regulation, guided by a “customer value” principle, should be our core objective.

LEVERAGE THE TRUST BETWEEN UTILITIES AND CUSTOMERS

Customers across Ontario have a lot of trust in their local utilities –reinforced by the extent to which those utilities deliver for them at challenging times such as extreme weather events and during the pandemic. The provincial government will benefit by keeping local utilities at the forefront of policy development, by drawing on our insights with respect to our customers’ needs, and by respecting local decision making and the important relationships between utilities and their municipal shareholders.

On Day One in the life of Ontario’s post-election government, EDA will stand ready to help it leverage electricity’s crucial roles in ongoing post-pandemic economic recovery, and in our collective response to climate change and other important energy-related imperatives.

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POWERING NIAGARA’S ROWING LEGACY AT HENLEY ISLAND

By Shannon McCarter, Assistant Coordinator, Media & Communications, Niagara 2022

Canada Summer Games

Nestled in a quiet corner in the City of St. Catharines lies Martindale Pond and Henley Island. Maintained by the Canadian Henley Rowing Corporation (CHRC) and supported by the member rowing clubs — including St. Catharines Rowing Club, Brock University Rowing Club, Ridley College and Ridley Graduate Boat Club — Henley Island is the home of the world-class Henley Rowing Course.

This venue was built for and has hosted the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta since 1903. Countless national and international champion rowers have trained and competed for glory on this course, including greats like Buffy Williams, Kristen Kit, Jane

The off-water training and support facilities needed to maintain world-class status were lacking.

Tregunno, Kevin Neufeld, Neil Campbell, and Niagara 2022

chairman Doug Hamilton. The Niagara Region, Niagara 2022 Host Society, City of St Catharines, and the local rowing community saw the potential of the 2022 Canada Summer Games in adding to that legacy, namely with the construction of a brand-new rowing facility on Henley Island.

The motivation behind this legacy project of the 2022 Canada Games was simple. Despite having held regional, provincial, national and international rowing competitions for more than 100 years, the Henley Rowing Course lacked essential off-water training and support facilities that would help it maintain its world-class status.

The new Henley Rowing Centre (HRC) will feature accessible change rooms, training facilities, and event facilities on Henley Island — addressing that critical need for off-water infrastructure. Specifically, this new facility is set to be a fully accessible, multipurpose training and event space with an innovative rooftop solar energy system.

The sustainable and high-efficiency design of the HRC will

Artistic rendering of the new Henley Rowing Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario.

minimize energy consumption by featuring on-site generation from a solar-powered system that will produce enough renewable energy to support the entire facility — something that was only made possible thanks to Niagara 2022’s Official Energy Supplier, Alectra Inc., which built and installed the facility’s cutting-edge electrical system.

“Alectra’s role is to bring this technology to the roof of the facility such that it will produce electricity to offset its own consumption,” said Natalie McLauchlin, Vice-President of Organizational Improvement at Alectra.

As McLauchlin noted, this new rowing centre at Henley Island is set to be net-zero, meaning the amount of electricity consumed by the building is set to equal the amount generated by it. To accomplish this, the HRC’s roof will contain a solar installation for electricity generation. It will take energy from the sun and transfer it over to Alectra’s electrical grid, which conversely will be powering the HRC. Estimated to generate an amount equivalent to the consumption of four-and-a-half

average households per year (43,000 kWh), the solar panels on the rowing facility are expected to have a lifespan of 20 years, which will benefit both the facility as well as the community.

“The more distributed energy we can put on the grid, the more reliable and resilient it’ll be in the future. So, I think that this will benefit not only this facility, but it’ll benefit all electricity ratepayers, because it’s going to help keep the cost of electricity as low as possible,” said Peter Bifolchi, Manager, Solar O&M at Alectra Solutions, Alectra’s subsidiary for renewable energy.

