Flux Capacitor

Recorded on Zoom in February 2021, Joelle Lancaster, Advisor at CEA guest hosts this special International Women’s Day takeover episode with guest Lyla Garzouzi, Chief Safety Officer at Hydro One. Lyla describes her journey and transition into her current role at Hydro One and provides insight into CEA’s Gender Best Practices Report, released on International Women’s Day. The podcast concludes wit...

Recorded on Zoom in February 2021, Daniella Bidin, Communications Officer at CEA guest hosts this special International Women’s Day takeover episode with guests Mackenzie Gillan from Hydro One and Allison Wood from Niagara Peninsula Energy. After originally meeting at a Women in Powerline Technician event, Mackenzie and Allison share their stories on how they grew to love the trades and advice the...

Recorded on Zoom in February of 2021, Asuka Boehm, Senior Reliability Analyst at CEA guest hosts this International Women’s Day takeover episode with special guest Starlene MacDonald, Manager of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at OPG. Starlene discusses the importance of continuous education and awareness building in the workplace and how we can encourage more diversity in the electricity sector....

Recorded on Zoom in mid-January 2021, episode 28 looks at some of the challenges for an association focused on the intersection of telecommunications and utility infrastructure during a period of rapid change and a global pandemic. The featured discussion is with Sheryl Riggs, the president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council. In my conversation with Sheryl, we discuss UTC’s evolution and...

Recorded on Zoom in early-October 2020, episode 27 is a continuation of a series of conversations on the technologies that will power Canada in the future. The featured discussion is with Robert Hornung, the President and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. In my conversation with Robert, we discuss wind and solar power as well as energy storage, and their place in Canada’s energy se...

Recorded on Zoom in late-September 2020, episode 26 is a deep-dive conversation with Paula Conboy into the similarities and differences between Canada and Australia’s electricity sectors and how they are regulated, the challenges of integrating intermittent renewables in their system, and regulatory innovation. Paula is Senior Counselor in the Energy and Environment Practice with the Sussex Strate...

Recorded on Zoom in mid-September 2020, episode 25 is a continuation of a series of conversations on the technologies that will power Canada in the future. The featured discussion is with John Gorman, the President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association. In my conversation with John, we discuss nuclear’s place in Canada’s energy’s mix today and in the future, the imminent arrival of Small Mod...

Recorded on Zoom in late-August 2020, episode 24 is the third podcast in a series on the current challenges and future prospects of supplying electricity in Canada’s North. The featured discussion is with George Lidgett, the Executive Vice President & General Manager, Utilities for Canadian Utilities Limited, an ATCO company. The wide-ranging conversation with George touches on engagement with...

Recorded on Zoom in mid-July 2020, episode 23 is the third podcast in a series on preparation for and response to the challenges of Covid-19, featuring a discussion with Scott Aaronson, Vice President of Security and Preparedness at the Edison Electric Institute in Washington and secretariat to the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC). Scott and I talk about the evolution of the ESCC,...

Recorded on Zoom in late June 2020, episode 22 is the second podcast in a series on the current challenges and future prospects of supplying electricity in Canada’s North. The featured discussion is with Noel Voykin, the President and CEO of Northwest Territories Power Corporation Our conversation touches on economic development in the north, new renewable technologies, climate change impacts, and...

Recorded by phone for National Lineworker Appreciation Day on July 10th 2020, episode 21 features a discussion with the founder and Executive Director of Women of Powerline Technicians, Lana Norton. We talk about the typical day for a lineworker, how the changes in the electricity sector are changing (and in some cases, not changing) the work of lineworkers, and the role Women of Powerline Technic...

Recorded on Zoom in late June 2020, episode 20 is the second podcast in a series on preparation for and response to the challenges of Covid-19, this time from a government perspective. The featured discussion is with Craig Oldham, Director General of the Critical Infrastructure Directorate, in the National and Cyber Security Branch, at Public Safety Canada. We talk about the evolution of the respo...

