The Grid 2021: Renewal

The RENEWAL Issue Powering Canada's Transition • We can't keep dodging the iceberg Renewing Relationships for Results

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2021

STATE OF THE CANADIAN ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY An overview of the current status, necessary industry actions and specific recommendations to help Canada’s electricity industry continue to provide safe, secure and sustainable electricity for all Canadians in the face of a rapid transformation is outlined.

READ NOW! www.electricity.ca/soti2021

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Contents From the Editor............................................................................................................................ 4 Powering Canada's Transition: In Search of an Electrification Strategy................... 6 Creating the Conditions for Meaningful Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.......................................................................................................... 8 Green Hydrogen: A Key Component in Canada's Clean Energy Transition..........................................................................................................10 The Blue Economy: A Conversation with Elisa Obermann.........................................12 Advancing to Net Carbon Neutral by 2050......................................................................14 Building the Electricity Marketplace of Tomorrow........................................................15 We Can't keep Dodging the Iceberg: Getting Moving on Net Zero........................16 Moving to Net Zero: Manitoba Hydro Ready to Meet Canadian Federal Guidelines................................................................................................18 Hydro Ottawa's Pollinator Meadow: An Environmental Renewal Project............20 Seeds of Change: AltaLink’s Largest Wildland Reclamation Work in Banff National Park...................................................................................................22 Technological Use to Aid in a Long-Standing Problem ..............................................24 Staying Connected: Adapting Mutual Assistance to New Challenges..................25 Renewing Relationships for Results: The Canada-U.S. Electricity Partnership..............................................................................................................26 Ready to Respond: The Electricity Sector and Evolving Cyber Threats..................28 Renewed by Our Purpose and Values................................................................................31 A New Era for the Canadian Electricity Association......................................................36 Checking in on CEA’s Podcast: The Flux Capacitor........................................................38 Achieving Goals Through Diversity....................................................................................42 What can Tommy Douglas Teach Us about Climate Change?...................................44 Renewing Relationships with Northern Indigenous Communities to Increase Energy Efficiency................................................................................................46 Reflections on a Tumultuous Year and How Canada’s Electricity Companies Stepped Up.....................................................................................47 A New Chapter for Calgary’s Original Substation..........................................................48 Leveraging Battery Storage: First in the World to Deploy Tesla Megapack..........................................................................................................................49

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From the editor - By Rewa Mourad Communications and Diversity Advisor, Canadian Electricity Association

When I first started contemplating this year’s theme, renewal came as a challenge to me. Was it a call to start thinking differently, to set aside preconceived notions of what innovation looks like for the energy sector – especially in a world marked by unanticipated and unprecedented interruptions? Or was it, as the prefix re in renewal suggests, an invitation to return to the comfort of tried-and-tested methods, despite their predictability and—at worst—unsustainability?

My answer to this paradox is inspired by the environment’s systems of renewal that are bound to resume anew despite immeasurable violations, disruptions, and suspensions. The Government of Canada’s commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the year 2050 cannot materialize without the electricity sector’s dedication to generate, transmit, and distribute clean power. For this to come to pass, a renewal of our commitments, strategies, and infrastructure has to be kept in full view.

The 2021 edition of The Grid Magazine: The Renewal Issue addresses the intersection of sustainability, strategic planning, short-term collaborations, and long-term partnerships. These topics and more are guided by the sector’s obligation to a cleaner future.

I hope you find these stories compelling as our sector advances into a more sustainable future.

Rewa Mourad

The Canadian Electricity Association -

Founded in 1891, CEA is the national forum and voice of the evolving electricity business in Canada. The Association contributes to the regional, national, and international success of its members. CEA members generate, transmit and distribute electrical energy to industrial, commercial, residential and institutional customers in all Canadian provinces and territories. www.electricity.ca |   

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THE GRID EDITOR Rewa Mourad DESIGNER Patrick Farley MEMBER CONTRIBUTORS AltaLink Capital Power ENMAX Evolugen Fortis Inc. Hydro Ottawa IESO Manitoba Hydro Saint John Energy SaskPower SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR Shawn McCarthy CEA CONTRIBUTORS Francis Bradley Channa Perera Michael Powell Daniel Gent Diana Dominique Jay Wilson Justin Crewson Leah Michalopulos Shahrzad Simab Robin Yee Joelle Lancaster Rewa Mourad SPONSORS Bierer Meters Contact Point 360 G&W Electric Hitachi ABB Infosys MNP Oracle Osmose Redline Rexel Tantalus

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Powering Canada's Transition: In Search of an Electrification Strategy - By Shawn McCarthy Senior Counsel, Sussex Strategy Group

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anada’s commitment to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 hinges on our ability to decarbonize the power grid and then use electricity as the energy source for sectors such as transportation, home heating and industries that now depend on carbon-intensive fossil fuels.

It is a daunting task. To succeed, it will require a national strategy in partnership among the federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as the business sector and Indigenous communities.

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The federal government has suggested that a successful electrification strategy would require Canada to double or even triple our production of non-emitting power, while investing heavily in the infrastructure needed to transmit and distribute clean electricity and new charging stations for end-users.

All that is in addition to a massive investment in energy efficiency that is needed across the economy.

In her April 19 budget, Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland provided a slew of spending and tax measures that will accelerate the electrification effort in a number of areas.

Freeland’s budget - the Liberal government’s first in two years capped seven months of heightened commitments and spending on climate action, dating back to the Speech from the Throne last September.

What’s missing, however, is an overarching view that ties together the various spending and tax into a coherent whole.

“There is a tremendous amount of action,” Michael Powell, Vice President of Government Relations at the Canadian Electricity Association, said. “What we need is a clear, national strategy.” He said the plan needs to be based on the threelegged stool of the power sector: reliability, sustainability and affordability.

Some key areas of new spending in the budget include an additional $5-billion over seven years for the Strategic Innovation Fund’s Net-Zero Accelerator program, $964-million for grid modernization, and investments to move forward with a hydrogen/biomass technology that will contribute to the decarbonization effort. While there was little money for the nuclear industry’s development of small modular reactors (SMRs), Ottawa has committed to a strategy to support provincial development efforts.

The federal government has also made a number of infrastructure announcements. However, the challenge is enormous. A Conference Board of Canada 2018 report estimated that the country would need to invest $1.7 trillion in grid infrastructure to meet 2050 climate goals that were less ambitious than the current net-zero target.

One week before the budget, Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) announced its support for Fortis Inc.’s Lake Erie Connector, a $1.7 billion underwater transmission line that will connect Ontario with the giant PJM markets in the U.S. It was CIB’s first transmission project, and according to CEO Ehren Cory, there would be more to come.

“Electricity infrastructure in the Northwest Territories is aging and the need for investment to refurbish and replace key assets is critical,” Voykin said.

He noted the federal government has helped fund a number of projects through its Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). However, he urged Ottawa to extend the program so that utilities can have more time to better estimate the cost for large infrastructure projects prior to applying for federal funding support.

Ottawa is now applying a “climate lens” to all its economy stimulus, meaning renewable energy and other clean technologies will have an important role to play, said Brandy Gianetta, Vice President, Policy, at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

To date, the power sector has been a bright spot in Canada’s climate mitigation effort.

After the federal government ratified the Paris Accord in 2016, our overall GHG emissions actually rose by 3.3 per cent by 2019, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2021 National Inventory Report.

In the electricity sector, emissions fell by 18 per cent between 2016 and 2019, and by a stunning 48 per cent since 2005 in large measure due to Ontario’s move to phase out coal-fired power.

Step one: decarbonizing the grid, is well underway. The focus now must shift to step two: driving efficiency and electrifying key sectors of the economy.

The budget also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to Northern energy infrastructure, said Noel Voykin, former President and CEO of Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

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Creating the Conditions for Meaningful Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples - By Channa S. Perera Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs & Best Practices, Canadian Electricity Association

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The Legacy t is not a secret that Canada’s Indigenous Peoples have suffered for centuries. From systemic racism and discrimination to lack of access to affordable housing and clean energy, Canada’s Indigenous communities have, and continue to, endure many hardships. But we must not let this go unchecked. We all have a responsibility to act, and act now towards genuine reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. What does that really mean, you might ask? How can you do your part?

Reconciliation is a journey that requires a multitude of “actions” by individuals, companies, governments, and legal institutions.

These could range from addressing cultural competencies at an individual level to large-scale government measures, such as the acknowledgment of past injustices against Indigenous Peoples; negotiation of modern treaties and land claim 8

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agreements; enabling self-determination; and facilitation of Indigenous self-government. Without a doubt, these are inherently complex issues, but the time has come for us to take meaningful action. While the legacy cannot be erased, we can learn from our past mistakes, challenge the status quo, and create the “conditions” for future success and reconciliation.

Working Towards a Better Future Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples continues to evolve and prosper, albeit not without contention at times. The recognition and affirmation of Indigenous rights and title under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 was a turning point in Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples, and provided the foundation for creating the “conditions” for reconciliation.

In fact, since then, we have seen an exponential growth in learning about Indigenous culture, values and traditions, their inherent and existing rights and title to land, and how we can effectively work together as partners.

This desire to learn more about Indigenous Peoples and their culture has had a beneficial effect on the electricity industry.

Relative to the distant past, electricity industry workers today are much more culturally competent; understand the cornerstones of Indigenous rights and title; appreciate the connection of Indigenous Peoples to their land; and most importantly, respect Indigenous worldviews, especially their Seven Generation approach to decision-making. Learning and respecting these fundamentals have led to a range of mutually beneficial electricity industry initiatives, including meaningful early consultations with local Indigenous communities; joint business ventures and equity partnerships; access to employment, education, and training opportunities; supply chain procurement and contracts; and intercultural competency training for management and staff, among others. Many of these initiatives are also listed in CEA’s 2020 compendium of member Indigenous engagement initiatives, “Taking Action: Collaborating with Indigenous Communities”.

The future of the electricity industry’s relationship with Indigenous communities is bright. According to the 2020 report “Accelerating Transition” by Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE), there are nearly 2,500 Indigenous-affiliated clean energy projects in operation or planning stages, including 197 medium-tolarge renewable generation projects. These projects represent another potential pathway for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Looking ahead, the Conference Board of Canada also estimates that the electricity industry will need to invest roughly $1.7 trillion by 2050 to ensure a resilient, low carbon energy future. This unprecedented investment our industry must undertake represents a tremendous opportunity for Indigenous communities. We need to ensure Indigenous communities become partners in securing their own energy future.

While the future holds much potential, there remains a lot of work to be done.

We need sustained support from all levels of governments, including clear and unambiguous expectations around Indigenous consultation and engagement in major projects.

We need provincial governments and their energy regulators to allow companies to expand to northern and remote areas despite the lack of critical mass. All these measures are crucial, as access to clean, safe and reliable electricity is a precursor for clean water, better education, improved health care, increased economic development, better employment and, ultimately, a better quality of life for many Indigenous communities.

A brighter future is ahead of us, but we need to actively start creating these “conditions” for genuine reconciliation.

Working within Canada’s Constitutional Framework While the Indian Act remains one of the most wide-ranging federal statutes governing Indigenous issues, Canada has a unique relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on constitutionallyprotected rights, which were recognized and affirmed under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. While these rights are not defined in the Constitution, legal jurisprudence both prior to, and after, the repatriation of the Constitution has clarified the scope of Indigenous and treaty rights and title in cases such as Calder et al. v. B.C. Attorney General (1973) and R. v. Sparrow (1990). While legal jurisprudence related to Indigenous and treaty rights continue to evolve, there is much to be done to reconcile with Indigenous Peoples. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) have suggested several ways to pursue genuine reconciliation since the 1990s. In 2015, the TRC called upon the Government of Canada, on behalf of all Canadians, to jointly develop with Indigenous Peoples a Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation, which would also adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as the framework for reconciliation.