“I would say that this rowing centre on Henley Island is on the leading edge, and I think it is becoming more of the norm,” added Dan Pastoric, Vice President –Strategy, ERM and Sustainability at Alectra. “This is blazing new trails, and it will really start to show others that they can do it too.”

HRC’s sustainable design will also play a critical role in securing future events at the Henley Rowing Course, given the increasing importance of sustainability in the bidding process for major international events like the World Rowing Championships.

Solar rooftop panels on the new Henley Rowing Centre, installed by Alectra Inc., will generate renewable energy for the facility and the community.

“World Rowing is always looking at green initiatives, and so with this facility being a net-zero building, that’s a big plus for everyone,” affirmed Bill Schenck, Commissioner of the CHRC, who is also volunteering with the 2022 Canada Games as the event’s rowing lead. “Having a net-zero building definitely plays into what World Rowing is trying to conceive around the world, and it is part of the criteria for selection of the events.

Accessibility is another important factor in HRC’s equation. Henley Island previously lacked accessible features for para athletes, and making facilities like this rowing facility more equitable was a goal for everyone involved. “I think now that we will have [new accessible facilities] this will be a game changer for para athletes,” said Schenck. “With the new building and the design, we made sure we incorporated [accessibility] into everything. Instead of having to use portables, now there’s a permanent facility for para athletes to be able to use.”

Ultimately, this new rowing centre is going to be a legacy facility born out of the 2022 Canada Games that will not only enrich the experience of Niagara’s local rowing community, but will do so for rowers from across Canada and around the world who will train or compete on the prestigious Henley Rowing Course.

ASKING OUR CUSTOMERS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT

Utility service territories are a pre-determined reality for customers, and yet customer and community involvement strategies are becoming a necessity and priority for many local distribution companies. The growth and progress of a utility is largely impacted by customer demands, and the challenge therefore is to be proactive with respect to customer expectations and to work with them to ensure we are meeting their needs. Customer demands are changing, and we must come prepared to listen and adjust.

Our communities are an integral component behind the decisions we make at SYNERGY NORTH. We recognize the importance of supporting customer engagement initiatives, creating working groups, and investing in projects that provide the best value and service for our customers. Community input is vital to ensure meaningful interactions, successful delivery of programs and the best customer experience.

Much of what we do reverts to acknowledging our customer needs and working with our community to extract and apply valuable feedback. This process is not limited to our customer-facing departments. With that in mind, SYNERGY NORTH established two essential programs that have ignited a community-centred culture throughout the organization.

THE LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

The SYNEGRY NORTH Local Advisory Council was established to provide added value to customer experience. The committee is comprised of community members with various personal and

professional backgrounds to uphold a diverse and collective outlook on a wide range of topics.

Every quarter the committee comes together to provide a unique customer perspective that has helped shape several projects, strategies, and general engagement efforts. Most recently, these discussions surrounded fundamental topics such as working alongside commercial customers, procedures for planned and unplanned outages, capital construction consultations, and customer engagement strategies.

When discussing corporate interactions with commercial customers, the Local Advisory Council provided valuable customer-focused feedback that redefined our foundation for commercial engagement, along with further education on our business programs, and on how to better

serve our business community. Having the opportunity to ask our customers exactly what they want, rather than acting on assumptions, has saved the utility a lot of energy and resources while also strengthening our relationships with the communities we serve in Kenora and Thunder Bay.

“I have always felt invested in helping my community improve and prosper through positive change,” says David Walsh, Local Advisory Council committee member since 2018. “It has been rewarding to know that our group recommendations have been welcomed and implemented by SYNERGY NORTH.”

One item of particular interest to Walsh is the influence the committee had on our new Storm Response Strategy, which has “improved and modernized the methods by which customers can obtain information on

unscheduled power outages and restoration efforts during extreme weather events.”

Additionally, the feedback received regarding capital construction consultations and community engagement has helped refine our Neighbourhood Meeting content and procedures, as well as guide our community involvement strategy and cost-of-service customer engagement strategy for the coming years.

