Current Affairs

2021 Canadian Federal Election

On September 20th, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were re-elected, once again having to navigate a minority Parliament. No party was able to make significant gains, despite looking like they had made inroads at some points. As in 2019, the Parliament could be quite stable, offering an opportunity for the Liberals to advance their various priorities, including on climate change and post-pandemic recovery.

The overall election results are a virtual mirror to those of 2019. As before, the Liberals will only need the support of one opposition party to pass any legislation, and all opposition caucuses must vote together to defeat them. On the surface, the NDP will likely be the most obvious partner for the Liberals on most issues.

A re-elected Liberal government will provide some certainty as to what our sector should expect going forward. Of note, the Liberal platform included a commitment to introduce a Clean Electricity Standard (CES) and to have a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. A CES had been in the works for some time—CEA was expecting a discussion paper on its construction to be released prior to the election. The 2035 electricity grid commitment is new but is unsurprising inasmuch as it was also a commitment from the Biden administration.

Defining these commitments will be a major area of focus for CEA. We will emphasize the need for an approach from government that will facilitate the investments needed to build this capacity while ensuring the grid remains reliable and affordable.

Other stories

• CEA Prepares for the 2021 Powering Partnership Summit
• The Flux Capacitor Episode 045
• ‘That can keep you up at night’: Lessons for Canada from Europe’s power crisis
• CEA Presents: DataBytes
• Data Ownership vs. Data Privacy: A Word of Caution
• Proactive businesses turning to Specialized Accounts Receivable Management (ARM) companies are yielding exemplary recovery rates
• Legal Committee Explores Regulatory Reform and Innovation
• CEA’s Generation Consultative Committee on Outage Statistics Annual Meeting
• Canada’s net-zero electricity supply, green hydrogen among topics to be discussed at the Canadian Waterpower Week
• CEA welcomes a new Corporate Partner

We Are Having a Federal Election

After months of speculation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Governor-General Mary Simon in August to call an election for September 20th.

The Liberals game plan seems to be using their COVID-19 response, particularly the success of the vaccination campaign, to coast to a majority government. Actual campaigns upend this, with the Liberals and Conservatives now neck and neck.

For the electricity sector, there are a number of things to watch as the campaign continues. In particular, we are watching how climate policy is discussed. Even though it has not been a dominant theme thus far, it will inevitably become a more prominent issue as election day approaches. It is the clearest distinction between the Conservatives and Liberals with marked differences between 2030 GHG targets and carbon taxation policies. In either case, it is clear that market and technological forces will be encouraging change no matter what.

Electrification will drive much of Canada’s decarbonization efforts, and the Federal government has projected that Canada will need 2-3 times as much clean power by 2050 to meet current net zero goals. Building this capacity—while also making sure that the system stays affordable and reliable—will require clear, sustained, and focused direction from whoever forms government.

Other stories

• CEA Calls for Support for Clean, Reliable, and Affordable Electricity in 2022 Pre-Budget Consultations
• The Flux Capacitor Episode 042
• The Flux Capacitor Episode 043
• The Flux Capacitor Episode 044
• Canada-US Electricity Microsite
• CEA Releases Updated E-Billing Report
• CEA Powering Partnerships Summit
• Modernizing the Grid: Adapting to the Use of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)
• Extending Canada’s Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance Classes: In Time and Scope
• CEA Presents: DataBytes

Unpacking Net Zero Commitments on the Flux Capacitor

This Spring, CEA launched a new series on the Flux Capacitor podcast, to shine a light on the role of electricity in the fight against climate change. With the Government of Canada recently passing Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, CEA member companies are stepping up with their own ambitious targets. During the podcast series, Flux Capacitor host Francis Bradley unpacks individual company net zero commitments to understand pathways for achieving set goals and the role of electricity as a solution for climate change. In addition to member company executives, the series also features Mollie Johnson from Natural Resources Canada to better understand the government perspective.

You can listen to the first 5 podcasts in this series now live, with more to come:

• Episode 034: Ken Hartwick and a Net Zero 2040 OPG
• Episode 035: Kate Chisholm and a Capital Power’s Net Zero Journey
• Episode 036: Mollie Johnson and Natural Resources Canada’s Net Zero role
• Episode 037: Alectra’s Brian Bentz on electricity distribution in a net zero 2050 world
• Episode 041: TransAlta’s John Kousinioris on the transformation to a net zero 2050 world

Other stories

• 2021 Centre of Excellence Application
• The Flux Capacitor Episode 038
• The Flux Capacitor Episode 039
• The Flux Capacitor Episode 040
• New CEA Reliability and Resiliency Award
• The 2021 Electric Vehicle Awards
• EVCx Forum
• Advocacy Success: Woodpecker Regulations Delayed
• CEA Prepares for the Upcoming Federal Election
• CEA Presents: DataBytes
• CEA welcomes a new Corporate Partner
• Supply Chain Committee Hosts Mini-Meeting
• COVID-19 Information Sharing
• #AskALineworker Video

CEA Celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day

Every year, the Canadian Electricity Association and our member companies from coast to coast, recognize National Lineworker Appreciation Day on July 10^th. Lineworkers are the brave individuals who maintain complex electricity grids across cities, provinces, and territories. Often faced with working in extreme conditions, lineworkers are trained to work efficiently, safely, and collaboratively to keep the lights on.