After nearly six years since the TRC Calls to Action was published, the federal government is currently moving forward with the implementation of UNDRIP through Bill C-15, which is similar – but with several key differences – to the legislation adopted in 2019 by the Government of British Columbia.

While the goals of UNDRIP are laudable and will continue to have interpretive value to guide statutory and common law, the federal government’s implementation legislation is not without its flaws, including how it would affect Canada's duty to consult Indigenous Peoples as established by jurisprudence with respect to Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. The proposed legislation fails to provide appropriate “interpretive” guidance on many key issues, which could potentially have detrimental effects on Canada’s reconciliation journey. In creating the “conditions” for reconciliation, the federal government must confirm and not confuse or erase existing Canadian jurisprudence that is foundational for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

The Path Ahead While Canada’s legacy on Indigenous issues is disappointing to say the least, the path ahead provides a sliver of hope. There is now an “aura” of reconciliation in Canada driven by proactive actions by individual Canadians, businesses, governments, legal institutions, and others in civil society. We must fully embrace this historic opportunity and help usher an era of reconciliation based on recognition of Indigenous rights, self-determination, and self-government as the cornerstone of change. And we must do so within our unique constitutional framework that has already recognized and affirmed Indigenous rights.

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How will Evolugen help lead Canada’s clean energy transition?

Recently, in collaboration with Gazifère Inc., an Enbridge company, Evolugen announced one of Canada’s largest green hydrogen projects for injection into a natural gas distribution network in Québec. To do so, we intend to combine our expertise and infrastructure: Evolugen operates one of the largest renewable energy portfolios in the country, while Gazifère is one of the only two natural gas distributors in Québec.

We announced plans to build and operate an approximately 20 MW water electrolysis hydrogen production plant. The facility will result in significant reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and will generate considerable benefits regionally, provincially, and nationally.

The plant will be built in the Masson sector of the City of Gatineau, Québec, adjacent to our hydroelectric facilities, which will power the electrolyzer. An estimated capacity of approximately 425,000 GJ of green hydrogen will be produced for injection into Gazifère’s natural gas distribution network, making this the first project of its kind in Canada.

GREEN HYDROGEN: A KEY COMPONENT IN CANADA’S CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION - By Rémi Moreau Vice-President, Public Affairs & Sustainability, Evolugen, a Brookfield Renewable Company

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t Evolugen, we believe sustainability and advancing Canada’s energy transition go hand in hand. As we deliver renewable energy solutions, we recognize the importance of the resources we harness, and the need to limit negative impacts while advancing sustainable solutions for our customers and for current and future generations.

As owners and operators of hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy facilities across Québec, Ontario and British Columbia, Evolugen offers diverse development expertise to action low carbon solutions.

Our energy landscape is constantly evolving and challenging the conventional ways in which we operate. With the need to address climate change ever so vital, our industry must adapt to ensure a sustainable future.

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The project will remove approximately 15,000 metric tons in GHG emissions per year, in addition to generating significant local economic benefits, including new jobs and additional property tax revenue.

This innovative project represents the first phase in the creation of a regional green economy ecosystem centered around the production, distribution, and use of green hydrogen. With ongoing support from the municipal, provincial, and federal governments, we are well positioned to leverage numerous strategic assets, including access to natural resources and the expertise of the local workforce.

In addition to being in line with the government’s goal to achieve ambitious energy transition targets, our collaboration with Gazifère materializes Evolugen’s goal of being part of the acceleration of this transition.

Future Green Hydrogen Opportunities Québec is well-positioned to become a key leader in the production and use of green hydrogen, particularly due to its large renewable energy production capacity. Due to the size of Evolugen’s diverse renewable portfolio, in the future, we would also like to further explore and expand green hydrogen development across the country. Considering its wide range of present and future applications, Hydrogen is emerging as a preferred technology to decarbonize Canada’s economy.

Evolugen currently owns and operates 61 renewable energy facilities in Canada, including 33 hydroelectric facilities, 4 wind farms, and 24 solar sites. As a renewable energy industry leader, Evolugen provides sustainable solutions designed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future in Canada. Evolugen is a Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. company. Brookfield Renewable Partners is one of the world’s largest publicly traded renewable energy.

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The Blue Economy: A Conversation with Elisa Obermann - Jay Wilson Director, Generation and Stewardship, Canadian Electricity Association

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ou may have heard a new term frequently used in 2020 government announcements: The Blue Economy.

It was certainly a first for me! The more I would hear about it, the more eager I became to learn about it and understand what it would mean for those of us who spend time thinking about Canada’s oceans and Canadian electricity generation.

So, who better to talk to than Elisa Obermann, Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada (MRC)?

Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, MRC has been contributing to the development of renewable power projects on Canada’s coasts since 2004 and has proven to have some interesting observations on the topic of Blue Economy.

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Jay Wilson, CEA: Elisa, it’s great to talk to you today.

Let’s kick it off with what Blue Economy means to the electricity sector.

Elisa Obermann, MRC: Thanks Jay. A Blue Economy means using marine resources in a more sustainable and more productive way. We can do that with better coordination and better understanding of the resources and ecosystems.

Oceans are heavily impacted by climate change, and marine renewables are a part of the solution because our projects help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Jay: So, what are marine renewables? How do they generate electricity?

Elisa: Marine renewables include technologies like wave, tidal and river power, and offshore wind. They all generate power by harnessing some of the motion of the water or the wind.

Tidal power is an interesting one because it is so regular. We know down to the minute when the tide is coming in and out every day. Knowing exactly when the power is going to be generated every day is really valuable to the system and makes it a good complement to things like wind or solar, which can vary a bit more.

Jay: We have a lot of coastline here in Canada, so what is the size of the opportunity?

Elisa: Canada has a few advantages that make it a great place for marine renewables. We do have the longest coastline in the world, and we have people living in remote locations on the coasts and by rivers. We also see lots of opportunities to deploy these technologies to help remote communities get off diesel. Tidal alone could offer 35,700 MW of clean power potential.

Canada also has the Bay of Fundy, which is recognized as having the highest tides in the world. Twice each day, 160 billion tonnes of seawater flow in and out of the bay. This is more than the combined flow of the world's freshwater rivers, so you can imagine the amount of power that could potentially generate. A conservative estimate of the Fundy resource alone is 2,500 MW. For comparison, the whole province of Nova Scotia today has a capacity of about 3,000 MW – so it has a lot of potential.

Jay: What about those areas of the country that are not on the coast? Do marine renewables, and the Blue Economy, offer any benefit for them?

Elisa: Coastlines are used for fishing, tourism, shipping, recreation and are hosts of several other uses. We need to make sure we can continue to do those things, all while reducing our impact on the ecosystems that support us. That really starts with a better understanding of those activities and impacts. So, research is going to be a big part of what is still needed.

And we need more policy clarity. Marine renewables are relatively new, so we still lack a clear regulatory framework here in Canada. Investors need to be able to see that the project could get built in a reasonable timeframe, or they won’t invest! In order to realize the benefits of these projects for the climate, and for economic development, we need a path forward.

Jay: What other parties are working on this? Is there a jurisdiction we should look to for ideas?

Elisa: Several other countries have also been taking a lead in marine renewables, one of those being the United Kingdom.

Regulatory frameworks, test centres, and policy supports have been key. Industry and government have also worked together to establish a joint environmental risk reduction program, which also helps with de-risking investment. That willingness to work together and move forward is critical for advancing new technologies and we are working to foster more of that coordination and collaboration in Canada.

Jay: Elisa, thank you very much! How can people reach you if they’d like to learn more?

Elisa: You’re welcome – I’m on twitter at @ElisaObermann, and our website can be found at https://marinerenewables.ca/ about-us/overview/.

Elisa: Absolutely. First, every province has a river resource opportunity that could be tapped into. Second, marine renewables have a supply chain that extends into the heart of Canada. Marine renewables need engineering services, composites, software, and lots of other expertise and equipment, which can come from businesses in the middle of the country – so that means jobs and economic development.

And finally, climate change doesn’t care where emissions are coming from. If coastal areas anywhere in the world can reduce their emissions with these technologies, that’s a benefit everywhere.

Jay: Okay, so how can we help move this forward? What are some of the challenges of developing and deploying marine renewables in Canada while moving towards this goal of a Blue Economy?

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In our home province of Alberta, we are moving off coal in 2023 – nearly 6 years ahead of government mandate – by transforming our Genesee Generating Station into a natural gas-powered facility and expanding our renewables fleet with our first two solar projects in Canada and building new wind projects.

Advancing to Net Carbon Neutral by 2050 - By Sian Barraclough Vice President, Strategy and Sustainability, Capital Power

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t Capital Power, we are committed to delivering Responsible Energy for Tomorrow. But what does that mean? Capital Power is taking action to do our part in the global transition to net zero, collaborating with our employees, local communities, investors, government, the scientific community, partners, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders.

Today, we are researching, investing and applying industryleading innovations to decarbonize our fleet of world-class thermal power generation assets, while also expanding our renewables portfolio.

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Our flagship Genesee Generating Station is a hub of innovation as we are investing nearly $1 billion to repower two of its three units to utilize best-in-class natural gas combined cycle technology and converting the supercritical unit to 100% natural gas. The repowered units will add 560 megawatts (MW) of net capacity, resulting in 1,360 MW of baseload generation capacity available 24/7 to power Alberta’s communities, economy and essential services. One of the exciting facets of the repowering project is the units being hydrogen capable (30% hydrogen when repowering is complete; upgradable to 95% in the future at minimal cost) and carbon capture-ready – demonstrating the agility of this facility to implement the latest decarbonization technologies as they become commercially viable. Capital Power is also proud to share that, following repowering and gas conversion, GHG emissions at the Genesee facility will be approximately 3.4 million tonnes per year lower than its 2019 emission levels.

Along with our efforts to decarbonize our thermal fleet, we are expanding our renewables fleet. We announced our first Canadian solar projects in Alberta – Strathmore Solar (40.5 MW; $50 million investment) and Enchant Solar (75 MW; $90 million investment) – applying our solar energy experience from our U.S. fleet to further diversify our renewables portfolio and create new opportunities for Canadian communities and companies to source energy from solar generation. Both projects are expected to be complete in 2022. We have also announced three solar projects in North Carolina, totaling 160 MW. In addition, we are expanding our Whitla Wind facility in Alberta with two new phases of development – Whitla Wind 2 will add 97 MW ($165 million investment) and Whitla Wind 3 will add 54 MW ($92 million investment). Once all three phases of the Whitla Wind facility are complete by the end of 2021, it will be Alberta’s largest wind facility with 353 MW of generation capacity.

Together, these investments support our commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon energy future. Capital Power is on a solid, transparent path toward our goal of net carbon neutral by 2050 – providing reliable power today while investing in sustainable power for tomorrow.

Capital Power (TSX: CPX) is a growth-oriented North American power producer headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. The company develops, acquires, owns, and operates power generation facilities using a variety of energy sources.

Capital Power owns over 6,400 megawatts (MW) of power generation capacity across North America.