“I would strongly recommend any LDC that has yet to create their own Local Advisory Council to take advantage of this valuable resource that exists right in your own backyard,” says Walsh.

SYNERGY NORTH is proud to be a part of the communities we serve and has worked hard to support our customers with community values top of mind. They are our most valuable resource and should never be overlooked, especially as the electricity industry is continuously evolving.

NEIGHBOURHOOD MEETINGS

In 2021, SYNERGY NORTH introduced Neighbourhood Meetings to engage customers in capital projects. These meetings are available to

affected customers to learn about the work that will soon be conducted in their neighbourhoods, and allow those customers the opportunity to ask questions or leave comments. These meetings provide greater awareness, further project details, and a chance to voice opinions.

“This process typically occurs at a point in the project where community engagement can help shift project perspective and approach based on customer feedback,” says Karla Bailey, SYNERGY NORTH Vice President, Asset Management and Engineering. “With greater transparency in the work being conducted, customers are simply more aware. It also provides our communities with respect and courtesy when entering their neighbourhoods.”

Taking time to connect with customers allows the utility to focus its efforts in the right direction without assumption – ultimately saving time, resources, and costs.

The idea of customer engagement is obviously not new, however building a stronger interactive community has potential to inspire innovative thinking, provide products and services most relevant to our customers, and proactively deliver communications and future strategies that best represent the corporation and the people we serve.

Congratulations to the London Hydro team on winning the Performance Excellence Award

We are honoured that the EDA has acknowledged our team’s hard work and dedication with this award. Our employees’ commitment to providing reliable and innovative services to our customers while prioritizing safety for each other and the community resulted in the successful year we had in 2021.

HYDRO ONE IS ENERGIZING SOUTHWEST ONTARIO

Investment in electricity infrastructure is critical to the development of Ontario’s economy. A more reliable transmission system will ensure Ontarians have access to affordable and clean energy resources, enable the electrification of Ontario’s transportation systems, and support large industrial customers to locate in Ontario.

Key economic sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, mining and data require increased electricity capacity to continue investing in Ontario. Electricity capacity needs to increase to meet future trends, including mass adoption of electric vehicles; with some forecasters predicting Ontario’s electricity capacity will need to double by 2050 to meet province-wide adoption of electric vehicles.

Growth in SW Ontario is outpacing the rest of the province by

50%

Growth in southwest Ontario is outpacing the rest of Ontario by 50 per cent, fueled by strong community growth, a booming agricultural sector, and industrial potential. The greenhouse, floriculture and nursery sectors support 85,000 direct jobs. Continued growth in the agricultural sector is expected to result in significant growth west of London. Over the next 15 years, load in the area is expected to grow by close to 75 per cent based on IESO forecasts.

To meet future demand, improvements to our electricity grid need to be made now. Major transmission reinforcement often requires five to seven years for development and approvals. It is critically important that we create a flexible transmission system that can easily transport needed electricity to all parts of Ontario.

Utilities will need to build large scale, integrated infrastructure quickly and efficiently in partnership with Indigenous and municipal communities. This will enable growth, attract new business, and prepare the system for future growth.

On April 3, 2022, the Minister of Energy directed the Ontario Energy Board to amend Hydro One’s transmission license to develop four transmission lines to meet growing electricity demand in

southwest Ontario. This is in addition to Hydro One’s previous transmission designation for the Chatham to Lakeshore line in 2020. These five transmission lines will meet the needs of new and growing industries and help attract future jobs to the region.

As the Windsor-Essex region continues to grow, a consolidated approach to developing the new transmission lines provides more transparency during engagement with Indigenous communities, residents, municipalities and stakeholders and will expedite development in the region. Developing these transmission lines is an important part of Hydro One’s mission to energize communities across Ontario and will help provide energy to local distribution companies in southwest Ontario.

