The Last Mile

Welcome Reception at Le Germain

Remarks:

Presented by

Jana Mosley, President and CEO, Toronto Hydro

Indy Butany, Managing Director, Atrium Economics

Light Breakfast

Opening speaker

Presented by

Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Armchair discussion: Built to last

The National Electricity Strategy sets an ambitious course for Canada, including doubling electricity capacity. Distribution utilities will be critical to delivering that growth. This discussion explores how local electricity companies can rethink grid planning, customer engagement, and service delivery to meet unprecedented demand.

Presented by

Elias Lyberogiannis, Executive Vice President, Asset Strategy & Operations, Alectra

Peter Gregg, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Policy, Emera Inc.

Opening Sponsor

Presented by

Annamarie Bermundo, Vice President, Marketing and Customer Experience, Efficiency One

Panel: Bringing power to the people

Local utilities are “the electricity company” to millions of Canadians as they take generated and transmitted electricity and deliver it to local homes and businesses. With the increased focus on building electricity infrastructure, what specific needs do utilities have? And what are the opportunities facing them.

Presented by

Jeff Mocha, Chief Operations and Electrification Officer, OEC

Ryan Mitchell, President and CEO, Saint John Energy

Ysni Semendi, CEO, London Hydro

Moderator: André Bernier, Executive, Electricity Systems Branch, Natural Resources Canada

BREAK

Panel: Powering the housing we already have and the housing we need

Canada needs more homes, but it also needs to electrify the homes and communities we already have. Both will increase pressure on the electricity system. How can utilities, governments and developers work together to ensure electricity infrastructure keeps pace with Canada’s housing ambitions

Presented by

Jen Hiscock, Director, Batteries, Buildings, Electricity & Regulatory Innovation, Natural Resources Canada

Ben Copp, Director General, Office of Energy Efficiency, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Grace Zhou, Director, Low Carbon Built Environment Challenge Program, National Research Council

Robert Burns, Interim COO, Efficiency One

Moderator: Terri-Lynn Duque, Founder and Principle, Ignite Energy Solutions

Case study: Innovative community

Presented by

Ryan Mitchell, President and CEO, Saint John Energy

Armchair: In conversation with FortisAlberta

Presented by

Janine Sullivan, President and CEO, FortisAlberta

Josée Guibord, President and CEO, Electricity Canada

LUNCH

Innovate, innovate, innovate

Remarks:

Presented by

John Stackhouse, Senior Vice President in the Office of the CEO at Royal Bank of Canada

Panel

Canada’s electricity demand is growing rapidly, but is the distribution grid ready? Forthcoming reports from the Canadian Climate Institute, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, and RBC examine the gap between planned investment and future needs. What investment, modernization and policy action is needed now to prepare for the demand ahead?

Presented by

Guillaume Paradis, COO, Toronto Hydro

Ahmed Hanafy, Partner and the Growth & Innovation Lead, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors

Sachi Gibson, Research Director for Mitigation, Canadian Climate Institute

Moderator: John Stackhouse, Senior Vice-President in the Office of the CEO at Royal Bank of Canada

Panel: Optimizing the grid

Canada’s electricity grid needs to be smarter, it needs to be more resilient, more agile and more flexible. How can utilities, technology providers and policymakers modernize infrastructure, strengthen reliability, and unlock innovation to build a cleaner, more efficient, future-ready grid for Canadians tomorrow.

Presented by

Derek Lim Soo, CEO, Peak Power

Geri Yin, Vice President, GRE&T Centre, Alectra Inc.

Fahimeh Kazempour, Director, Distribution System Operator, Hydro One

Kirstine Hull, Executive Vice President, Electricity Services, Epcor

Moderator: Gisela Glandt, Vice President Business Development and Partnerships, Uplight

Panel: It's harder than it looks

Electricity has powered Canadian homes, businesses, and communities for generations. But financing the expansion and modernization of the distribution system is far more complex than it appears. As demand for electricity grows and utilities invest in new infrastructure, how do we attract the capital needed while keeping electricity affordable for customers?

Presented by

Patrick Watson, Director, Economic Development, Mokwateh

Julie Avery, Vice President, Controller, Fortis Inc.

Isabel Cyr, Vice President, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Canada, ABB

Teresa Sarkesian, CEO, Electricity Distributors Association

Moderator: Duncan Rotherham, Partner, Infrastructure & Capital Projects, Deloitte

BREAK

Panel: That's why they're called KEY accounts

Every electricity company has large customers who need to be considered when planning and executing electricity distribution. These customers drive the economy by making Canadian goods and employing Canadian workers. How do local distribution companies work with key accounts to accelerate the growth of Canada’s electricity system… for their benefit, as well as the benefit of everyone else.

Presented by

Glen Crockford, Director, Business Development, TELUS

Mark Rubenstein, Regulatory, Energy and Administrative Law Lawyer ,Shepherd Rubenstein

Brandon Malleck, Vice President Strategic Operations and Sustainability, Colonnade Bridgeport

Paul Grod, President & CEO, Rodan Energy Solutions

Moderator: Trevor Freeman, Manager, Commercial Accounts and Program Delivery, Hydro Ottawa and host, Think Energy

Armchair: Distribution as critical infrastructure

Look on any street and people almost never notice the hydro poles, guy wires and substations they pass by. Yet distribution is the backbone of every community, providing the critical infrastructure that powers homes, businesses and essential services across Canada. How do we get the importance of distribution to be seen by everyone… preferably before the lights go out.

Presented by

François Lemay, Cybersecurity Specialist, Hydro-Québec

James Peck, Senior Advisor to Strategic Joint Staff, Director Plans North America, Department of National Defence

Moderator: Thomas Timmins, Partner, Leader, Energy Practice Group (Canada), Gowling WLG

Panel: The value of a strong distribution system

As Canada electrifies its economy, grows its communities and strengthens its energy resilience, the importance of a robust distribution system has never been greater. What is the work ahead to ensure that Canadians continue have access to the safe, dependable electricity they rely on every day.

Presented by

Marco Presutti, Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Canada

Heidi Leslie, CEO, Crux Energy

Sashen Guneratna, Executive Vice President, Public Infrastructure Investments, Canada Infrastructure Bank

Moderator: Sarah Simmons, Director, Utilities and Innovation, Power Advisory

Reception at Queen St. Fare