Building the Electricity Marketplace of Tomorrow - By Sarah Roger Senior Communications Advisor, Market Renewal Program, Independent Electricity System Operator, (IESO)

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pdating the operating system on our smartphones may be a minor hassle, but it presents longer-term benefits. We update our smartphone’s operating system to enjoy new features, enhance performance and fix bugs. If we don’t perform the updates, we would miss out on those new features and our smartphone may begin to operate sluggishly and have costly repairs over time.

The same goes for Ontario’s electricity markets. They need to be updated to better align with other jurisdictions, address known inefficiencies and lay the foundation to integrate future technologies.

The wholesale electricity markets are nearly 20 years old and while important design improvements have been made over the years, more foundational changes are now required.

Back in 2002, electricity was mostly generated from a combination of coal, hydro and nuclear, and consumers did not have many tools or technologies to understand or manage their use of this resource. Since then, new technologies have emerged, more competitors have entered the market, the use of coal has been eliminated, the pace of change has increased, demand is harder to predict and customers are more engaged.

Just like smartphones, electricity markets need to keep up with dramatic sector-wide developments to ensure we are meeting the needs of those operating in the sector and maximizing value for consumers. This is precisely IESO’s goal with the multi-year Market Renewal Program. Designed to achieve significant operational efficiencies and support the grid of the future, implementing the program will deliver substantial value to the system and Ontario ratepayers – an expected $800 million in benefits in the first 10 years alone.

For instance, one of these efficiencies will come from the introduction of a day-ahead market, where participants submit day-ahead bids and offers, better preparing everyone for realtime operations – a new feature for Ontario but already seen in most other North American markets. Better scheduling and commitment of resources is expected to deliver the bulk of the efficiencies amounting in over $500 million in savings alone.

Renewing Ontario’s electricity markets will create a more efficient and flexible platform that allows Ontario to better utilize its existing assets. The changes will also enable existing and future market participants to anticipate future needs and incentivize innovative solutions to meet emerging challenges.

Market renewal will also reduce out-of-market actions and payments, meaning costs will flow through the market in a more transparent manner. Increased transparency and operational certainty will create clearer investment signals for existing and new market participants.

Stakeholder input has been central to design the updated electricity markets and has resulted in us incorporating additional reporting, enhanced processes and greater flexibility for how energy is provided. The IESO continues to work transparently across a variety of forums with stakeholders to ensure market renewal will deliver solutions that work for the sector and consumers.

The IESO is always looking for more voices at the table. If you’re interested in learning more about what opportunities these efforts bring to you, get involved by visiting ieso.ca/market-renewal.

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We can't keep dodging the iceberg: getting moving on Net Zero - By Michael Powell Vice President, Government Relations, Canadian Electricity Association

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f it wasn’t for COVID-19, the big news story of 2020 would have been the global natural disasters that climate change is causing.

The year began with a continent literally on fire. The recordbreaking Australian bushfire season razed more than 18 million hectares— an area about 50% larger than Southern Ontario. As the year wore on, the Atlantic hurricane season matched the record with a number of storms so high, they were running out of names. The world tied for the warmest year on record.

In late 2020, Iceberg A-68a, a chunk of ice that had broken away from an Antarctic iceshelf three years earlier, twice the size of Luxembourg, seemed like it was going to run around in the shallow waters around South Georgia Island.

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Sitting there, the iceberg risked blocking access to food for the hundreds of thousands of penguins, seals and sea birds that reside there. This blockade would have crushed the microscopic sea life that is foundational to other parts of the ecosystem, creating irreversible damage to our planet. Not to worry though – in the end, it broke up and moved elsewhere... this time, at least.

Collectively, we are those penguins, living our lives while a colossal frozen metaphor for anthropogenic climate change lurks just out of sight, ready to threaten us with an existential and catastrophic change. Fortunately, we have some agency and are able to act on it. It seems that we are finally willing to do so.

The big commitment now is “Net Zero by 2050” which means that, on balance, no new greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere.

That doesn’t mean that nothing will emit GHGs, but that those emissions will be offset by GHGs pulled from the atmosphere elsewhere through negative emissions.

In Canada, the federal government has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and has introduced legislation to formalize the target. The Biden administration describes climate change as one of the four converging crises facing America and has committed to building more renewable power to make the United States grid carbon-neutral by 2035.

Industry is also taking up the movement: Shell announced that it expects to have reached peak oil production by 2025, and General Motors – which has historically resisted efforts for more stringent fuel efficiency – has committed to have 30 EV models for sale.

Setting a target is easy, but how do we meet them? At present, Canada emits about 730 Mt of GHGs each year. Definitionally, net zero means reducing that number to zero, even as the population and economy grows. This is no small lift, and the ultimate path to net zero will depend on how and when modern technologies emerge and become economically viable.

Inevitably, that is going to mean using more electricity. Canada already has one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world. More than 80% of Canada’s electricity is already non-emitting, and the sector has reduced emissions by nearly 50% since 2005.

The Government of Canada has been clear that any postpandemic stimulus efforts will be structured not just to get Canadians back to work, but also to advance broader issues, especially addressing climate change. If we are going to build back, it makes sense to build back better. April’s Federal budget was built on the new climate plan, proposing new programs and upping our 2030 GHG reduction target to 40% or more.

As previously mentioned, the Biden administration is also placing a high priority on GHG emissions, listing climate change as one of the four converging crises facing America.

Already, the United States has taken action by re-joining the Paris Climate Accord, a first day Executive Order that directed the federal government to advance climate goals committing to a non-emitting electricity sector by 2035. Infrastructure efforts will also be focused on climate change and making more clean power.

Where should we prioritize investments?

CEA’s 2021 State of the Industry report identifies important actions that need to happen – including the development and commercialization of technologies such as energy storage, small modular reactors, hydrogen, and carbon capture and utilization. We will also need to rethink how we regulate our sector, all while making sure we build a system that isn’t just clean, but also affordable and reliable. At the heart of this should be a comprehensive plan for electrification.

This is a unique opportunity. Government and industry are ready to make choices that can set us on a path to a more sustainable future. Working together, we can build an electricity grid that meets the needs of tomorrow. We should be ready to seize it, and we should work to avoid leaving our fate to matters outside our control without realizing it – just like our well-dressed avian friends in the South Atlantic.

This is a strong starting point, but there remains a long way to go. Right now, electricity only represents about one fifth of Canada’s overall energy mix, according to the Government of Canada’s new climate plan. We have to get started, and we can’t stop once we do.

For the most part, this isn’t a question of developing new technology. The Canadian Institute For Climate Choices, a government-funded think tank, analyzed 60 potential pathways that it said could achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. It characterized a variety of carbonreduction actions as either “safe bets” or “wild cards.” Potential actions related to the increased use of electricity in the near term were generally in the “safe bets” category.

Even those categorized as “wild cards” were uncertain.

“Technically doable” pushes the burden for action back to policy makers. A build-out of the electricity system will require clear and consistent policy from decision makers as electricity companies anticipate substantial capital investments. canadian electricity association - THE GRID 2021 | Renewal

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Moving to net zero:

Manitoba Hydro ready to meet Canadian federal guidelines - By Scott Powell Director, Corporate Communications, Manitoba Hydro

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anitoba’s electricity system is already one of the lowest GHG-intensive grids in Canada.

With abundant clean, renewable hydropower, Manitoba is poised to lead Canada’s fight against climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The Government of Canada’s 80-page climate strategy, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, lays out a plan to meet or exceed Canada’s 2030 Paris Agreement emissions reduction target (a 30 per cent reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels) and establish the building blocks to get to net-zero by 2050.

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“This is the most significant climate change strategy ever introduced by a federal government in Canada,” said Kristel Arnold, Energy Policy Officer for Manitoba Hydro.

“And we’re already meeting some of these goals.”

Though it hasn’t always been intentional – until recently, low emissions from hydropower generation were more a byproduct of development than a strategic choice – Manitoba’s power infrastructure has always been largely GHG-free, with most generating stations leveraging the natural flow of water in the province as fuel.

Clean energy for a clean future

Future improvements

GHG emissions from Manitoba Hydro’s operations are less than one per cent of total provincial GHG emissions, and the province contributes less than three per cent of Canada’s national GHG emissions. Total GHG emissions from Manitoba Hydro’s operations in 2019 were 0.11 megatonnes — less than 0.1 per cent of national electrical generation emissions.

Climate change has been on Manitoba Hydro’s radar since the 1980s. For more than 25 years, the utility has lent technical and market expertise to support the development, evaluation, and implementation of standards, regulations, legislation, voluntary programs and markets that aim to reduce GHG emissions.

AVERAGE AMERICAN UTILITY’S CO2 PER GWh

AVERAGE CANADIAN UTILITY’S CO2 PER GWh

TONNES

TONNES

459 135

MANITOBA HYDRO’S CO2 PER GWh

0.4 TONNES

Manitoba Hydro’s primarily run-of-river hydropower is among the cleanest energy in Canada.

To meet future demand and export agreements, the utility continues to develop additional sources of clean, renewable energy. The first unit at the new Keeyask Generating Station entered service on February 16, 2021, after 7 years of construction.

“First power from Keeyask builds on Manitoba Hydro’s enviable position in the low carbon world of the future,” said Jay Grewal, Manitoba Hydro’s President & CEO. “Nearly 98 per cent of our electricity is already generated using clean, renewable, and virtually carbon-free hydropower – a huge advantage for our province as North America moves to reduce carbon emissions.”

The utility’s strategy to respond to climate change includes enhancing the generation output of existing generating stations and continually looking at how wind, solar and a wide array of emerging electricity technologies (such as batteries and bioenergy systems) may fit in future energy supply planning.

As part of its long-term strategy, Manitoba Hydro also continues to monitor and plan for trends in the electrification of transportation and the adoption of heat pumps, geothermal systems and other energy-related technologies, and periodically publishes a Climate Change Report to provide insight into its response to climate change. The most recent report was published in 2020.

“We want to ensure we continue to be a climate change leader in the utility industry as we move toward a net zero world,” said Grewal.

Manitoba Hydro is a provincial Crown corporation and one of the largest integrated electricity and natural gas distribution utilities in Canada. Nearly all of the electricity Manitoba Hydro produces each year is clean, renewable power generated at 15 hydroelectric generating stations.

When complete, the Keeyask Generating Station will have seven units in service, producing an average of 4,400 gigawatt hours of electricity annually and making it the fourth largest generating station in Manitoba. Keeyask is a collaborative effort between Manitoba Hydro and four partner First Nations – Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, York Factory First Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation – known collectively as the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership.

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Hydro Ottawa's Pollinator Meadow An Environmental Renewal Project - By Morgan Barnes Media and Public Affairs Advisor, Hydro Ottawa

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et me tell you about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees and... utilities? Across North America, populations of Monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators are in steep decline due to herbicides, pesticides, climate change and a reduction in natural pollinator habitats.

It may seem like an unlikely union, but utilities are ideally suited to restore these environments due to the number of utility corridors and properties in their service territories, not to mention the kilometres of power lines and right of ways along roadsides. Moreover, vegetation management along utility corridors is compatible with the type of vegetation necessary to support pollinators.

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In 2019, Hydro Ottawa began civil construction on Cambrian, its largest ever municipal transformer station, in the south-end of the city of Ottawa, situated on 24 acres of land. The new facility will support future growth in the community which is expected to more than double over the next twenty years due to planned residential and commercial developments, including the recent addition of a new 10-megawatt Amazon distribution centre. The rest of the transformer station site might have remained vacant, but those overseeing the project at Hydro Ottawa wondered if there was a more inspired use for the land.