Developing these five transmission lines will send a strong signal that Ontario is a place businesses can invest in.

“Hydro One is proud to transmit low-carbon electricity to Ontario’s businesses and communities and we are uniquely positioned to facilitate the transition toward a more sustainable future. With our long history of building transmission projects and our transmission reliability record in the top quartile in Canada, our resilient electricity network will meet the incredible growth in the region and attract new investments,” said Mark Poweska, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro One.

“Early engagement with Indigenous communities, municipalities and residents is vital to project planning and development and we are committed to engaging throughout the lifecycle of these projects. We are excited to partner with the local business community and municipal and provincial governments to advance critical infrastructure.”

Developing these five transmission lines together will send a strong signal that Ontario is a place that businesses can invest in. This critical infrastructure will continue to support

growth, including industrial projects such as the new Stellantis-LGES battery plant, the growing greenhouse industry and other businesses in the region.

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DIGITAL FIRST ON THE ROAD TO MODERNIZATION

Over the past 18 months, as it seeks to modernize and become a top quartile regulator, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has gone through considerable change. A cornerstone of this ongoing effort has been a comprehensive Digital First Strategy that effectively supports and positively impacts all aspects of the OEB’s operations, transforming and enhancing its interactions with industry and consumer stakeholders alike.

At a time when the energy sector is itself going through a generational transformation - one that includes increased electrification, decarbonization, and a notable shift in consumer attitudes that indicate a greater desire for choice, access to data and a growing interest in distributed energy resources - the need for modern, digitized processes is even more pressing.

PUTTING THEIR BEST ‘FACE’ FORWARD

Of the many initiatives that make up the strategy, there is perhaps none more visually tangible than the modernization of the OEB’s website. As its primary face to the world, it sets a standard for the OEB brand while defining who and what the OEB is as an organization. More than a refresh, the redesign of OEB.ca was carried out following careful research, the use of analytics and user data, and the input of industry stakeholders to ensure specific needs were being met.

This specific project is being delivered in phases, but to date, the user experience has been enhanced by improved site navigation, bringing together industry and consumer content into one streamlined menu. A fresh new design now aligns with the OEB’s evolving brand and reflects best practices in web user experience. A revamped home page showcases the most popular content and tasks across all user groups. Access to information has also been improved with the addition of a Regulatory Document Search option directly in the main search bar - a feature that industry stakeholders had been asking for. Meanwhile, the OEB has been systematically moving paper-based processes into digital format, and leaning-in to digital products and services that improve the user experience for both industry and consumer stakeholders. One recent and notable success is the launch of an interactive Utilities Service Area Map that provides meaningful information about where certificates and licenses have been granted in the province.

The OEB has also vastly improved its electronic filing portal for reporting and record keeping requirements (RRR). Similarly, intervenors who participate in our consultation and hearings are now able to file their hours and invoices electronically thanks to a new cost claims portal.

MOVING ADJUDICATION ONLINE

The OEB’s website sets a standard for the Board’s brand and defines who and what the organization is.

A significant part of the OEB’s work involves adjudicative hearings which, up until the start of the pandemic, were always conducted in person. The OEB moved its adjudication events online to maintain business continuity and operational effectiveness and, in doing so, improved access for participants. Impressively, since the beginning of the pandemic, the OEB has hosted over 50 virtual events, which include settlement and technical conferences, pre-hearing meetings, motions, and oral hearings. Furthermore, the OEB livestreamed its hearing for one of the largest cases in the country over YouTube. Recognizing the importance of effective stakeholder engagement, the implementation and launch of the OEB’s new “Engage with Us” platform allows the OEB to continue is vital work in collaboration with industry leaders, stakeholders, distributors, and the public in a virtual space. Launched in January 2022, it provides a centralized location for relevant OEB consultations and engagements through an easy-to-use

interface and is already playing host to several projects with more in the pipeline. Increasing transparency in its interactions on consultations and providing a centralized easy-to-navigate portal, meet fundamental criteria in the OEB’s Stakeholder Engagement Framework.

