Current Affairs

CEA Presents National Electricity Month

It’s June which means it is National Electricity Month! Every year, the Canadian Electricity Association celebrates access to safe, clean and reliable electricity in Canada by developing a public-focused social campaign.

Spark of Imagination is a cross-country art project featuring paintings from over 80 Canadian youth, aged 6 – 13. This artwork will answer an important question that we ponder every day – what does electricity mean to you? While we appreciate that Canadian kids enjoy toasted bagels, televisions and iPads, we know there is still work to be done. In assigning this homework to kids from coast to coast, we now have some homework ourselves: to continue to educate on the real value of electricity.

These pieces of art will be featured throughout the month of June on social channels and sit permanently in the CEA offices. Please follow along, share and re-post some of the thoughtful artwork from Canadian kids.

Other stories

• Witness in the Economic Recovery from COVID-19 Study
• CEA Regulatory Forum
• New CEA Reliability Award
• New Episode of the Flux Capacitor
• OEC Acquires Utility Engineering Firm EMB Management Ltd.
• Alectra Utilities and Hydro One collaborate to improve reliability in Hamilton
• Elexicon Energy, Opus One Solutions, and Marshall Homes Design Canada’s First Preplanned Nested ‘Microgrid’ Residential Community
• Alectra announces plans to be Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
• Occupational Health and Safety Committee Spring Meeting
• Security Infrastructure and Protection Committee Meeting
• Legal Committee Cross-Committee Digital Summit
• Finance Tax and Accounting (FTA) Program Virtual Events
• CEA Hosts Call Centre Working Group
• Ontario Home Builder Magazine Interviews CEA’s Director of Emerging Issues

Federal Budget 2021

On April 19^th, the federal government released its first budget in two years. A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience focuses on continued COVID-19 response, economic recovery, investment in childcare, and a green economy. It also advances several CEA initiatives related to low carbon energy investments, energy efficiency and support for Measurement Canada.

The government has made significant commitments to the electricity sector through support for a grid modernization fund, supporting renewable fuels like hydrogen and biomass, investing in zero emission vehicles charging infrastructure, and creating the Net Zero Accelerator fund. Other notable investments include support to carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) research and development, funding for climate adaptation and grid resiliency, and incentives for clean technology investments.

All of these announcements reinforce the need for a broader federal plan on electricity’s critical role in decarbonization and meeting climate targets. Many of the pieces are here, but how they all fit together remains an important question.

Other stories

• Maritime Electric Receives Sustainable Electricity Company Designation
• New Episode of the Flux Capacitor
• Climate Change and Extreme Weather: A Guide to Adaptation Planning for Electric Companies in Canada
• CEA Metering Committee Completes “CATCHING UP: Modernizing Canada’s Electricity Marketplace Rules and Regulations to Grow & Decarbonize the Economy” Report
• CRTC Releases PVNO Decision
• ENVI Parliamentary Committee Provides EGIA Recommendation
• Electric Utility CFOs focus on Sustainable Finance
• Alectra’s Caroline Karvonen named to Canada’s Clean50 Sustainability leaders
• Saint John Energy’s Ryan Mitchell named to Canada’s Clean50 Sustainability leaders
• Utilities Feeling the Pressure to Provide Customers with the Latest in Electronic Bill Presentment Solutions
• The energy grid of the future: The evolution and opportunities of Distributed Energy Software
• EHRC & CEA Pandemic Roundtable
• Power Marketers Council Q2 Meeting
• CEA Welcomes New Corporate Partner
• CEA Regulatory Forum: “Electricity Regulation & the Four Disruptors – Decarbonization, Decentralization, Digitalization and Democratization”.

The Electricity Sector shows Resilience in 2020 and looks to Renew in 2021

The 2021 State of the Canadian Electricity Industry was released on March 17^th. This year CEA focused largely on the impacts of the pandemic on our sector, the social challenges affecting our industry, the regulatory landscape and the government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050. This report will be used broadly in CEA conversations with stakeholders throughout 2021. Over 500 registrants tuned in for the release of the 2021 report which premiered on YouTube. With CEA’s CEO Francis Bradley anchoring the conversation, the premiere included a panel with our Board of Directors and interviews with the CEA executive team. If you missed the premiere, the full-length video is still available for viewing.