“We saw an opportunity to do something that could really contribute to the well-being of our community and the environment,” says Guillaume Paradis, Chief Electricity Distribution Officer at Hydro Ottawa. “We had this parcel of land that we didn’t want to keep empty, so when the idea of a pollinator meadow was brought to us by the project’s distribution engineer, it proved to be a perfect match, whereby we could bring reliable power to a growing area of our city, and do it in this creative, environmentally-responsible way.”

Since the new transformer station requires only five acres of the property, Hydro Ottawa partnered with the City of Ottawa, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and Canadian Wildlife Federation, to create one of the largest pollinator meadows of its kind in eastern Ontario. Adjacent to its future station, the agreement means that 15 acres will be dedicated to a pollinator meadow which is scheduled for seeding in the spring of 2021.

A four-acre tree reforestation area was reforested in 2020 with 2,750 trees thanks to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

Pollinators are responsible for a third of the world’s food supply.

Working from the understanding that pollinators are not only vital to our very existence, but also that of our planet, the Canadian Wildlife Federation has been raising public awareness and offering technical support to farmers and those in the Canadian food industry to develop pollinator-friendly practices and agricultural policy recommendations. Securing habitats to support the recovery of Canada’s wild pollinators is at the forefront of their movement.

“There is a huge potential to build pollinator habitats along right of ways, such as roads, transmission lines, gas pipelines and even private lands,” says Tracey Etwell, Restoration Ecologist with Canadian Wildlife Federation. “By leveraging the power of our partnerships with governments, the managers of roadsides, utility corridors and other businesses and landowners, we can secure a more sustainable future and ecosystem for pollinators. The partnerships exemplify what can be achieved and are proving to be very successful.”

Hydro Ottawa is supplying the land and covering the costs of the project, including site preparation, professional seeding, selection of native seed mix, and annual maintenance over a five-year term.

This project demonstrates how Hydro Ottawa is taking active steps to reduce its own environmental footprint and contribute to the wider transition of a greener economy in Ottawa.

In addition to being the largest municipally-owned producer of green power in the province, Hydro Ottawa has been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers nine times in the last decade by Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

“It’s about coming back to your roots and remembering why you are in this business in the first place,” says Bryce Conrad, President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa. “Yes, we have a core responsibility to provide safe, affordable and reliable power, but it has to be done in a way that also protects our environment and mitigates our impact on it. Climate change is considered in all our planning and decision-making. An initiative like the pollinator meadow fits with our vision for a brighter and healthier Ottawa. It will provide environmental benefits to our community for years to come.”

This environmental commitment is like a birdsong to the ears of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, one of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities responsible for furthering the restoration, development and management of watersheds and their natural resources across the province.

“Hydro Ottawa wants the same thing we do: to create a thriving, vibrant pollinator meadow that supports native plant and animal species in pursuit of a healthier environment,” says Meaghan McDonald, Lake Planning and Shoreline Stewardship Coordinator for Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

“Commitment to sourcing native plants can be difficult, but they understood from the beginning that preserving and respecting the natural environment was paramount to the project’s success.”

Once the station is energized in 2022, south Ottawa will have an abundance of power, and portions of the pollinator meadow will be in bloom to welcome many species as its guests, including the birds and the bees that will call the meadow home. In its attempts to deliver the best possible outcomes for its community, Hydro Ottawa is proving that no one, plant or creature, is too small to be considered, and that great opportunities come from symbiosis.

At Hydro Ottawa, we believe it’s our responsibility to help build a vibrant and sustainable capital. That extends to our own operations and our impact on the environment and the communities in which we live and work. We are fiercely focused on the health and safety of our employees, our customers and our city. That means making decisions that prioritize the environment as a major factor in how we define success.

With the City of Ottawa’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019, the pollinator meadow aligns with the City’s Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management directive to review and make recommendations with respect to pollinator species. canadian electricity association - THE GRID 2021 | Renewal

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Seeds of Change

AltaLink’s largest wildland reclamation work in Banff National Park - By Amanda Sadleir Manager, Corporate Communications, AltaLink

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or AltaLink, the big news story really started way back in 2009, when plans were drawn up for what became the most extensive wilderness reclamation project in the company’s history. Senior Project Manager Brent Sandhu has been involved since the beginning of this project to rebuild AltaLink’s transmission line, called 551L, in Banff National Park.

“We had four years of planning before we got the go-ahead from Parks Canada in 2016. The 551L transmission line needed to be rebuilt through difficult mountain terrain, while running through a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Canada’s premier national park. That meant conducting tree and other vegetation management along a 60-kilometre right-of-way with great sensitivity to wildlife, plants and aquatic habitats,” explains Sandhu.

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The 551L transmission line connects the Banff and Lake Louise substations, passing through highly sensitive ecological regions of the Bow Valley within Banff National Park. It provides power to a host of world class tourist amenities that service more than four million visitors per year. The goal of the rebuild was to reduce the number of power outages to these tourist destinations and minimize tree contacts with the line to ensure the safety and reliability of the transmission system in this area for years to come.

AltaLink’s team of subject matter experts, in collaboration with Parks Canada, put together a one-of-a-kind Detailed Impact Analysis (DIA) that identified every meticulous detail of the environmental constraints along the 450 structure locations on the existing right-of-way. Due to encroaching trees, erosion and flooding in some areas, site specific mitigations were proposed.

Specialists in wildlife, vegetation, aquatics and cultural resources all contributed to the development and approval of the DIA.

With the transmission line being situated between two world famous tourist destinations, the DIA also addressed mitigations related to preserving the public visitor experience and the natural aesthetics along the Bow Valley Parkway, including a visibility analysis from popular lookout locations.

The seedlings were then brought back to the right-of-way and planted to maintain the ecological integrity of the national park. While the construction of the line is complete, we at AltaLink are all anxiously waiting to see the results of the seedlings’ growth within the right-of-way.

As in all ecologically sensitive areas in which AltaLink operates, the team worked with biological and botanical experts to identify important ecosystem components. Then, using specialized equipment and best management practices, work continued through winter months to minimize the impacts on those ecosystems.

“AltaLink has committed to three years of post-construction reclamation monitoring with Parks Canada,” Sandhu said. “This is to ensure reclamation has been successful.”

During construction, a significant backup power generation system was put in place at the Lake Louise Substation in order to maintain service through the construction period. This backup system, given its size, needed to be approved by both Parks Canada and the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). The system included a football field of 55-foot-long generators capable of delivering 10 million watts of power to the Village of Lake Louise and areas west of Banff.

Construction for the rebuild was complete in March 2020, however, rehabilitating the right-of-way to reflect the ecological integrity of the national park was a major piece of this project.

Reclamation was unique due to the need to collect seeds from the area ahead of the reclamation work and grow them in a nursery for up to three years.

The 551L Transmission Line Rebuild in Banff National Park represents a number of unique components for AltaLink. The comprehensive DIA looked at multiple facets of the impacts during construction as well as the rehabilitation phases of the project. It was the first time the company had to ask the AUC for approval of a temporary power source, and it is the largest wildland reclamation work AltaLink has undertaken to date.

The 551L upgrade is an excellent example of AltaLink embracing all components of providing safe, reliable and costeffective electricity in a truly sustainable manner.

AltaLink is Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider. AltaLink is partnering with its customers to provide innovative solutions to meet the province’s demand for reliable and affordable energy. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, AltaLink is part of a global group of companies delivering energy services to customers worldwide.

Resilient Grids. Strong Networks. Safe Energy.

Contact Voltage

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th

Celebrating 30 years of maintaining crucial utility infrastructure that keeps Canada powered and connected.

provincialpole.com

info@provincialpole.com canadian electricity association - THE GRID 2021 | Renewal

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The federal government’s plan to plant billions of trees is an interesting endeavour to combat climate change – let’s just remember to keep them away from powerlines and structures. It will be necessary and mutually beneficial for government to coordinate such endeavours with the electricity industry.

Vegetation management stands at the crux of a transformative movement. With an increasing focus on environmental stewardship, wildfire ignition mitigation and improving reliability, technology will allow utilities to make better decisions on these practices.

Utilities have renewed the fight against tree-induced outages with the application of modern technology and information systems. Long gone are the days of walking the right-of-way and performing visual inspection to identify a hazard tree. Satellite, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are all being used in the war against tree induced outages.

Technological Use to Aid in a Long-Standing Problem - By Daniel Gent Director, Risk, Reliability and Resiliency, Canadian Electricity Association

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or over three years, trees have accounted for roughly one in five outages in Canada. For over five years, they have been among the top reasons Canadians encounter power outages.

Reducing tree-related outages is a recurring topic amongst reliability experts. Given that trees are self-renewing, they are continually growing and can cause both minor and major outages by damaging distribution and transmission lines.

In 2019 alone, trees accounted for over 48 million hours of customer interruptions. However, despite all the distress they may inflict on our economy’s great enabler, trees are inherently good. They offer shade, building material, and are, after-all, the greatest carbon filter on the planet, so it's wise to keep them around.

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This technology combined with tracking and recording precipitation, soil texture, acid levels and moisture, tree types in data applications help analyze the broader picture and predict the growth rate of tree species along rightsof-way. Analytics are being used in ways to help utilities manage their vast jurisdictions and budgets to better serve the customers.

These are all innovative endeavours that will help draft strategic vegetation management plans that are key in enabling improved reliability.

By embracing cutting-edge technological solutions, utilities have an opportunity to improve grid performance, all while showcasing innovation and highlighting customer service. These strategies can be summarized in one sentence by a great military strategist, Sun Tzu.

"Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster."

LiDAR calculates the distance of an object with the use of light waves bouncing back to the initiating sensor.

LiDAR is often used to create 3-D laser scans for highresolution maps.

Staying Connected: Adapting Mutual Assistance to New Challenges - By Joelle Lancaster Advisor, Regulatory Affairs & Grid Infrastructure, Canadian Electricity Association

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he electricity grid is an essential part of our everyday lives, powering the alarm clocks that wake us up in the morning to the hallway nightlight that flickers on when we go to bed. Powering the grid – underneath the generation, transmission and distribution equipment – is a vast network of lineworkers, arborists, grid operators working to repair lines, trim hazard trees, all while keeping a close eye on the grid to ensure that interruptions to power flow, such as storm damage, can be dealt with as safely and as efficiently as possible.

Adaptation is a constant in the electricity industry, with forestry and lineworkers prepared to address issues that arise both within and outside the bounds of their service territory, and to assist in circumstances that have threatened the reliable distribution of electricity to their neighbours. Mutual assistance agreements underpin these activities and reinforce the engagements between various utilities, where their respective lineworkers aid each other to restore power to energy customers across North America in times of severe weather.

Such forays can vary from a quick stop in the neighbouring town to help untangle broken power lines following a windstorm, to long journeys with extensive repair work. The network of electricity neighbours can stretch across North America and beyond. Always willing and available to travel great distances to rebuild critical infrastructure, Canadian electricity utilities have provided assistance from Québec to Georgia, Ontario to California, all the way from Prince Edward Island and Alberta to Turks & Caicos, and many more as increasingly severe weather has, due to climate change, stretched the needs of affected utilities.

New environments entail new challenges, as electricity workers may have to learn how to safely climb an electrical pole in the absence of bucket trucks or how to adhere to new safety standards for a high voltage system that isn’t quite the mirror image of the one at home.