Through other enhanced collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, the OEB has been able to eliminate its legacy phone system. Because desktop telephones no longer exist, there has been a residual cost savings, and staff can be reached in a hybrid environment through a single channeltheir computer. This initiative also facilitates improved external digital engagement via our call centre and chat channels.

While change is challenging, it is also rewarding when done right. Results from the OEB’s recently published stakeholder satisfaction survey suggest that the OEB is doing it right, showing a 12 per cent year-over-year improvement in overall

Read the OEB’s response to the 2022 Ipsos Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey.

satisfaction, and notable improvements in other areas including the applications process, consultations, and operational effectiveness. All these gains can be linked, in part, to the Digital First Strategy and its associated initiatives. But the OEB recognizes that the work has only just begun.

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR 2022

Several Digital First projects are slated for completion in 2022 including the automation of annual inflationary rate increase applications. Further enhancements to the OEB website will continue to improve functionality and offer new and enhanced features, including the sharing of data with consumers and the sector for benchmarking and other purposes. In addition, the filing of licensing applications will be made available online including digital signing and online payment capabilities. And the OEB will be replacing its legacy call centre with a cloud-enabled leading call centre solution that will improve interactions with customers, data tracking and reporting.

As the OEB continues to venture down the road to modernization, it will do so while seeking further opportunities to expand its digital footprint. For now, it has successfully leveraged technology to introduce new and innovative concepts and practices, overcome process barriers, and improved policy-consultation practices and service delivery for an impressively broad spectrum of stakeholders.

Power Projects need People Power.

THE BUYERS WILL BE THERE: MAKE SURE YOUR EXHIBIT SPACE IS TOO

Don’t miss EDA’s CUEE – the Canadian Utility Engineering and Equipment Trade Show and Marketplace – Canada’s most important meeting place where providers of leading-edge distribution and transmission products and services connect with key buyers in the utilities, municipal and other sectors.

• More than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space

• Exhibits and demonstrations from more than 200 companies

• More than 45 different product and service categories

• An event with a successful track record more than half a century long

September 13-14 at the International Centre

Book your CUEE booth and don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of Canada’s top utility trade show.

For event information and exhibitor booth bookings: www.eda-on.ca/EVENTS/CUEE or jyuan@eda-on.ca Register Here

OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES EVIDENT ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES

The degree of commitment, expertise and innovation that’s showcased in each year’s iteration of the EDA Performance Excellence Awards never ceases to deeply impress.

This year’s awards presentation coincided with the period when EDA and many other event organizers returned to in-person gatherings; allowing this year’s winners to be announced and feted in style – and in front of more than 400 guests – at the usual gala event at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York.

The EDA congratulates all of this year’s nominees and the winners pictured here. For an additional photo spread of shots from the gala, please see pages 22-23.

LONDON HYDRO received the award for LDC Performance Excellence, encompassing outstanding performance across occupational health and safety, operations, finance, conservation, and contributions to the community. Among its many achievements was maintaining reliability by regulating downtown London’s distribution system, and introducing

BRANDFORD POWER and ENERGY+ jointly received the Communications Excellence Award for engaging customers through an informational campaign and robust outreach with respect to a potential merger between the utilities.

KITCHENER-WILMOT received the Public Electrical Safety Excellence Award (sponsored by the Electrical Safety Authority) for a revamp of its electrical safety program for use in grades five and six classrooms.

HYDRO OTTAWA received the Customer Service Excellence Award for its battery loan program, involving at-home pick-up and drop-off, to reduce the inconvenience of extended planned outages.

OAKVILLE HYDRO received the Environmental Excellence Award for outstanding and multi-faceted efforts to assist customers in reducing their carbon footprints, including construction of a mobile battery energy storage system.

