Current Affairs

Current Affairs is Electricity’s Canada monthly newsletter featuring advocacy efforts, member success stories and news regarding the industry.

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Issue 48 - December 2022

Rethink, Reimagine, and Renew: Our Energy Future – Electricity Canada’s Annual Powering Partnerships Summit

As a sector, we are facing climate targets that will not be met if we continue to rely on historical approaches and traditional solutions. In order to achieve a net zero electricity grid by 2035 and a net zero economy by 2050, we will need to rethink and reimagine the future of electricity in Canada.

On November 23, 2022, Electricity Canada hosted our annual Powering Partnerships Summit, which brought together energy experts, innovators, and leaders to help us Rethink, Reimagine and Renew our energy future.

Monica Gattinger, Chair of Positive Energy at the University of Ottawa, Rob Lister, President and CEO of Oakville Enterprises Corporation and Andrea Roszell, Director at Guidehouse joined our first panel to share their insights and ideas on how business is changing to meet the demands of the future and what is required for us to ensure a net zero tomorrow.

We will also need to renew our relationships with Indigenous Communities, government, and leaders from across all sectors, to reach our goals and meet our timelines.

Jesse McCormick from the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, Tabatha Bull from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Guy Lonechild from the First Nations Power Authority and Brian Schmidt from Tamarack Valley Energy, joined Manitoba Hydro's President and CEO Jay Grewal, to share what works and what doesn’t and talked about new approaches and recommendations. Renewing these relationships will help to improve our electricity systems today, while safeguarding the prosperity, health, and well-being of generations tomorrow.

The Summit concluded with a live recording of top Canadian political podcast, “The Herle Burly,” featuring discussions on electrification and decarbonization with Shawn McCarthy from Sussex Strategy, Jason Dion from the Canadian Climate Institute and Greg Lyle from Innovative Research Group. The conversation is available here.

Other stories

  • Electricity Canada at COP27
  • Fall Economic Statement
  • Measurement Canada addresses supply chain challenges impacting the electricity and natural gas delivery industries
  • Expanding the Investment Tax Credits
  • House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade Appearance
  • Second Draft of Excessive Interest and Financing Expenses Limitation (EIFEL) Legislation released
  • A new U.S. Congress in 2023
  • How 38-year-old rules on electricity sales hold back Canada's next generation of EV chargers
  • Electricity Canada mentioned in the the Federal Government's National Adaptation Strategy
  • Electricity Canada released the 2021 Sustainable Electricity Report
  • Electricity Canada's annual Awards Ceremony
  • Electricity Canada Presents: DataBytes
  • Electricity Fundamentals in Canada – Accelerating Learning
Read now
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Issue 47 - December 2022

Electricity. For the Future.

Electricity plays an important role in getting Canada to net zero emissions and reducing the impacts of climate change.

With that in mind, Electricity Canada is happy to announce the launch of a new section on our website, dedicated to educating the public on the basics of net zero, and the role of electricity in the collective fight against climate change.

This new resource explains net zero in simple terms using a video, an infographic, a timeline of the past, present, and future of climate change legislation, a tour of our
members' (Canadian electricity companies) projects and more!

The release of our new website tab coincides with the launch of Electricity Canada’s Fall Net Zero advertising campaign. This consumer-focused campaign continues to build on the messaging that Electricity

Canada members are leading our country’s efforts to tackle climate change, with the new tagline: “Electricity. For the Future.”
Learn more at www.netzerofuture.ca

Other stories

  • Electricity Canada Voices Its Concerns Over Nova Scotia Bill 212
  • Electricity Canada Submits Pre-Budget Recommendations
  • Securing Our Energy Future Event
  • Power Marketers Council in Washington, DC
  • Clean Electricity Regulations (CER)
  • Fisheries, migratory birds and invasive species
  • Joint Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Provincial and Territorial Premiers
  • Electricity Canada meets with Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)
  • Electricity Canada joins the Net Zero Advisory Body Roundtable on Regulatory Innovation
  • Francis Bradley Provides Keynote Presentation to the Ottawa Economics Association
  • Francis Bradley Provides Keynote Presentation to the UTC Power Grid Digitalization Forum
  • Electricity Canada talks Interest deductibility limit
  • Electricity Canada welcomes new Corporate Partner: Awesense
  • Electricity Canada Presents: DataBytes
  • Ottawa loans Ontario Power Generation almost $1B to build Canada's first SMR at Darlington
Read now
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Issue 46 - October 2022

