The Last Mile

Breakfast

Opening Keynote: Built to last

Canadians have experienced record high summers, record low winters and days where there has been more precipitation than was predicted for a whole month. Today’s electricity system has to work in today’s extreme weather. How do we build, legislate and regulate for that?

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

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

Martha Casey, CEO Efficiency One

Ysni Semendi, CEO London Hydro

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

BREAK

Panel: These new homes are all going to need electricity

The priority is new homes, and lots of them. But to do that we need to seriously expand how electricity is delivered to these new homes. Where do we start? How do we get governments to align building for increased load as well as new housing?

Presented by

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

Moderator: Michael Powell, Vice-President, Government Relations, Electricity Canada

Case study: Innovative community

Presented by

Ryan Mitchell, St. John Energy

Armchair: In conversation with FortisAlberta

Presented by

Janine Sullivan, President and CEO, FortisAlberta

Josée Guibord, President and CEO, Electricity Canada

LUNCH

Panel: Innovate, innovate, innovate

In the next 25 years, the amount of electricity needed by Canadians will more than double. We need to build for that, but we also need to innovate more than ever to fully optimize the potential of our expanding grid.

Presented by

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

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

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, EVP, 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

Duncan Rotterdam, Partner, Infrastructure & Capital Projects, Deloitte

Julie Avery, Vice President, Controller, Fortis Inc.

Moderator: Isabelle Cyr, Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs, ABB Ltd

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

Chris Madan, Vice-president, Customer Digital Solutions and Product, TELUS

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

Brandon Malleck, VP 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

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, xecutive Vice President, Public Infrastructure Investments, Canada Infrastructure Bank

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

Dinner at the Rideau Club