HYDRO ONE received the Public Relations Excellence Award for its new awareness program which supports charities and local community organizations who are putting the safety and wellbeing of Ontarians at the forefront.

FALGUNI SHAH, Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Elexicon Energy Inc. – and long-term member of the EDA Operations and Engineering Council – received the new Volunteer Excellence Award, recognizing outstanding effort in advancing the association’s policy positions.

Get more details on the achievements behind each of this year’s winning groups and individuals.

LAKELAND POWER received the Innovation Excellence Award for developing solutions to modernize the electricity grid using advanced grid modelling, system planning and distributed energy resources management systems to increase visibility and control.

ROBERT MACE, formerly of SYNERGY NORTH, received a Chair’s Citation in Memory of Robert H. Hay for outstanding individual achievement and service to the EDA and the distribution sector over a long period of time.

‘SO NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!’

It was probably one of the most frequently expressed sentiments at the Fairmont Royal York on March 30. And what a welcome return it was to an in-person version of our annual EDA AGM, Conference and EDA Awards Gala.

At the lead-off business session we thanked outgoing board members for their service, welcomed newly elected ones, and marked the start of the term in office for Chair Bryce Conrad (Hydro Ottawa) and Vice Chair Tim Wilson (SYNERGY NORTH).

At EDA’s Advancing a Better Tomorrow conference that followed, leading pollsters offered, first, an often counter-intuitive but compelling vision of our demographic future and, second, detailed insights on the Ontario electorate’s views on electricity issues. And there was no better seat in town for political junkies than centre stage in front of the lively political panel that closed off the conference.

And then of course was the EDA Awards Gala, with its unparalleled opportunities for high-value networking, a ministerial keynote, a stylish celebration of excellence throughout the sector – and the simple pleasures of catching up with friends and colleagues over good food, a drink and some great background music.

See more photos from the EDA Awards Gala.

CHARGING AHEAD 2.0:

THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTION COMPANY ROLE

IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND ELECTRIFICATION DEVELOPMENT

THE EDA POSITION

We need to advance beyond targets for EV adoption in Ontario, to actual implementation and enabling strategies. Most particularly, we need dense networks of widely accessible fast chargers throughout our cities, and accompanying consumer education. It’s time to treat EV charging infrastructure the same as we do more familiar infrastructure like poles, wires, and transformers – and it’s time to leverage the unique ability of LDCs to effectively lead the EV transformation while maximizing system-wide benefits.

“LDCs have the ability to cost effectively and efficiently develop charging infrastructure while maximizing the benefits to the system as a whole.”

WHY THIS MATTERS

Large-scale electrification is essential to meeting our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Transportation is one of the largest contributors to current greenhouse gas emissions, and the federal government has mandated that all new cars sold must be zero emission by 2035. But we don’t have the infrastructure to make this possible, with older multi-unit and single-family homes often not well-suited to the addition of EV charging. Many consumers also remain hesitant.

LDCS AND ELECTRIFICATION

LDCs are keen to be tasked with a key role in building charging infrastructure, coordinating among the various players, and helping to inform customers. They would apply unique expertise and capacities, namely:

• An understanding of grid capacities, and an ability to integrate charging in ways that won’t destabilize the grid, and that will leverage the demand-balancing and storage capacity of EVs.

• Flexibility to provide either ready-toplug-into charging stations, or the base infrastructure on which customers could tailor their own solutions.

• Shared benefits for all ratepayers/ consumers, with the likelihood over time that increased electricity revenues would

exceed the cost of charging.

• Experience in providing advisory services to residential and other customers, typically with an emphasis on energy efficiency and technology adoption.

• An ability to provide charging capacity equitably, through measures such as mandates for inclusion of under-served and low-income neighbourhoods.

WHAT’S HOLDING US BACK?

