Ottawa, August 25, 2014 - As federal and provincial energy and mines ministers gather for an annual meeting in Sudbury, Ontario, a new study released today by the Canadian Electricity Association and the Canadian Gas Association offers insight on what can be done to drive energy innovation in Canada.
“Canada’s natural gas and electricity utilities have long believed that investing in technology innovation promises more affordable and efficient energy services for Canadian households and businesses while creating jobs and bolstering Canadian competitiveness,” said Timothy Egan, President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association. “This report offers some perspectives on potential new mechanisms to drive the innovation agenda forward.”
The report titled Stimulating Innovation on Behalf of Canada’s Electricity and Natural Gas Utilities was prepared by a U.S. based consultancy and reviews innovation models from various jurisdictions, focusing on North America. One topic of particular focus is what role Canada’s natural gas and electricity utilities play and how they could support further innovation. One of the themes and areas of discussion at the Energy and Mines Ministers Conference is energy innovation.
“The current regulatory process for the utility sector works well in terms of ensuring reliability and cost-effectiveness for today’s known technologies,” said Jim R. Burpee, President and CEO of the Canadian Electricity Association, “but as currently structured through legislation, there is little stimulus for innovation. It is the role of provincial governments to ensure that utilities and regulators have a mandate to pursue innovation efforts aligned with national and provincial energy policies.”
This paper offers a framework to consider the roles for government, utilities, and other private-sector entities in innovation. The full report is posted at http://www.ceadvisors.com/publ....
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s natural gas distribution industry and its members are distribution companies, transmission companies, equipment manufacturers and other service providers. Natural gas has a central place in Canada’s energy mix meeting over 30 per cent of the country’s energy needs. Today over 6.5 million customers representing well over half the Canadian population rely on natural gas for heat and power in homes, apartments, buildings, businesses, hospitals and schools.
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.