Tom Mitchell Electric Vehicle Leadership Award

Awarded to Canadian electricity companies demonstrating outstanding leadership in the promotion or advancement of electric vehicle adoption.

This award is delivered in honour of Tom Mitchell, who served as the President and CEO of Ontario Power Generation (OPG) from 2009 to 2015. His legacy includes significant advancement of OPG's clean and renewable energy projects. It was his leadership and vision that made Plug’n Drive possible.

Past Recipients

2021

ATCO

This utility was an early adopter, adding EVs into its fleet as well as hybrid bucket trucks as much as 5 years ago. In 2017, it partnered with Canadian Tire and Flo, a charger network, to install a DC fast charger on Alberta’s busiest highway and with the city of Edmonton to install on street level 2 chargers. In its most ambitious project to date, the Peaks to Prairies network, it created Alberta’s largest EV project for Alberta to date – installing 20 quick chargers as well as level 2 chargers along a corridor in southern Alberta. This project included a comprehensive outreach and educational campaign to go along with the charger installation to help the local communities understand the benefits of this network of chargers, including emissions reductions, tourism, and saving money

2020

Alectra

Alectra Utilities Inc. (Alectra) is the largest municipally-owned distribution company in Canada, serving over one million homes and businesses in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area. It was established in 2017, following the amalgamation of five progressive electricity distributors under one common name and purpose. Alectra’s vision, from day one, has been to act as a trusted energy ally to its customers, to demonstrate leadership in the development, promotion and implementation of clean energy technology and to deliver innovative energy solutions to some of today’s most pressing energy challenges.

2019

Ontario Power Generation

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) generates clean, safe, reliable, low-cost power for Ontario and is the province’s largest clean energy generator. As a member of the global EV100 initiative, OPG is leading the transition to electric transportation with a commitment to electrify its own fleet, where feasible, by 2030. Closing Ontario’s coal stations remains one of the world’s largest single actions to combat climate change. Now we’re ready to power the next big action – electric vehicles.

2017

Hydro Québec

Among the largest electric utilities in Canada, Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity for the whole province of Québec. One of the top renewable energy producers in the world, the utility uses mainly renewable generating options, in particular large hydro, and supports the development of other technologies—such as wind energy and biomass. The Hydro-Québec customers benefit from the lowest electricity prices in North America. Involved in electric mobility for over 25 years, Hydro-Québec is a leader in the field with regards to advanced battery materials, electric drivetrain, early EV pilots and public charging infrastructure.

2016

PowerStream

As the winner of the first annual Tom Mitchell award, it is appropriate that PowerStream was also the first utility in North America to commission a vehicle to a grid charging station, incorporating it into their office micro-grid alongside a solar carport. They have played an instrumental role in the development of the charging infrastructure, including the installation of two Level 3 fast charging stations that are completely open to the public. PowerStream is a community-owned energy company providing power and related services to more than 380,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. PowerStream, jointly owned by the municipalities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughan, is committed to providing its customers with safe, reliable and efficient service. We achieve this goal by focusing on operational efficiencies and procedures in order to minimize overhead costs and maximize the use of company assets. In other words, PowerStream strives to be efficient and to provide optimum service, safely and reliably.