Sustainable Development

Issue Summary | Issue Response | Issue Management | Resource Library

Issue Summary

Sustainable Electricity

Sustainable Electricity is an industry-wide sustainability program developed and implemented by the electric utility members of the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA).

By focusing on a three-pronged vision of sustainability - environment, society, and the economy - the electricity industry is taking a holistic approach to managing our impacts and securing its collective future. The program is founded on a thorough and rigorous process involving all utility members, as well as on insight and leadership from a Public Advisory Panel.

Sustainable Electricity comprises the following four elements

1.    A Policy for Sustainable Development- Corporate Responsibility- CEA member utilities have committed to implementing the program's policy according to key guiding principles which form the basis of the program.


2.    Performance Indicators and Reporting - Each of the guiding principles is supported by specific indicators and metrics that will be used track overall industry sustainable development performance. Utilities will report on the performance of these key indicators and overall industry results on sustainable development will be published in an annual report to stakeholders.


3.    Public Advisory Panel - A Public Advisory Panel, made up of distinguished and qualified Canadians, will provide independent opinion and advice to the CEA Board of Directors on the implementation of and improvements to Sustainable Electricity.


4.    External Verification - Implementation of Sustainable Electricity will be verified by an independent external verifier

Industry Response

The Electricity Industry's Answer to the Question of a Sustainable Tomorrow

The electricity industry in Canada is at the forefront of protecting the environment. In 1997, the electricity industry was one of the first major industries in Canada to establish an environmental stewardship initiative: The Environmental Commitment and Responsibility (ECR) Program. Based on a set of core principles, the ECR Program monitored and tracked specific measures and indicators as a means of demonstrating the industry's commitment to continual improvement in environmental performance. Over the last decade, the electricity sector has made many important improvements in its environmental performance, including the implementation of ISO 14001 consistent Environmental Management Systems, a core commitment under the ECR Program.

However, the electricity industry recognizes that there is an intrinsic link among the economy that drives us, the society that we live in, and the environment that surrounds us. Decisions made today in each of these settings will have profound impacts on the lives of future generations.  In order to ensure that all three pillars of sustainable development - environment, society and economy - are addressed, the CEA and its member utilities launched the Sustainable Electricity program in February 2009.

Sustainable Electricity is the electricity industry's response to the challenge of a sustainable tomorrow.  The launch of the Sustainable Electricity program is the start of a long-term transformation on how we do business. Many CEA member companies already practices sustainable development, but we recognize that more needs to be done collectively as an industry.  CEA and its member utilities consider sustainable development to be so important; the association has made participation in this program a condition of membership. With Sustainable Electricity, we have now made a commitment to you - our stakeholders - to continue to improve our overall sustainable development performance.

CEA member utilities will continue to improve their overall sustainable development performance by committing to the following principles:

Environment: Minimize the adverse environmental impacts of our facilities, operations and businesses

Stewardship and Biodiversity: Manage the environmental resources and ecosystems that we affect to prevent or minimize loss and support recovery

Climate Change: Manage greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impact of operations on climate change, while adapting to its effects

Health and Safety: Provide a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and contractors

Workplace: Support a fair, respectful and diverse workplace for our employees and contractors

Communications and Engagement: Communicate with and engage our stakeholders in a transparent and timely manner

Aboriginal Relations: Communicate with and engage Aboriginal people in a manner that respects their culture and traditions

Economic Value: Provide economic benefits to shareholders, communities and regions in which we operate

Energy Efficiency: Produce, deliver and use electricity in an efficient manner while promoting conservation and demand side management

Security of Supply: Provide electricity to customers in a safe, reliable and cost effective manner to meet current and future needs

Issue Management

Key Contact
Channa S. Perera
Director , Sustainable Development
Tel: 613.230.9527
E-mail: perera@electricity.ca

Resource Library

Sustainable Electricity Online

The Sustainable Electricity program website will provide current information on the industry's overall sustainable development performance. Although printed copies of the Sustainable Electricity Annual Report will be made available to stakeholders, the report will also be available online in both official languages.  While the printed report will provide a comprehensive overview of overall sustainable development performance, the website will provide additional program information about the industry's sustainable development performance on a regular basis. Visit online at: www.SustainableElectricity.ca