This is the second year that Canadians have had to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and we give our thanks to those who risk their lives to power the essential services that keep us going. With the Government of Canada’s goal of reaching net zero by 2050, lineworkers are regularly installing new technologies to modernize our grid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As climate change continues to bring extreme weather conditions causing power outages, lineworkers are among the first responders to serve our communities. Join CEA and electricity companies across Canada on July 10^th to recognize these essential workers.

Other stories

• New Episodes of the Flux Capacitor
• Newfoundland Power Receives Sustainable Electricity Company Designation from the Canadian Electricity Association
• The 2021 Electric Vehicle Awards
• CEA Presents: The Grid 2021
• New CEA Reliability Award
• Panel Interview on Advancing Women in Skilled Trades
• CEA’s Spring Policy Symposium
• CEA Regulatory Forum
• Federal Regulatory Roadmap
• ENMAX and Cadillac Fairview to test network innovation through solar installation
• Service Continuity Committee Digital Workshop
• Internal Audit Committee Focuses on Cybersecurity
• Key Accounts Working Group Meeting
• CEA’s Customer Council Spring Meeting
• Canada-US Event & New Cross Border Electricity Pape
• CEA-EHRC Future of Work Event
• CEA Supply Chain Committee Meeting
• CEA Virtual SIPC Meeting

CEA Presents National Electricity Month

It’s June which means it is National Electricity Month! Every year, the Canadian Electricity Association celebrates access to safe, clean and reliable electricity in Canada by developing a public-focused social campaign.

Spark of Imagination is a cross-country art project featuring paintings from over 80 Canadian youth, aged 6 – 13. This artwork will answer an important question that we ponder every day – what does electricity mean to you? While we appreciate that Canadian kids enjoy toasted bagels, televisions and iPads, we know there is still work to be done. In assigning this homework to kids from coast to coast, we now have some homework ourselves: to continue to educate on the real value of electricity.

These pieces of art will be featured throughout the month of June on social channels and sit permanently in the CEA offices. Please follow along, share and re-post some of the thoughtful artwork from Canadian kids.

Other stories

• Witness in the Economic Recovery from COVID-19 Study
• CEA Regulatory Forum
• New CEA Reliability Award
• New Episode of the Flux Capacitor
• OEC Acquires Utility Engineering Firm EMB Management Ltd.
• Alectra Utilities and Hydro One collaborate to improve reliability in Hamilton
• Elexicon Energy, Opus One Solutions, and Marshall Homes Design Canada’s First Preplanned Nested ‘Microgrid’ Residential Community
• Alectra announces plans to be Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
• Occupational Health and Safety Committee Spring Meeting
• Security Infrastructure and Protection Committee Meeting
• Legal Committee Cross-Committee Digital Summit
• Finance Tax and Accounting (FTA) Program Virtual Events
• CEA Hosts Call Centre Working Group
• Ontario Home Builder Magazine Interviews CEA’s Director of Emerging Issues

Federal Budget 2021

On April 19^th, the federal government released its first budget in two years. A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience focuses on continued COVID-19 response, economic recovery, investment in childcare, and a green economy. It also advances several CEA initiatives related to low carbon energy investments, energy efficiency and support for Measurement Canada.

The government has made significant commitments to the electricity sector through support for a grid modernization fund, supporting renewable fuels like hydrogen and biomass, investing in zero emission vehicles charging infrastructure, and creating the Net Zero Accelerator fund. Other notable investments include support to carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) research and development, funding for climate adaptation and grid resiliency, and incentives for clean technology investments.

All of these announcements reinforce the need for a broader federal plan on electricity’s critical role in decarbonization and meeting climate targets. Many of the pieces are here, but how they all fit together remains an important question.

Other stories

• Maritime Electric Receives Sustainable Electricity Company Designation
• New Episode of the Flux Capacitor
• Climate Change and Extreme Weather: A Guide to Adaptation Planning for Electric Companies in Canada
• CEA Metering Committee Completes “CATCHING UP: Modernizing Canada’s Electricity Marketplace Rules and Regulations to Grow & Decarbonize the Economy” Report
• CRTC Releases PVNO Decision
• ENVI Parliamentary Committee Provides EGIA Recommendation
• Electric Utility CFOs focus on Sustainable Finance
• Alectra’s Caroline Karvonen named to Canada’s Clean50 Sustainability leaders
• Saint John Energy’s Ryan Mitchell named to Canada’s Clean50 Sustainability leaders
• Utilities Feeling the Pressure to Provide Customers with the Latest in Electronic Bill Presentment Solutions
• The energy grid of the future: The evolution and opportunities of Distributed Energy Software
• EHRC & CEA Pandemic Roundtable
• Power Marketers Council Q2 Meeting
• CEA Welcomes New Corporate Partner
• CEA Regulatory Forum: “Electricity Regulation & the Four Disruptors – Decarbonization, Decentralization, Digitalization and Democratization”.