Other stories

• CEA Celebrates its 130th Anniversary as an Association
• The Canadian Electricity Association Launches Guidance on Advancing Women in Skilled Trades
• CEA Submits Feedback to Canada Water Agency
• Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit Regulations Published
• SE Brand Designation Webinar
• The Canadian Electricity Association Releases Equal by 30 Commitments
• Episode 032: Keith Sones of Valard on project complexity and building for the future
• Episode 031: Equity Diversity and Inclusion Best Practices with Joelle Lancaster and Lyla Garzouz‪i
• Episode 030: Equity Diversity and Inclusion in the Field with Mackenzie Gillan and Allison Woo‪d
• Episode 029: Equity Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace with Starlene MacDonal‪d
• CEA Welcomes 5 New Corporate Partners
• CEA Proposes Amendments to Bill C-15 (UNDRIP Implementation)

Canada’s Net Zero Future

The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices released its report “Canada’s Net Zero Future” in February, which looks at potential pathways to Net Zero for Canada. The report is a robust piece of research that provides clear analysis of where opportunities for Canada are and what steps are needed. In particular, the report makes a distinction between existing and commercially proven technologies (“safe bets”) and emerging ones where more work is needed (“wildcards”). It emphasizes that each need distinct policy responses but are important to pursue with seriousness. “Safe bets” alone allow Canada to reach 2030 climate targets; “wild cards” will be needed for 2050. For the electricity sector, the report highlights the challenges of building out to meet future needs, including with existing regulatory frameworks.

Other stories

• CEA Comments on the Announcement of the U.S.-Canada Partnership Roadmap
• Net Zero Advertising Campaign
• State of the Industry YouTube Premiere
• CEA Presents: An International Women’s Day Podcast TAKEOVER
• Kids Talk Electricity: Episode 7
• Energy Affordability: What lies ahead?
• CEA Releases New Data Handbook
• Coffee Talks with Shahrzad Simab
• CEA’s Customer Council Launches New E-Billing Report
• SIPC Q1 Meeting
• CEA Welcomes a New Corporate Partner
• Opus One Solutions Announces Additions to the Leadership Team: Primed for Global Growth and Scale

U.S. Electricity Policy Outlook Webinar

For over 100 years, Canada and the United States have shared a robust and mutually beneficial electricity trade and cooperation relationship. CEA looks forward to continuing to work with the electricity and policy community on both sides of the border to help Canada and the United States meet shared climate and economic goals. Together, we will continue to ensure reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy to customers.

On January 28^th, CEA was pleased to host a U.S. Electricity Policy Outlook Webinar for members and corporate partners, featuring experts from global law firm Dentons. Panelists discussed the landscape in the U.S. as the new Biden Administration and Congress begin to work on energy and economic policy goals for 2021, including a goal from the Biden Administration to achieve decarbonization of the U.S. electricity sector by 2035.

Key takeaways included on-the-ground insights into the potential energy, climate, trade and security outlooks for 2021, and what they may mean for the Canada-U.S. electricity relationship and members’ business.

Other stories

• Flux Capacitor Episode 028: Sheryl Riggs, communications and technology for utilities in uncertain times
• Ready to Respond: The Electricity Sector and Evolving Cyber Threats
• Powering a nation part one: Where Canada’s electricity comes from
• CEA Conversation Series Webinar Library
• CEA Welcomes Four New Corporate Partners
• Power Marketers Council Q1 Meeting

CEA Celebrates Electricity Innovation

Every year, the Canadian Electricity Association tells the story of innovation and ingenuity through the Centre of Excellence (CoE). CoE highlights the transformational progress in how electricity yields economic, social and environmental benefits for all Canadians, and will continue to do so, for years to come. In 2020, we added a collection of 19 new projects from 14 members across Canada. Since launching in 2018, we have added 75 new innovations to the Centre of Excellence. From transmission line drones, to a provincially connected EV charging network, to a microgrid operational during wildfire season, these game-changing inventions and their project managers are featured in CEA’s newest interview series “The Future is Now.” Stay tuned to our social media throughout the winter to catch a glimpse of these electrifying stories and our members behind them.

Other stories

• Clean Electricity Essential to Net-Zero – The Canadian Electricity Association comments on new federal Climate Plan
• The Canadian Electricity Industry Takes Steps to Accelerate Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• CEA Contributes to the Small Modular Reactor Action Plan
• CEA responds to Federal Government Hydrogen Strategy
• National Customer Satisfaction Surveys – Residential and Commercial & Industrial
• Electricity Sector’s Resilience a Result of Safety-First Culture