Canada’s Electricity Companies are Building Resilient Infrastructure to Prepare for a Changing Climate

OTTAWA (April 7, 2021) – Today, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) is pleased to announce the release of, “Climate Adaptation and Extreme Weather: A Guide to Adaptation Planning for Electricity Companies in Canada”. Developed with support from Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program, this document is a culmination of over two years of guidance workshops and interviews with electric companies across Canada.

“We have seen first-hand the damage severe weather can bring to the grid. From the recent blackouts caused by extreme cold in Texas, to wildfires across North America, the climate is changing and its unpredictable. Much of our system is above-ground, exposed to all forces of nature. If we can increase the reliability of our infrastructure to withstand the inevitable, we are one step closer to being able to keep the lights on for all of our customers,” comments Francis Bradley, President and CEO of CEA, “I am proud of the work CEA has been able to produce with NRCan, creating a foundational guide for electricity companies to properly assess the risks associated with climate change.”

Warming weather due to climate change is causing profound changes to seasonal and annual patterns in terms of precipitation, temperature, and numerous other variables. It is also changing the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme weather events. These changes can pose significant risks for electricity companies—risks that need to be managed through adaptation.

“Climate adaptation is a must have. It is 38 times less expensive to replace infrastructure before you need to,” notes Jay Wilson, Director of Generation and Stewardship at CEA, “As we approach our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, we will need more electricity than ever before. We have to protect the aging system that we currently have and ensure we can deliver clean, reliable power for future generations to come.”

The Climate Adaptation Guide discusses foundational principles, climate impacts and risks, adaptation measures, ways to evaluate such measures, and the importance of monitoring and continual improvement. It also presents best practices when it comes to adapting critical electricity infrastructure to the changing climate.

Click here to access the guide.

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About the Canadian Electricity Association

Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) members generate, transmit and distribute electrical energy to industrial, commercial, residential and institutional customers across Canada every day. From vertically integrated electric utilities, independent power producers, transmission and distribution companies, to power marketers, to the manufacturers and suppliers of materials, technology and services that keep the industry running smoothly -all are represented by this national industry association.

For additional information:

Julia Muggeridge

Vice-president, Communications and Marketing

613.719.9323

muggeridge@electricity.ca