LDCs cannot “rate base” investments in EV charging and related customer outreach – that is, they can’t recover costs through the rates they charge customers, nor amortize high up-front costs, nor earn a return on them. LDCs also cannot create rate structures designed for EV charging –particularly ones that incent low-cost charging at times when there is excess electricity available on the grid. There are, however, models for successful local-utility leadership on EV adoption in other North American jurisdictions, and the Ontario Energy Board has been mandated to develop appropriate solutions for our province.

Hydro One’s 2023-2027 five-year Investment Plan will energize life in Ontario by proactively building a resilient and reliable system to support economic growth and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Read more at HydroOne.com/5YearPlan

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

MINISTER SMITH SALUTES DISTRIBUTION SECTOR ROLE

Energy Minister Todd Smith delivered an engaging keynote at the EDA Awards Gala at the end of March, in which he recognized the EDA and its membership as “truly the driving force behind Ontario’s reliable electricity system”, and “an essential partner and a crucial source of information and helpful advice”.

The minister specifically acknowledged the sector’s role in the rollout of each of pandemicrelated assistance for customers, customer choice on pricing, and green button implementation; while also reiterating a commitment to regulatory modernization and appropriate guidance on electric vehicle-related investments.

EDA MEETS WITH TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS

The EDA continued in the pre-election period to build out relationships with a range of ministries, as climate change and other imperatives increasing render their mandates directly relevant to distribution sector interests.

In a meeting with David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, EDA leadership shared insights on asset hardening and on the impacts of weather and climate change on reliability, and identified the potential for engagement on the ministry’s work on climate impact assessments.

Discussions with Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney focused on electrification, and the ability of LDCs to support the expansion of charging infrastructure; as well as the opportunity for EV-related data sharing with the ministry, a topic on which further dialogue is anticipated.

POWER OF LOCAL HYDRO GETS A REFRESH

The EDA’s long-standing Power of Local Hydro awareness and advocacy campaign was refreshed for the pre-election period – with a focus in part on the depth of the trust local hydro utilities have earned from customers – and re-launched with a series digital ads specifically targeting key influencers and decision makers across the major provincial parties. A new Power of Local Hydro video has also been produced, and premiered at the EDA Awards Gala at the end of March. It and other campaign messages and materials can be viewed at www.eda-on.ca/Power-ofLocal-Hydro. EDA LDC members can also find out more about how they can get involved with and help amplify this campaign on an ongoing basis.

READ EDA’S RECENT POSITION PAPER ON THE DISTRIBUTION SECTOR ROLE IN ACHIEVING NET ZERO CARBON.

Energy Minister Todd Smith at the EDA Awards Gala

Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation

David Piccini, Minister of the Environment

WHERE ONTARIANS STAND ON ELECTRICITY ISSUES

To help inform our election-related outreach and our ongoing advocacy, EDA commissioned province-wide polling from Campaign Research on electricity issues in February. Among the highlights:

Local

hydro utilities were particularly highly rated by respondents on reliability and safety of service, accuracy of billing, and responses to outages

52% of respondents were very or somewhat satisfied when thinking about the people and issues surrounding electricity in Ontario (with most of the rest being neutral)

30% of respondents foresee an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle in their household within the next five years, with a further 27 per cent seeing it as likely in the next five to 10 years

This results of this important pre-election pulse-taking were presented in full to our LDC members at the EDA AGM, and were also covered in QP Briefing. There were 1,979 respondents.

56% of respondents ranked “electricity from low carbon generation” as either their first or second priority when it comes to electricity service

Read our press release for more details on the results of our province-wide polling.

EV CHARGER SALES AND SERVICE SUPPORT

We are proud to announce NEE has secured a full line up of electric vehicle charging equipment to support the expansion of EV Charging Infrastructure across the country.

Our total solutions approach is what sets us apart from other distributors. As our many satisfied customers have come to know, NEE offers not only the best in-class products and services you can depend on, but also a convenient, cost-effective partnership that will help your business grow.