The beginning of spring 2020 saw an intense and swift new reality for the industry to adapt to, as electricity utilities sought to keep their employees safe while continuing to ensure the reliable supply of electricity – a service essential to Canadians. At the same time, utilities kept mutual systems of assistance in mind, ensuring that electricity employees are able to answer the call for mutual assistance and lend a hand when extreme weather raged, confident that their safety was considered in each step of the process. Best practices and potential challenges were shared and resolved through crossborder forums of utilities dealing with one common, global pandemic. From ensuring that employees could physically distance when traveling to different jurisdictions, to ensuring that essential electricity workers could cross the Canada-US border to respond to extreme weather events, electricity utilities have come together to ensure continued, safe mutual assistance would be available if and when needed.

The need for adaptation in the electricity sector is a continuing one, as electricity will remain essential to our day-to-day lives, as modern society will continue to evolve, and as the inevitable challenges will keep us on our toes.

Electricity utilities supporting the industry – not only through a pandemic, but through the ongoing effects of climate change and the increasing intensity of extreme weather events – will continue to require collaboration, a key factor in supporting adaptation across the country. The electricity industry remains primed to lend a hand, whether that entails repairing a neighbour’s power lines or endeavouring to find a new industry standard for safety.

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Renewing Relationships for Results: The Canada-U.S. Electricity Partnership - By Robin Yee Manager, OHS, & former U.S. Affairs Advisor, Canadian Electricity Association

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t first glance, it may seem strange to be reading about the Canada-U.S. electricity relationship in a magazine edition focused on Renewal. After all, the highly positive and mutually beneficial electricity trade and integration relationship between the two countries is a long-standing and stable one. The first transmission line between Canada and the U.S. was put in place over 100 years ago! And ever since, the highly integrated Canada-U.S. electricity grid has powered prosperity by delivering a critical service – reliable, affordable, secure, and increasingly clean electricity – to homes and businesses on both sides of the border.

What has made this relationship so successful, though, is in fact renewal.

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Just like a friendship that lasts beyond just one stage in life, the Canada-U.S. electricity relationship has renewed itself many times over, as we have taken on new challenges and opportunities together – from the creation of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to ensure a more reliable system for customers; to working together through the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) on challenges that know no borders, such as those posed by cyber threat actors; to providing mutual assistance in times of need, such as the aftermaths of major storms or wildfires.

When winter storms hit the U.S. earlier this year, for example, Canadian electricity companies were ready to assist, sending additional power to U.S. communities that needed it most.

And even during COVID-19, the relationship renewed itself yet again as electricity sectors on both sides of the border worked together to take on the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.

Now, as we look beyond COVID-19 to the shared challenges that Canadian and American policy makers will be facing – whether it be economic recovery, tackling climate change, working towards a more socially just society, or ensuring cleaner, more resilient, and more affordable electricity to customers – the Canada-U.S. electricity relationship is evolving to meet these challenges thanks to the strength of our partnership.

For example, we can ensure cleaner, more reliable and more affordable power by pairing clean, baseload and flexible Canadian electricity with variable U.S. wind and solar resources.

We can work together on building the infrastructure that will connect clean electricity on both sides of the border to those who need it. We can build a clean energy economy by connecting our efforts on technologies such as Small Modular Reactors and carbon capture and utilization. We can work together on understanding how we can use clean electricity to power other sectors like transportation, and reliably serve a more electrified and digitally connected economy. We can jointly commit to equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives to ensure that every community is included in our collective energy future. Finally, we can keep working together, and with our government partners, ensure that we can do all of this securely – keeping our grid safe in the face of evolving threats.

The electricity sector on both sides of the border is ready for this brighter future. In fact, we are already taking the steps to get there. Where Canadian and U.S. policy makers can help, is by assessing how this relationship can be leveraged to benefit both countries to achieve shared goals, and to avoid unnecessary barriers to progress.

To that end, it was welcome that Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden, on the occasion of their first meeting, showed leadership on these important issues with the announcement of the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership.

The Roadmap recognizes the economic and energy security benefits of the bilateral energy relationship and its highly integrated infrastructure, and commits to cooperation on items such as clean electricity transmission, which will form the backbone of our shared economic and climate goals.

For over 100 years, Canada and the U.S. have been the closest allies and partners. By continuing to renew and evolve the positive cross-border electricity relationship, we are poised to shape and power the next century of North American prosperity for all communities.

National Solutions for Local Projects.

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“I am pleased that WESCO Canada Utility’s team and competencies will join our Group. This is a unique opportunity for Rexel to accelerate its development in Canada in the attractive and green hydro utility business and to increase its recurring service revenues.”

– Roger Little, Group Executive Committee member and Chief Executive Officer of Rexel Canada

For more information visit

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Ready to Respond:

The Electricity Sector and Evolving Cyber Threats - By Leah Michalopulos Director, Government Relations, Canadian Electricity Association

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eliable and resilient electricity is essential; this is why electricity companies work 24/7 to keep the grid running, keep our laptops powered, and keep our lights on. While the pandemic has been prevalent in all facets of business and life over the last year, perhaps an even more urgent challenge has been evolving cyber security threats.

Not only are threat actors rising in numbers and becoming more sophisticated, but “state-sponsored actors are very likely attempting to develop cyber capabilities to disrupt Canadian critical infrastructure”. These are the stark messages outlined in the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s recent National Cyber Threat Assessment (‘NCTA’).

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The world recently faced a real-life example of these threats when the SolarWinds supply chain compromise was brought to light. By exploiting a software vulnerability, hackers were able to access the networks of governments and businesses for several months.

While the attack was not specific to the electricity sector, it has forced everyone to take a closer look at the security of systems, and the supply chains that serve them.

The NCTA also describes that while advancements in technology are spurring innovation and transformation and are in fact making our lives better in many ways, the growth of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), the Industrial Internet of Things, and automation also mean new risks in the cyber security landscape – risks that companies must adapt to.

Electrification can lead to a clean growth economy – helping us achieve climate goals.

Most of these cyber security threats are not surprising to the electricity sector; this is the reality it faces every day as it continuously works to protect the grid against dynamic threats.

As threats continue to renew and evolve, the way we respond to them must evolve as well. Electricity companies are already doing this by consistently learning, adapting, and responding.

We cannot do it alone though; no one can. The electricity sector, other critical infrastructure sectors and governments working in unity of effort and response to threats, is more crucial than ever. Addressing prevalent, evolving, and increasingly sophisticated threats means that it will be essential to forge even stronger trusted partnerships throughout the critical infrastructure security community.

And this is a top priority for Canadian electricity companies, a responsibility taken seriously. From complying with cyber security standards as a baseline, to participating in forums for security information sharing, to continuously taking proactive actions to prevent and respond to physical and cybersecurity intrusions, to practicing response to major events, to striving for a culture of security and making investments that support physical and cyber security – the work never stops.

Also essential are partnerships with the broader security community, such as the Canadian government, including with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Given the integrated nature of the Canada-U.S. electricity grid, Canadians also cooperate with their American counterparts on electricity security matters – engaging in unity of effort and response to evolving threats.

But as shown in the NCTA and with SolarWinds, threats against the electricity sector and the threat landscape itself continue to evolve. This comes at a time when electricity is becoming even more essential, and we are becoming even more digitally connected.

As technologies such as artificial intelligence and IoT integration transform the way we live and work, and with policymakers and businesses looking to achieve clean energy goals, electricity will only become more important. And this is good. More electricity can power more innovation – creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians. More electricity can mean increased digital connectivity – making our lives easier and more efficient.

But none of this is possible without secure electricity.

Now more than ever, government partners must continue to invest in programs and policies that serve to support the security posture of Canadian critical infrastructure and continue to show leadership on these issues.

This includes helping to promote and train a cyber workforce ready to take on the challenges of today and tomorrow. It includes deepened support for cyber security information and intelligence sharing programs between industry and government. It includes enabling electricity companies to take cyber security actions through provision of actionable and timely information. It includes partnership and collaboration to find solutions to the major cyber security issues we face today.

The need for electricity is only going to grow in the future. And the system that makes, moves, and delivers that electricity is only going to become increasingly networked and connected.

Actors motivated by malice, money, or politics will not go away.

Collectively, we cannot, and we will not, let our guard down.

A version of this article was originally published in January 2021 on the Canadian Global Affairs Institute website.

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Renewed by our purpose and values - By Karen M. McCarthy -

Vice President, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Fortis Inc.

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he COVID-19 public health pandemic has brought challenges and opportunities in all walks of life, including the utility sector. Fortis companies were quick to assess the everchanging situation and adapt our operations to continue delivering essential services to our customers. There has arguably never been a more important time than the present to ensure safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

Our health care system and other frontline emergency services are relying on us.

With the vast amount of change that has confronted society over the past year, many organizations, including those in our sector, are reflecting on the future. Although we are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic, we are thinking about long term energy needs and the expectations of our customers, employees, and stakeholders.

A time of reflection Throughout history, there have been examples of events which have caused us all to pause and contemplate ‘Where to next?’. In the past two decades, we dealt with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; the financial crisis of 2008-2009; the #MeToo movement of 2017; the global anti-racism protests of 2020; and the COVID-19 pandemic of which we are still in the midst, to name a few.

“One thing is certain - events of this nature have the power to cause all of us to focus on what matters most,” said Nora Duke, Executive Vice President, Sustainability, and Chief Human Resource Officer, Fortis Inc.

“As we search for ways to continually renew and improve what we do and how we do it throughout our utilities in North America, we always come back to what has guided us since the beginning: our values.”

Duke has hit on an important point. In the utility sector, we have respect for our customers and are committed to ensuring that we are there for them, no matter what.

Operational excellence is what our employees strive for, and we make safety and reliability our top priorities. We are now collectively turning to a greener future, and we are focused on ensuring our businesses are sustainable for the next 100 years and beyond.

“We have been given a great responsibility to deliver essential energy to our customers far and wide,” said Roger Dall’Antonia, President and CEO, FortisBC. “It’s not something to be taken lightly as people rely on us to keep the energy flowing to their homes as well as powering our nation’s businesses.”

In Canada, the electricity sector employs over 95,000 people and contributes over $34 billion to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.

Though Fortis is primarily a distributor of energy in Canada, our sector generates some 640 TWh hours of energy, over 80% of which is free of greenhouse gas. (Canadian Electricity Association, State of the Canadian Electricity Industry, 2020).

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Grounded in our values Dall’Antonia notes that as we contemplate the future, utilities are championing creative and innovative approaches and investments to support a lower carbon future. “We are motivated by the talent and expertise of our employees and their passion to create a cleaner energy future,” he said.

How do we collectively address these opportunities? What innovation is required? What skillsets? How will we enable cooperation nationally and cross-border with the U.S. in how we plan the energy grid? Are we living up to our inclusion, equity and diversity commitments? Is our technology strategy robust enough? Are we really listening to our stakeholders?

“Time and time again, we reflect on our company’s history where we find inspiration from the visionary leaders that came before us,” said Duke. “Strength of management, of commitment, of service and of achievement is what we vowed from the beginning.”

Duke explained that the foundational values that guided Fortis from the beginning are upheld in our purpose and values today. These include never compromising on safety, valuing our people, keeping decision-making local, acting with courage and integrity, being community champions and aiming for excellence every day. This is true at Fortis utilities, including Newfoundland Power, Maritime Electric, FortisOntario, FortisAlberta, FortisBC and our utilities in the U.S. and Caribbean.

Holding ourselves to the highest standards As society evolves, we are all faced with strategic decisions about how best to operate our utilities. We balance important financial and capital investment considerations with the complexities of human resourcing needs and changes in technology while integrating environmental, social and governance expectations.

“The anchor to making these decisions should always rest in our values,” said Dall’Antonia. “We will not fail if we continue to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and do what’s right.”

