A New Era For The Canadian Electricity Association

A new era

for the Canadian Electricity Association

- By Rewa Mourad -

Communications and Diversity Advisor, Canadian Electricity Association

Much has been written about the COVID-19 pandemic, from its long-lasting impact on our world, to how it aggressively demonstrated society’s unpreparedness for a sustained emergency. 2020 was an exceptionally challenging year for people across the globe, for families, small businesses, communities, and under-privileged groups.

Notwithstanding, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) and our member companies – from vertically integrated electric utilities, independent power producers, transmission and distribution companies, to power marketers, to manufacturers and suppliers of indystry materials, technology and services – have made it an extraordinary year for the electricity sector. Without surprise, we have proven to be, once again, particularly resilient. CEA is proud to have not only maintained a high level of service and continuous support to members – as their work to deliver reliable, safe and affordable electricity for Canadians was arguably more crucial and more challenging than ever before – but we have also seamlessly pivoted to a virtual state, continued to engage with partners, meet with key decision-makers, and of course, deal with the physical and psychological challenges of a global pandemic. A 2020 milestone for the Association that is also worth highlighting, a considerable achievement that was a product of true dedication and collaboration, was the renewal of our Strategic Plan.

CEA’s renewed Plan presents a direct path to strengthen our role of providing value-added services, products and programming to our membership and advancing the strategic interests of Canada’s electricity industry.

It also provides the foundation for allowing the Association to be nimble and agile in responding to the continuing transformation of the electricity landscape in Canada. As the only pan-Canadian electricity association bringing together all aspects of the industry, CEA will continue to speak in a strong and integrated voice to create a sustainable future that is good for business, good for communities and good for Canada.

Back in June 2019, CEA’s Board of Directors initiated a Strategic Plan “refresh” process, which later turned into a complete review and renewal of the Plan. This was proven necessary given the rapid pace of change in both the industry and at grid edge. Several discussions took place around the electricity industry’s future and where CEA can bring value to the membership.

Together, CEA and its members discussed the sector’s priorities and challenges, analyzed trends, gathered invaluable insights and identified catalytic ideas to guide us through the coming years. The results culminated in solidifying future aspirations for the Association, reflecting a new vision to be the best trade association, a new mission to be the national voice for sustainable electricity for its members and the customers they serve, and new strategic goals that reflect the Association’s role to think, advocate, communicate and educate on behalf of members. CEA will continue to provide indispensable value to, and shape relationships with, our members, members’ customers, Indigenous Peoples, electricity regulators, governments and other key groups. This plan reflects the Association’s existing and emerging priorities both up to- and beyond- the meter and will see a shift in CEA’s approach to think, advocate, communicate and educate.

We will continue to be the undisputed voice of electricity in Canada, the eyes and ears of our members at the national level, and the principal source of unbiased information about decarbonization and electricity in Canada. We will continue to be the primary thought leader of the sector, helping governments across Canada update regulatory frameworks and meet consumer expectations. We will be the repository of best practice learning for all those involved in the industry, as well as the leader in uniting all associations active in the world of electricity in Canada around issues of common interest.

The Canadian Electricity Association is ready for renewal. We are set to return to the work we were doing before the world stopped and we are ready to build back better. And while the development of our five-year Strategic Plan is an essential first step to do this, much work is yet to be done to prepare for the future. We need to apply the lessons learned from COVID-19, begin to think about the needs of customers, improve and enlarge the electricity grid, modernize the provincial and territorial frameworks, and much more. One thing is for sure: CEA will continue to play an essential role in today’s volatile environment, as technological advances and the speed of electrification change the face of our country. As the sector continuously evolves, so will CEA.

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