We’re excited about this new business endeavor, and ready to provide EV charging solutions to our existing network and welcome new opportunities with confidence.

MIX OF IN-PERSON AND DIGITAL EVENTS WILL KEEP YOU CONNECTED AND ENGAGED

EDA’s AGM, Advancing a Better Tomorrow conference and EDA Awards Gala marked a long-awaited and highly successful return to in-person networking and professional development opportunities. And there’s a lot more to come over the rest of 2022.

Public health circumstances allowing, our programming will now remain primarily in-person. But in a working world where “hybrid” is likely to be a common default mode, we will also continue to leverage the cost and convenience advantages of digital offerings.

EDA’S ENERCOM – VIRTUAL, JUNE 23

This preeminent distribution-sector event series delivers insights on emerging trends and technical issues, and continues as a virtual, three-part speaker series in 2022 featuring engaging global presenters. Mark your calendars and register today for each of the three sessions: June 23, October 6, and December 2.

Get the most up-todate event registration and program details by scanning here.

EDA’S EDIST – JUNE 1-3

The EDA’s EDIST (Electricity, Distribution, Information Systems & Technology Conference & Exhibition) will take place in-person at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre. It promises high-value insights on unique and innovative solutions that have delivered value for customers and shareholders. Plus, lots of engagement with your peers and exhibitors on a sold-out show floor.

EDA’S CUEE – SEPTEMBER 13-14

The EDA’s CUEE (Canadian Utility Engineering and Equipment) Trade Show and Marketplace is set to return in-person across more than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space at Mississauga’s International Centre.

EDA’S DEI (DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION) –NOVEMBER 25

Try our 30-day FREE trial membership. Access our member exclusive eNewsletters (daily, weekly, monthly) for a 30-day period and take advantage of EDA’s industry insights and information.

The EDA’s DEI event is an evolution of Women Connected, and serves as an annual exploration of how to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in our connected workplaces, and in the broader electricity sector and world. This full-day event will include expert presentations and discussions.

EDA FORUMS & WEBINARS – THROUGHOUT YEAR

Stay tuned for more details on our 2022 forums and webinars with noted experts who will deliver actionable insights on current issues, research and best practices relevant to the distribution sector.

For EDA in-person events, all health and safety procedures will be in place to ensure full compliance with public health guidelines, however they may evolve. For more information on our networking and professional development opportunities, please contact Marica Macura, the EDA’s Director, Member Relations at mmacura@eda-on.ca.

ON THE FRONTLINES OF POWER

The following perspectives from EDA-member and industry leaders are featured along with a new campaign video and other refreshed content on our Power of Local Hydro website.

“Customers Trust Local Hydro! That positive impact comes from providing safe and reliable electricity. It’s a testament to how effectively we do so that most Ontarians give very little thought to all that goes on behind the scenes to ensure power is there at the flick of a switch, a touch of a button, or swipe of a screen.”

– Chris White, President & CEO, ERTH Power

“Customers expect innovation from local hydro! As stewards of one of society’s most essential services, we play a critical role in modernizing our sector to fit the needs of today’s energy consumer. This means advocating for the right balance between regulation and modernization to enable Canada’s net zero targets while providing more choice and increasing energy reliability and resiliency.”

– Indy J. Butany-DeSouza, President & CEO, Elexicon Energy

“Customers benefit from less red tape in local hydro! Modern, streamlined, and flexible regulation will reduce costs and create savings for customers. Local hydro utilities are responsible for powering the people and businesses of Ontario – let us focus on frontline service.”

– Rob Koekkoek, President and CEO, Orangeville Hydro

“Customers know local hydro powers the local economy! Ontario’s local hydro utilities are community champions – we work tirelessly to provide our customers with safe and reliable electricity that powers job creation and growth.”

– Janice McMichael-Dennis, President and CEO, Bluewater Power

Visit the Power of Local Hydro campaign web site.

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