"In an emergency, it's all hands on deck"

We expect the worst when hurricane season comes, but even then, the devastation caused by tropical storm Fiona far exceeded even those expectations. The storm hit the east coast with heavy rain and winds of over 170 km/h that left hundreds of thousands across the Atlantic provinces without power, $300 to $700 million worth of insured losses to the local economy, several injured, and a few dead. It has been also estimated that infrastructure restoration could take months.

Fiona also hit the electricity grid hard. At least 500,000 customers throughout the Altantic provinces had no power.

Since then, power has largely been restored to the majority of affected customers thanks, in part, to the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group (NAMAG). This group works to connect electricity providers needing help repairing their grid with neighboring utilities that can spare personnel and resources.

As of last week, Nova Scotia Power received assistance from electricity providers in Canada and the U.S. including:

Versant Power: a supervisor, 15 line workers and two mechanics from Bangor, Maine
Central Maine Power: Sixteen two-person crews along with 10 additional support personnel are heading north with 14 bucket trucks and two digger trucks
Hydro Ottawa: 15 power line technicians, a crew supervisor, safety partner, fleet mechanic, and 10 vehicles, including five bucket trucks and two radial boom derricks
“When an emergency occurs, it's all hands on deck,” said Electricity Canada President and CEO Francis Bradley in a recent interview with POLITICO. “It doesn't matter where you are, we send crews to wherever they're needed in those emergencies.”

Other stories

  • Electricity Canada appears in Parliamentary committee
  • Electricity Canada appears at Senate committee
  • Francis Bradley participates in an Energy Transition panel
  • Ottawa looks to push provinces to modernize electricity grids
  • Electricity Human Resources Canada’s Agents of Change 2022 is fast approaching!
  • Smart Grid Innovation Network's Energy Innovation Forum
  • Electricity Canada Publishes a Framework for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
  • Global electricity leaders call to action
  • Hydro One launches industry-leading 50-50 equity model with First Nations
  • Electricity Canada Presents: DataBytes
Read now
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Issue 45 - October 2022

Electricity Canada submits feedback on Clean Electricity Regulations.

On August 22nd, Electricity Canada submitted feedback to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on the proposed Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) – formerly called Clean Electricity Standard. Aside from their goal of a clean, affordable, and reliable grid, the Department released few details about the proposed regulation.

We do know that the rules will require some fossil-fueled electricity generating units to install carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) by 2035, or will otherwise shut down. Exactly how ECCC will define which units will be subject to those rules is still not clear.

Since the last comment period on the CER in April 2022, ECCC has indicated that it will exempt all non-grid connected generation – a recommendation submitted by Electricity Canada.

The Department has also indicated that it is aware of the need for natural gas generation for reliability purposes, and that the regulation will be focused on high-emitting use cases and would continue to allow for applications such as units with low utilization that help to respond to high demand periods.

With the draft regulations coming before the end of 2022, there is likely less than a month remaining before departmental staff begin their approval processes. The shortened time frame may lead to more significant changes between the publication of the draft regulations in Canada Gazette 1 this year, and the final regulations in Canada Gazette 2 sometime in 2023.

