OTTAWA, Ontario - March 25, 2014. The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) released a groundbreaking new report today entitled Vision 2050: The Future of Canada’s Electricity System. The report sheds light on the urgent need for informed decision-making both in policy development and on-going infrastructure investment if Canada is to maintain the reliability, affordability and sustainability of the electricity system that Canadians rely upon.
“We’re in the midst of unprecedented capital investment to modernize Canada’s electricity system,” said Jim Burpee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Electricity Association. “Electricity infrastructure is replaced only very slowly and the lead times for planning are long. That means decisions being made today will impact what our system will look like in 2050.”
By 2050, most of today’s electricity assets will have been renewed or replaced. Vision 2050 centers on the opportunities that arise with on-going and upcoming renewal decisions. It articulates a commitment to deliver maximum value and to ensure that the electricity system contributes to a lower carbon economy. It responds to growing customer expectations for a more responsive and innovative electricity system, and it represents a new, more ambitious role for electricity in Canada.
The report offers recommendations for governments, regulators, electricity companies, and the general public in four areas of opportunity that are likely to produce the greatest transformations:
- Accelerate Innovation and Customer Management of Energy
- Implement Financial Instruments for Carbon Reduction
- Enable Electric Vehicles
- Expand Collaboration Across Borders
“The choices available to us today will not be accessible forever,” said Mr. Burpee. “Now is the time to act on a coordinated, proactive approach to renewing our country’s electricity grid, ensuring a safe and reliable system for our children and grandchildren.”
Click here to read Vision 2050: The Future of Canada’s Electricity System.
Click here to read an Executive Summary of the Report.