“Renewal in the utility sector is key,” said Jason Roberts, President and CEO, Maritime Electric. “We now have an opportunity to strengthen connections with our customers while at the same time playing an even more critical role in developing our communities and addressing climate change issues.”

Maritime Electric takes great pride in planning for the future.

Roberts declared that as they adapt to a new era of expectations, they find answers and direction in what has made them a successful utility throughout their history. “No matter how we evolve, everything comes back to our customers. We will embrace a cleaner energy future, but we will do so in a responsible manner to meet our customers’ expectations,” he said.

Janine Sullivan is the newly appointed President and CEO of FortisAlberta. The utility is highly regarded for its focus on safety, optimal operations and engagement with the 240 communities they serve. “We touch the lives of many people as a neighbour and a business partner,” said Sullivan. “We don’t only power our communities, we empower them.”

Sullivan said the utility is also cognizant of the importance of inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace. “We embrace diverse perspectives, ideas and identities,” she said.

Strength in leadership Renewal takes many forms. At Fortis, setting a greenhouse gas emissions reductions target was an important commitment this past year. Further, projects like Wataynikaneyap Power in Ontario’s North which will result in 17 First Nations communities coming off diesel generators and being connected to the power grid for the first time, will continue to guide our efforts to improve our country’s social and economic fabric.

“As we continue to move through the COVID-19 pandemic, let health and safety be our beacon,” said Duke. “There’s nothing more important at this time.”

Fortis conveys a message similar to that of all utilities in Canada.

The Canadian electricity sector remains strong. Our future is defined by our collective desire to make things better. We will lead with purpose and we will leave no stone unturned in defining the path forward, grounded by our industry’s core values.

Photography courtesy of Fortis.

Fortis Inc. is a St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador-based international diversified electric utility holding company. It operates in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

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How to Provide a Great Customer Experience in 2021 and Beyond We’ve all spent the last 12-months meeting multiple challenges related to the COVID 19 pandemic. For the intrepid among us, adversity often drives innovation, new perspectives, and advanced technologies. Let’s take a look at some new approaches and lessons learned along with time-tested best practices that together, will enhance the customer experience in 2021 and beyond.

Any effort to evolve CX for the new normal must originate at the leadership level and trickle down all the way to front line managers and CX associates. One of the key factors driving optimal CX is an investment in creating a strong technology stack.

Know your customers

“The technology that businesses used when I first dipped my toe into the field (customer relations) in the mid ’80s has exponentially leapfrogged.

Customer service as an industry has matured to become a non-negotiable part of business growth.

The mindset around customer experience has changed dramatically.”

Elizabeth Sedlacek, VP Client Relations & Partnerships

Tune in to hear Elizabeth talk about the past, present and near future of the customer experience and the top global trends to follow in rebranding your CX playbook!

A recent report by PwC states 73% people consider customer experience to be an important factor in purchase decisions. To provide this, companies need an in-depth understanding of their customer, from interactions across different channels. The right tech stack is essential to aggregate data from voice, email, chat, social-media, and in-person interactions. The ability to then analyze and interpret this data can allow companies to know their customer at a granular level, to create highly personalized experiences.

Orchestrate Customer Journeys

A combination of brand goals and a basic understanding of consumer behavior is used to identify key touchpoints on a customer journey map. Companies prepare to deliver the right experience at these touchpoints along the journey. While this is critical, it is equally important to influence the journey between these touchpoints on the map.

To succeed at influencing a customer’s journey, companies must focus on customers’ goals and assist in achieving those, instead of focusing only on brand’s goals. Since purchase paths are different for every customer, it’s important to segment customers to better understand their

For more information contact: elizabeth.sedlacek@contactpoint360.com

And Data

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Context

Useful Data

Useful Data

Human Approach

Successful Outcome for Customer & Brand

challenges, preferences, and context. This information is useful to provide an experience that meets their needs.

To orchestrate customer journeys, organizations have to breakdown departmental silos, identify & fill gaps in data, validate CX strategies with real customer journeys, and periodically update them to stay relevant.

Train & empower frontline employees with data

Personalized customer service became one of the most essential attributes of a successful CX strategy during this pandemic. When executed well, customer-facing associates had the proper training and relevant information about the customer, which empowered them to provide a great experience. AI and speech analytics technologies enable companies to analyze up to 100% of customer interactions, to identify areas of improvement and enrich CX training. In this way, companies can share timely and contextual data about customers with their CX associates to enable more personalized experiences.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Improving Customer Experience Post-pandemic Rapid and flexible scaling of customer care professionals

Effective training and knowledge transfer for customer care professionals

Automation to complement human efforts & prodive self-serve options for customers

Utilizing AI, data and analytics to understand and re-imagine purchase journeys

Digitize purchase journeys, reduce or eliminate paperwork to increase convenience and compliance

Implement empathetic collections with care for past dues

Humans need a humane approach

While brands like Zappos have it in their DNA, for a large majority of companies, it took a pandemic to infuse ‘empathy’ into all aspects of customer service. Anxious and isolated customers turned to customer support representatives to talk about matters affecting their hearts.

Brands that encouraged their CX associates to engage with customers beyond delivering basic services or minimalistic answers predicated on transactional benchmarks earned a great deal of credibility and brand loyalty.

At ContactPoint 360 our CX brand ambassadors build customer loyalty with genuine empathy, deep product knowledge, impeccable communication skills, and advanced technology.

Every day we unite people across the world through our omnichannel communications systems and bespoke approach. We believe that delivering constant customer experience excellence requires unceasing innovation and a steadfast commitment to being the best.

Whether it’s your home, our home, or their home, we put people first. We strive to hire and retain the best CX ambassadors and match them with the best possible technology.

We are strong proponents of data analytics and we love to provide our clients with insights and analysis designed to drive efficiencies and to perfect the customer journey.

12+ YEARS OF SERVICING ENERGY & UTILITY COMPANIES Our journey into the contact center industry began with a utility client. While we have expanded to service new industries, energy & utility sector remains our area of expertise. Our propriety ‘Collections with Care’ program which maximizes your past due recoveries, ensures brand safety, and maintains long-term relationships.

SALES | ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES | BACKOFFICE SUPPORT | CUSTOMER CARE | REMOTE WORKFORCE

Overview By the Numbers • • • • •

8 CX centers across Canada, North America, Latin America, Asia & Europe.

40 years of combined fortune 500 experience.

80+ years of combined Sr. BPM and CX Management experience.

1200+ associates and flexible remote workforce solutions.

25 in-house software developers.

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A new era

for the Canadian Electricity Association - By Rewa Mourad Communications and Diversity Advisor, Canadian Electricity Association

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uch has been written about the COVID-19 pandemic, from its long-lasting impact on our world, to how it aggressively demonstrated society’s unpreparedness for a sustained emergency. 2020 was an exceptionally challenging year for people across the globe, for families, small businesses, communities, and under-privileged groups.

Notwithstanding, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) and our member companies – from vertically integrated electric utilities, independent power producers, transmission and distribution companies, to power marketers, to manufacturers and suppliers of indystry materials, technology and services – have made it an extraordinary year for the electricity sector.

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Without surprise, we have proven to be, once again, particularly resilient. CEA is proud to have not only maintained a high level of service and continuous support to members – as their work to deliver reliable, safe and affordable electricity for Canadians was arguably more crucial and more challenging than ever before – but we have also seamlessly pivoted to a virtual state, continued to engage with partners, meet with key decision-makers, and of course, deal with the physical and psychological challenges of a global pandemic. A 2020 milestone for the Association that is also worth highlighting, a considerable achievement that was a product of true dedication and collaboration, was the renewal of our Strategic Plan.

CEA’s renewed Plan presents a direct path to strengthen our role of providing value-added services, products and programming to our membership and advancing the strategic interests of Canada’s electricity industry.

It also provides the foundation for allowing the Association to be nimble and agile in responding to the continuing transformation of the electricity landscape in Canada. As the only pan-Canadian electricity association bringing together all aspects of the industry, CEA will continue to speak in a strong and integrated voice to create a sustainable future that is good for business, good for communities and good for Canada.

This plan reflects the Association’s existing and emerging priorities both up to- and beyond- the meter and will see a shift in CEA’s approach to think, advocate, communicate and educate.

Back in June 2019, CEA’s Board of Directors initiated a Strategic Plan “refresh” process, which later turned into a complete review and renewal of the Plan. This was proven necessary given the rapid pace of change in both the industry and at grid edge.

Several discussions took place around the electricity industry’s future and where CEA can bring value to the membership.

We will continue to be the undisputed voice of electricity in Canada, the eyes and ears of our members at the national level, and the principal source of unbiased information about decarbonization and electricity in Canada. We will continue to be the primary thought leader of the sector, helping governments across Canada update regulatory frameworks and meet consumer expectations. We will be the repository of best practice learning for all those involved in the industry, as well as the leader in uniting all associations active in the world of electricity in Canada around issues of common interest.

Together, CEA and its members discussed the sector’s priorities and challenges, analyzed trends, gathered invaluable insights and identified catalytic ideas to guide us through the coming years. The results culminated in solidifying future aspirations for the Association, reflecting a new vision to be the best trade association, a new mission to be the national voice for sustainable electricity for its members and the customers they serve, and new strategic goals that reflect the Association’s role to think, advocate, communicate and educate on behalf of members.

CEA will continue to provide indispensable value to, and shape relationships with, our members, members’ customers, Indigenous Peoples, electricity regulators, governments and other key groups.

The Canadian Electricity Association is ready for renewal. We are set to return to the work we were doing before the world stopped and we are ready to build back better. And while the development of our five-year Strategic Plan is an essential first step to do this, much work is yet to be done to prepare for the future. We need to apply the lessons learned from COVID-19, begin to think about the needs of customers, improve and enlarge the electricity grid, modernize the provincial and territorial frameworks, and much more. One thing is for sure: CEA will continue to play an essential role in today’s volatile environment, as technological advances and the speed of electrification change the face of our country. As the sector continuously evolves, so will CEA.

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Checking in on CEA’s Podcast: The Flux Capacitor

- With Francis Bradley President and CEO, Canadian Electricity Association

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hat will the electricity sector look like five, ten, twenty years from now? What role will policy and future technologies play in that future? How will they impact our grid? How will markets and customer demands respond to new technologies? What is our sector’s role in fighting against climate change and achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050? These questions form the basis of the most prominent conversations taking place between the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA), industry leaders, members, government, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Since joining the Association in 1986, Francis Bradley, president and CEO of CEA, has been leading many of these conversations; in conferences, in meetings, and more recently… through a podcast.

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In early 2019, Bradley launched “The Flux Capacitor” as an opportunity to continue having these conversations with business and thought leaders, now on a bigger platform and with a broader audience.

Rewa Mourad, Editor: Why did you decide to call the podcast “The Flux Capacitor”?

Francis Bradley, President & CEO, CEA: The Flux Capacitor was actually a piece of technology from the 1985 time-travel film Back to the Future. So, the idea with this podcast was to virtually ‘step into another period in time’ to try and describe what the future of our sector would look like. And so, in that sense, I thought the title ‘The Flux Capacitor’ would be very apt for a conversation about the future of electricity.

Rewa Mourad: What are some of key messages that you would like to get across with this podcast?

Francis Bradley: One of the reasons why I’m referencing a 1985 film is a bit of a reflection of how much things have changed and consequently, how much things are going to change. All of the assumptions that we had about the future back in 1985 look a little quaint today. And so, who would be in a position today to envision the future of the sector? Those are the people I am bringing in. We've had senior regulators on the podcast, academics, Indigenous leaders, all of whom would have a unique take on the future of our sector, as it will likely be grounded on a clear understanding of what our present looks like.