For more information, please contact Jay Wilson at wilson@electricity.ca

Other stories

  • Electricity Canada Submits Comments to Public Safety Canada
  • 'Electricity Fundamentals in Canada' Student Enrolment Surpasses 1,000!
  • Electricity Canada President and CEO delivers remarks to the Conference Board of Canada
  • Electricity Canada releases the annual report on distribution system performance for electric utilities
  • North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Summer Board Meeting
  • Significant U.S. Funding for Clean Energy
  • Canada-Germany Hydrogen Announcement
  • Electricity Canada welcomes two new Corporate Partners
  • Annual Alberta Power Symposium
  • Electricity Canada Presents: DataBytes
Read now
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Issue 44 - August 2022

Electricity Canada Celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day!

Every day, lineworkers across Canada work to keep electricity flowing into our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. They are the highly trained men and women who work on installing and maintaining the complex grid across cities, provinces, and territories.

Often faced with working in extreme conditions, lineworkers are trained to work efficiently, safely, and collaboratively to keep the lights on. And every year on July 10th, Electricity Canada and our membership celebrate National Lineworker Appreciation Day.

With electricity becoming more and more important on the road to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the work lineworkers do becomes even more important.

It is estimated that Canada will need to produce up to two to three times as much clean power as it does now to meet these goals. Lineworkers have always been on the front lines of every storm, wildfire, or pandemic, and work to maintain and repair the grid that powers essential services. And now, they will be on the front lines to help electricity become the primary energy source.

In recognition of National Lineworker Appreciation Day, Electricity Canada created a video in collaboration with Hydro Ottawa, featuring footage of the May 21st derecho, resulting in over 350,000 outages across Ontario and Quebec.

WATCH NOW!


Other stories

  • Clean Electricity Regulations
  • Electricity Canada Successful in Attaining New Mobile Network Code (MNC) Designation
  • Volunteer Board of Director(s) for Women of Powerline Technicians
  • Public Safety Canada Renews National Cyber Security Strategy
  • Final Call for Electricity Canada's Reliability & Resiliency Award
  • Final Call for Electricity Canada's Lifesaving Award
  • Canada Opens Call for Carbon Capture RD&D Projects
  • Electricity Canada Presents: DataBytes
  • Francis Bradley joins KUBRA's Experience Better: The CX Podcast
Read now
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Issue 43 - July 2022

Electricity Fundamentals in Canada Off and Running!

Electricity Fundamentals in Canada (EFiC) is a unique post-secondary level course, launched by Electricity Canada in May 2022. The course provides a high level, cross cutting overview of the entire electricity industry, ranging from nomenclature, technologies, issues, challenges, and the future. Electricity Canada is uniquely positioned to offer this course that provides the fundamentals for those who work in the energy sector.

The course is available in both English and French, is computer based, modular, self-paced, and runs on an online Learning Management System in a “see it, do it, know it” format, complete with testing and scoring!

EFiC will be of special interest to everyone working in Canada’s electricity system, including electric utilities, service providers, and vendors along with all levels of government, regulators, indigenous communities, educational institutions, electricians, and individuals with a general interest in electricity.

Prepared in layman’s terms and with no prerequisite study required, EFiC offers all the tools necessary to provide a comprehensive overview of how the electricity system in Canada works.

“I loved the course. I was not that familiar with the industry, and I found the course extremely well done. It had a nice flow, provided enough explanation to a novice to learn about the industry and the processes, and it prompted me to review the material to be able to answer the assessment questions at the end. Well done!" - Certified EFiC Graduate.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EFIC HERE.

Other stories

  • Electricity Canada's Washington Policy Forum
  • Electricity Canada advocates for flexibility with Measurement Canada on EVs
  • Electricity Canada President and CEO appears before the HoC Standing Committee on Science and Research
  • Electricity Canada Advocates for More Clarity on Fisheries Policy
  • Electricity Canada Welcomes Senator Deacon’s Speech on Regulatory Modernization
  • Canada’s Electricity Sector Powers Up For Ukraine
  • Electricity Canada President and CEO presents at CAMPUT
  • Ontario Mutual Assistance Program Activation
  • EVCx Forum Rolling Along!
  • National Electricity Month
  • Reliability and Resiliency Award
  • Lifesaving Award
  • Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Offsets
  • Electricity Canada Presents: DataBytes
Read now

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