We know the future is going to be one of decarbonization, decentralization, democratization, and digitization – all of which are going to change the way we interact with electricity, with the sector and amongst ourselves in this community.

And so, bringing in people that have interesting perspectives on this is what I wanted to do.

Rewa Mourad: You recently passed the torch to three female-identified CEA employees for an “International Women’s Day Takeover” of The Flux Capacitor, marking the first time that you had other hosts on this podcast.

Why did you decide to dedicate a series for this topic and why was it important for the hosts to be women?

Francis Bradley: Two perspectives on this. The first perspective is the significance and the relevance of gender issues in our sector. It's something that leadership within our membership is increasingly addressing, particularly with respect to the women in skilled trades. So, it was not only relevant, but necessary to give these discussions a platform.

The second perspective is one of voice. Yes, I thought it was really important that we address these issues, but I cannot be the one to address them. There are people in much better and more appropriate positions to do just that. If we’re going to talk about issues of gender in the sector, it is important that the listeners of the podcast are hearing women's voices, women’s perspectives, and women’s experiences. I was delighted that members of our team here at CEA were prepared to step up and become the hosts of the podcast over those three episodes.

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Rewa Mourad: At the end of each episode, you ask your guests one common question: “What book are you reading right now?” It has almost become your signature! Why do you choose to ask this question? And what are some interesting recommendations that you’ve received to date?

Francis Bradley: As I’ve said earlier, the idea of this podcast really sprung out of conversations that I was already having about the future of the sector. This is also a question that I often ask people whose perspectives I find interesting and whom I have really good conversations with. I always wondered what they read! I have found that I get some really interesting insights about individuals when I ask them about what they read. So, it's a short form question to get a sense of what is it that people find interesting and valuable.

I've had some really interesting responses from people. I am now starting to joke on the podcast that I'm adding all the suggestions to a "Flux Capacitor reading list”. But it isn't really a joke…. I've been reading a number of those books myself and now the team at CEA has launched a Flux Capacitor book club in celebration of National Electricity Month! Fun fact: one of my guests not only recommended a book but then sent me their copy in the mail a week later!

Rewa Mourad: Could you share with us the title of the book?

Francis Bradley: It was a book called Paris 1919, about what took place in the peace talks following World War I. It was recommended and sent to me by George Lidgett, formerly with ATCO Utilities. It was in fact a book that was recommended to him years ago by the founder of the ATCO Group.

Rewa Mourad: Who would be a “dream guest” to have on the podcast?

Francis Bradley: How about a roundtable discussion with Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla? It would be fascinating to bring these four together around the table, wouldn’t it?

But one that is a little more Canadian-focused and CEA-focused, would be JJ Wright. He was the first head of CEA when it was established 130 years ago, in 1891. It would be incredibly interesting to hear, from the person who established this organization in the 1800s, about his perspectives on electricity today. We’re now talking about the Government of Canada’s goal to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050 and what that could look like… that would be an interesting conversation to have with JJ Wright, someone who was present at the foundation of the electricity industry in Canada.

Rewa Mourad: So, what's next for “The Flux Capacitor”?

What should your listeners look forward to?

Francis Bradley: We’ve recently launched a series of episodes on Net Zero by 2050. What does that actually look like and what does that mean for our sector?

We’re bringing in perspectives from a range of stakeholders and leaders within the industry, from our member companies, to government, to the environmental community, to academics.

We want to bring a variety of voices together and have a series of discussions about what that “dream” of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 looks like. What does it mean for our industry? For society? For the end customer? How do we get from here to there?

Listen to The Flux Capacitor Podcast today!

Watch this interview between Rewa Mourad and the host of The Flux Capacitor podcast, Francis Bradley.

Scan the QR code with your mobile phone or watch it live here.

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podcast

the FLUX capacitor with Francis Bradley

Catch Episode 35 of the Flux Capacitor Today: Kate Chisholm and a Capital Power’s Net Zero Journey Kate Chisholm, Senior Vice President of Capital Power discusses carbon intensity reduction, Net Zero, new technologies, and the rising importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).

Listen NOW!

Scan the QR code with your mobile phone or visit: electricity.ca

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There is a real opportunity for the sector to become a leader in advancing gender equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and carry the torch for future generations.

And now is the time to do so for the electricity sector to continue to prosper and help decarbonize the economy and achieve climate targets.

Achieving Goals Through Diversity

- By Shahrzad Simab Manager, Climate Change and Clean Energy, Canadian Electricity Association

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n recent decades, Canada and many other countries have made extensive progress in advancing women’s rights in multiple sectors and in creating equitable work environments. Some sectors however, including that of energy, are traditionally more male-dominated. It remains one of the least gender diverse sectors in business. With electricity being central to Canada's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, closing the gender gap is more vital now than ever before, as women have continuously proven to be key drivers of innovative solutions.

The electrification of the economy will inevitably result in increasing demand for electricity and technological advancements will transform the way customers receive and consume power. At the cusp of this massive change in the industry, there is a need to recruit and foster the brightest minds amongst all genders, races, ethnicities and backgrounds.

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The way to move forward on such issues is awareness, education and understanding. That is why CEA has been holding monthly virtual staff gatherings, called ‘The Gender Partnerships Coffee Series’ during which important issues related to gender equality and treatment of women in the workplace are discussed. The vision for the Gender Partnerships Coffee Series is for CEA to be a safe space for employees, at all levels of the organization, to comfortably share their experiences and thoughts on topics that may be traditionally “uncomfortable” – yet incredibly important – with the intent of learning from one another and encouraging reflection. The mission is to create an open space where staff can engage in discourse, identify key areas where more work needs to be focused, and brainstorm solutions collectively in an effort to create meaningful change throughout the sector.

Some topics of discussion during the coffee series include: • The impact of maternity/biological (menstrual)/ caretaking leave on women’s careers • Should employers place gender quotas when hiring?

• Acknowledgement of women in formal settings – do’s and don’ts • Overcoming barriers to women stepping into leadership positions • Addressing the salary gap As the national voice of the Canadian electricity industry, CEA deemed it was important to first ensure internal staff have the tools and knowledge necessary, in order to effectively promote change widely. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness, rather than to encourage staff to subscribe to specific opinions or ways of thinking. While disagreements, various opinions, and differing experiences are expected, they are also widely appreciated. By simply having these conversations, we move one step closer to true inclusion.

To read more on CEA’s ED&I initiatives, please visit: electricity.ca/ED&I

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What can Tommy Douglas teach us about climate change?

- By Justin Crewson Director, Regulatory Affairs & Grid Infrastructure, Canadian Electricity Association

Q

uizzes have always been a peculiar tradition at my family’s holiday gatherings. And so, one year, my family and I found ourselves guessing who a recent CBC national survey had named “the greatest Canadian of all time”. Many of the quiz participants were in minor hockey – of course, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux figured heavily in the predictions. But it was later revealed that former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas had topped the 2004 CBC poll.

I did not think about that quiz much more until years later while studying policy in the U.S state of Michigan.

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In contrast to Canadian enthusiasm for grand collective projects such as public health care, many of my classmates seemed to have a strong default preference for individualism and market forces as policy remedies to social ills. When I brought up the Canadian healthcare system, the response from my American peers tended to be one of interest, but ultimately a dismissal, that such a system was too “socialist” to work in the U.S. It was then that I suddenly understood why Premier Douglas was held in such high esteem. He represented an institution that, even more than hockey, embodied what it meant to be Canadian.

Nearly a decade later, I once again find myself thinking about Tommy Douglas. Last year, in concert with countries around the world, Canada legislated a bold target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Indeed, with over 80% of Canada’s electricity production being emissions-free and growing, we are starting from a point of strength.

However, the investment required to merely replace our aging grid infrastructure – not to mention the cost of upgrading generation, transmission, and distribution systems to electrify and decarbonize the economy – is significant.

Ongoing investment will be required to secure, maintain, and modernize these investments in perpetuity.

Recent work by Princeton University estimates that between 2020 and 2030, in a “business-as-usual” scenario, $9.4 trillion will be spent on renewing the U.S. energy system. To reach a trajectory for net-zero emissions by 2050, the country would need to invest only an additional 3% (or $300 billion). This is an important point, and it highlights the significance in making that extra investment beyond marginal cost that will provide the very non-marginal return of preventing climate change. The electricity grid in Canada also needs renewal and it would be wise to enable our electricity companies to make the additional investments over replacing like-for-like.

Ultimately, this additional investment will have to come from somewhere, and given the decades-long lifespan of electricity infrastructure, we need to make the decision sooner rather than later. However, the mandates of most provincial and territorial regulatory commissions oblige them to review sector investments with a sole focus on limiting financial costs, even if these limited investments fail to address broader social objectives.

What can Tommy Douglas teach us about our response to climate change? In 1947, his party, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), instituted North America’s first publicly-funded healthcare system, largely as a response to the depression era and demand for government policies that improved human welfare. Like electricity, the Canadian constitution makes healthcare a provincial responsibility, and similar to electricity systems today, for the first half of the 20th century, provincial healthcare systems evolved differently in various Canadian jurisdictions. This changed in 1957 – when inspired by the level and universality of care offered by provinces like Saskatchewan – the federal government passed the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act. It offered to reimburse half of provincial and territorial costs for specific hospital services and did so with an objective of standardizing the level of healthcare across the country.

Less than 5 years later, all Canadian provinces and territories decided to provide publicly-funded healthcare services.

The structure of healthcare payments has evolved over the years, but in its current form, the Canada Health Act sets standards that must be met by provinces and territories to receive full monetary transfers.

While the Canadian healthcare system is not perfect, and comes with its own challenges, we should once again look to Tommy Douglas as a source of inspiration for the social ills of the day. Towards this end, in December 2016, premiers and the federal government signed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which prioritized infrastructure funding programs. While many are being delivered by the federal government, the current model forces a “one-size-fits-all” approach that requires investments to be structured to meet federal rather than provincial needs.

Current funding mechanisms also require onerous costsharing and reporting requirements; and in any case fail to address the root of the problem.

The federal government must be bolder and focus on the regulatory constructs that govern provincial and territorial electricity infrastructure investments, and this issue should be prioritized at the next Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference (EMMC).

Discussions should concentrate on the development of principles for a shared climate funding formula to unlock the investments required for deep decarbonization and electrification of the Canadian economy. Like healthcare, this funding will need to be ubiquitous and transformative, enabling continuous investments over business-as-usual, and be fully directed by provincial and territorial governments.

Like healthcare, the government should set metrics, such as emissions reductions, to incentivize the proper use of funding.

I have no doubt that Tommy Douglas would be supportive of such an approach, especially since it was his government that created the provincially-owned Saskatchewan Power Corporation, a predecessor to SaskPower. SaskPower and its provincial owners are but one of the many stakeholders across the country that would benefit from a similar costsharing scheme. Like Tommy Douglas, such bold action might also make its founder one of the greatest Canadians ever, having solved yet another global problem with domestic Canadian values.

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The team is increasing energy literacy, efficiency and conservation efforts and awareness of common SaskPower processes such as billing, payments and service address changes in the north.

The five-person Indigenous Customer Care Team works as a liaison between SaskPower, the communities of Fond du Lac, Clearwater River Déne and the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation communities of Deschambault Lake, Pelican Narrows, Southend, and Sandy Bay. The team partners with the local leaders and offices to provide opportunities for engagement, to learn about energy and ways to save money on power bills. The program also includes a local Indigenous member to fulfill the role of a Community Power Representative – a critical conduit between the Indigenous Customer Care team, SaskPower, and the community. Together, they increase energy literacy in the communities and help deliver energy efficiency tools to reduce power bills.

“Reducing customer bills and increasing energy literacy is a priority for SaskPower,” said Mike Marsh, President and CEO of SaskPower.

“The Indigenous Customer Care team is a unique outreach initiative to Northern communities that SaskPower is very proud of. They do great work and continue to reach these communities on a very direct and personal level.”

Renewing relationships

with Northern Indigenous communities to increase energy efficiency - By Natosha Lipinski Manager, Communications Strategy, SaskPower

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enewing relationships to foster an energy-efficient Saskatchewan is a priority for SaskPower. As part of this commitment, SaskPower created the Indigenous Customer Care Team with the goal of lowering power bills in several high-consuming communities in Northern Saskatchewan. Now entering its second year, the successful pilot program is focused on addressing root causes of energy difficulty through collaborative solutions. Part of SaskPower’s commitment to collaborating with Northern Indigenous communities is to effectively connect and engage with these communities by translating materials into local Indigenous languages of Cree and Déne and communicating through direct social media messaging.

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SaskPower provides training on billing, payments, energy efficiency, and other important services to the Community Power Representative who then uses this knowledge to train and engage with their community through in-home consultations, one-on-one information sessions, and written materials from SaskPower. The communities selected in the pilot project were chosen due to their very high energy use and the impact this has on their community.

Their use is higher than other communities for a number of reasons, the largest factor being electric heat, as northern Indigenous communities do not have the option of natural gas heat.

In total, the Indigenous Customer Care team will be working with 2,000 customers in the pilot communities.

“The knowledge and opportunities the team brings to our community to help educate our residents is exceptionally helpful,” said Darrin Morin, Band Councillor of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.

“We have very high electricity bills in the north so it is great to have a unique relationship with SaskPower that helps us with this issue.”

The Indigenous Customer Care team was established in 2019 as a pilot project, and SaskPower is currently evaluating more communities to be serviced by the team, with decisions expected to be made later this year.

SaskPower is Saskatchewan’s leading energy supplier. They are defined by their commitment to support economic growth and enhance the quality of life in the province.

Reflections

on a tumultuous year and how Canada’s electricity companies stepped up - By Diana Dominique Director of Customer Council, Canadian Electricity Association

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t’s been over a year since lockdowns started in Canada, with restrictions visibly harsher in certain cities and provinces than they are in others. And even though we don’t yet understand the full extent of the pandemic’s effect on society, what we do know is that the impacts are significant and will be with us for a long time to come.

As we all wait for the vaccines to roll out widely and restrictions to be lifted, I’m sure many of us are pondering and reflecting on this last year. As someone who works in the electricity sector, getting behind electricity has always been easy. However, because of this past year, I have fully realized the true value of our grid and the electricity that it delivers to households and businesses across this vast nation.

At the start of the pandemic, our members pivoted rapidly and worked tirelessly to help customers who were most in need.

Utilities across Canada launched targeted relief measures and provided funding to community organizations and charities such as United Way and local food banks. Members also proactively reached out to commercial, industrial, and residential customers to offer support, provide flexible payment options, and halted all collections and disconnection activities. For example, Hydro One returned security deposits to help businesses with cash flow issues, and through BC Hydro’s COVID-19 relief fund, eligible residential and small business customers were provided with up to three months of financial relief on their hydro bill.

As the pandemic continues, Canadian utilities are helping with economic recovery. Hydro-Québec has expanded their energy solutions program so Québec businesses can now receive up to twice as much financial assistance as before - up to $3 million per project.

Despite a very difficult year, residential, commercial, and industrial customers saw their utilities in a positive light, according to CEA’s 2020 National survey results. This increase in customer satisfaction could be attributed to external influences, such as the Government of Canada’s handling of the pandemic, but was also due to these direct utility actions.

Resilient, adaptive, and steadfast, Canada’s electric utilities continue to support customers who need it most while contributing to our country’s economic recovery. Because of our sector’s achievements this past year, I believe that we can all feel a bit more optimistic as we move into a post COVID-19 future.

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This equals more than half of ENMAX Power’s downtown metered customers (approximately 19,500), including high-rise residential buildings, commercial customers, data centers and health care facilities.

“Due to the substation’s age, condition of the equipment and criticality of its power supply, the ENMAX Power team identified an impending need to replace the major assets in No. 1 Substation, which are at or nearing end of life for their reliability and safety,” said Jana Mosley, Senior Vice President, ENMAX Power. “After considering various options and consulting with stakeholders, the team determined that rebuilding the substation in place would not be ideal for safety, cost, size and other factors, and that the best option would be to build a new substation on a new site.”

Planning for a new No. 1 This led to a two-year planning phase, resulting in an application to the Alberta Utilities Commission for regulatory approval. After more than a year-long regulatory process on the facility application, the Commission determined that the project was in the public interest and issued approval to ENMAX Power in January 2021.

Photo Description: Artist renderings of the new No. 1 Substation.

A new chapter for Calgary’s original substation - By Julia Perkins Managing Editor, Communications, ENMAX Corporation

E

NMAX Power is the regulated Alberta-based wires business of ENMAX Corporation that owns, operates and maintains the transmission and distribution system in and around Calgary, Alberta, serving more than 510,000 customers.

The utility continues to modernize its grid and replace aging infrastructure to reliably meet the energy needs of its customers both now and in the future.

Powering Calgary for more than a century Some of ENMAX Power’s substations have supplied power to Calgarians for multiple decades, notably No. 1 Substation. True to its name, No. 1 Substation is Calgary’s original substation, built in 1912 to power the early streetlights and streetcar rail system in the city.

In recognition of how Calgary has grown around the original substation and the vitality of Calgary’s downtown, engagement and feedback from customers and key stakeholders were essential in the design of the new substation. It considers current and future land use and includes visually appealing features such as glass panels and artwork to interact with the people living and working in the area around the site.

The new substation will be located directly west of the existing No. 1 Substation and construction is anticipated to start in the third quarter of 2021. Given the downtown location, the team's thoughtful construction planning includes consultation and collaboration with stakeholders and municipal partners to ensure the work can be completed safely and impacts of road and lane closures are mitigated as much as possible.

The team expects the new substation to be fully complete by the end of 2024, with decommissioning and salvage of the electrical infrastructure at the existing site to take place in 2025.

“This is an exciting project for ENMAX Power and our customers,” said Mosley. “The opportunity to replace and refresh No. 1 Substation represents our continued commitment to providing safe, reliable service for Calgarians into our evolving energy future.”

No. 1 Substation has evolved over more than 100 years and supplies power to approximately 45 per cent of the Calgary’s downtown geographic area (about 3.2 square kilometers).

Photo Description: No. 1 Substation and switchyard, 1929.

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LEVERAGING BATTERY STORAGE

FIRST IN THE WORLD TO DEPLOY TESLA MEGAPACK - By Andrew Ahearn Manager, Engineering, Saint John Energy

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n a frigid winter day in late 2019, as the crane lowered a massive 51,000-pound Tesla Megapack battery into place, a handful of Saint John Energy engineers stood by watching with nervous anticipation. It was an inauspicious moment for what we would later discover: it marked the world’s first deployment of a Megapack.

At Saint John Energy – a small distribution utility on Canada’s east coast – we are immensely proud of our commitment to innovation. And here we were, about to be the first on the planet to fire up Tesla’s most state-of-the art utility-scale battery.

We had long-eyed battery storage as a way to shave peak energy costs, to curb carbon emissions associated with energy generation needed to satisfy peak demands, and to help us as we usher in utility-scale renewable energy solutions for our city.

As that frigid winter gave way to spring, the Megapack was fully installed, connected to the distribution system and ready to be put to work… and we could hardly wait.

The Megapack was a key piece of the smart grid that Saint John Energy is building for customers – a $13.5 million project unique in Canada for its ambition and the technology deployed. Developed in collaboration with our partners in innovation, our smart grid will leverage artificial intelligence to manage smart energy resources across our distribution system, predict energy load and manage resources by leveraging advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Deployment in our control centre.

Saint John Energy is in an enviable position as we build out our smart grid. More than 60 per cent of our customers rent a product such as a water heater from us . Equipping our customers with smart water heaters and other smart energy technologies gives us an array of distributed energy resources that can store energy and shift demand.

In this first year of deploying the Tesla battery, our own engineers are making decisions on when to charge and discharge it for smoothing our peaks. In the future, the smart grid will be

forecasting the peaks and autonomously making decisions on when the battery is charged and discharged.

As the very first Sustainable Electricity Company in Eastern Canada, making smart choices for the environment, along with battery storage, is important to us. Satisfying the demand for peak energy presses our wholesale electricity supplier to fire up generation sources that emit carbon. In our province of New Brunswick, power generation brought on by peak demand produces twice as much carbon dioxide.

Smoothing our peaks and avoiding the necessity for our supplier to fire up fossil-fuel powered generation is better for our environment and for our economy, making the Megapack a wise and green investment in our future and in our renewable energy plans.

A partnership was formed with developer Natural Forces to construct a wind farm for Saint John by 2022 to supply up to 45 MW – about 15 per cent of the city’s energy needs – and utility-scale solar projects are being piloted. By that point, we will have expanded our energy storage options to partially balance the intermittent nature of our renewable generation. A year in, we are impressed with how the Megapack has helped us smooth the peak, and although we are still optimizing it, the savings are in line with our expectations.

Already, it has us thinking about expanding energy storage to further save our customers money, enhance the reliability of our grid, and contribute to a greener planet.

Saint John Energy is an innovative utility providing leading-edge energy solutions to 36,000+ residential and business customers in Saint John. Its strong focus on customer service and reliability allows it to consistently offer the lowest electricity rates in Atlantic Canada.

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READ NOW! 2021Climate Adaptation Guide

To help Canada’s electricity companies adapt to the “new normal”, and manage the risks posed by climate and extreme weather changes, CEA created “Climate Change and Extreme Weather: A Guide to Adaptation Planning for Electricity Companies in Canada”. This document guides companies through an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework of how to identify, assess and plan how to manage the risks to electricity infrastructure posed by climate and weather.

free download www.electricity.ca/climate CEA created this guide with the support of Natural Resources Canada and CEA member companies.

shaping the future Electricity. It’s the magic we take for granted but rely on everyday.

CEA’s Centre of Excellence celebrates Canadian innovation and cutting-edge technology in the electricity sector. Whether it’s a virtual power plant providing residential customers with the ability to generate their own clean energy and augment the grid, or the world’s first commercial-scale post-combustion carbon capture and storage unit – all Centre of Excellence projects are positively impacting the lives of Canadians and shaping our collective energy future.

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canadian electricity association - THE GRID 2021 | Renewal

THE CANADIAN ELECTRICITY ASSOCIATION

CORPORATE PARTNER

PROGRAM CEA’s Corporate Partner Program connects companies that manufacture, consult or provide a service to any part of the electricity industry with decision makers of CEA members, utility and service operators from every province and territory in Canada. Corporate Partners may currently be established in the Canadian market or looking for a way to introduce their products or services to CEA members from outside Canada.

JOIN NOW!

For more information, please contact:

Faran Mirza

Manager, Corporate Partner Program and Sponsorships

mirza@electricity.ca canadian electricity association - THE GRID 2021 | Renewal

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