Recorded on Zoom in June 2020, episode 19 is the first in a series on the current challenges and future prospects of supplying electricity in Canada’s North. The featured discussion is with Andrew Hall, Yukon Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer. We talk about the unique challenges of the electricity sector in the north, how Yukon differs from the other territories, the complexity of man...

Recorded on Zoom in June 2020, episode 18 is our return from hiatus due to the Coronavirus, and the first in a series on electricity sector preparation for and response to the challenges of Covid-19. The featured discussion is with Eóin Cooke, AltaLink’s Vice-President of Security and Information Services. We talk about AltaLink’s preparedness for a pandemic, technology and productivity in the tim...

Recorded at the Globe 2020 Conference in Vancouver in February 2020, episode 17 features a panel discussion following the release by CEA of the report “State of the Canadian Electricity Industry 2020.” Tim Boston, Vice President Public Policy and Government Relations at ENMAX facilitated the conversation, which featured Jay Grewal, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro, Roger Dall’ Antonia, Presiden...

Recorded in Toronto in February 2020, episode 16 features a discussion with Tabatha Bull, the Chief Operating Officer with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB). We talk about the CCAB’s Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program, which a number of CEA members participate in, and how the pillars of PAR are foundational to reconciliation. Tabatha also shares her views on a range o...

Recorded at the Globe 2020 Conference in Vancouver in February 2020, episode 15 features a discussion with Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin, President and Chief Executive Officer with WaterPower Canada. We talk about the importance of Canadian hydro, future prospects, and what policy makers should be doing to support further development of hydro. From the CEA team, Policy Development VP Channa Perera joins...

Recorded at the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid, episode 14 features a discussion with Roger Dall’Antonia, President and Chief Executive Officer at FortisBC. We talk about the COP25 experience and observations as a first-time attendee at a COP conference, the distinct challenges facing an electricity and natural gas company, and some of the differences in the utility business environm...

Episode 13 features a discussion with Rodger Smith, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Oracle Utilities. We talk about the challenges facing the electricity industry as value shifts from kilowatts to bits & bytes, and what Rodger sees at winning strategies for the future. From the CEA team, Michael Powell stops by to talk about recent news and GridEx, and Janice Garcia discusses take...

Episode 12 features a discussion with Tonja Leach, Executive Director of Quest, whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of efficient and integrated community-scale energy systems in Canada by informing, inspiring, and connecting decision-makers. We talk about the evolution of QUEST, how it fulfills its mission, and QUEST’s unique structure. From the CEA team, Michael Powell stops by to talk ab...

For Episode 011 of Flux Capacitor, the podcast about the future of electricity, Francis is joined by Tim Egan of the Canadian Gas Association for a conversation with the CEO and Chair of the British Columbia Utilities Commission, David Morton. This is part of our collaboration with CAMPUT, the association of Canada’s energy and utility regulators, and was recorded at the Global Grid Forum, in Vanc...

Episode 10 features a discussion with Cynthia Chaplin, Executive Director of CAMPUT, the association of Canada's energy and utility regulators, on the challenges of economic regulation in a period where the electricity industry is on the cusp of significant change, driven by both technology and customers. Cynthia also talks about how regulators promote regulatory excellence, how to enhance engagem...

Episode 9 features a discussion with Mike Marsh, President and CEO of SaskPower, on pioneering carbon capture and the challenges of greening the grid. Mike also talks about other new technologies, partnerships with First Nations, and building a safety culture at SaskPower. From the CEA team, Julia Muggeridge stops by to talk about recent news, and Alex Kent visits to focus on telecommunications is...

For National Electricity Month (NEM), Flux Capacitor, the podcast about the future of electricity, Episode 008, features a discussion with the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canadian Minister of Natural Resources, recorded live before an audience at CEA’s Town Hall at the National Arts Centre. Interviewed by CEA’s Government Relations Director Michael Powell, the wide-ranging discussion with Minister S...

Flux Capacitor, the podcast about the future of electricity, Episode 007, featuring an in-depth conversation with the former CEO and Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission Brien Sheahan that host Francis Bradley recorded at the annual CAMPUT conference. From the CEA team, T&D Director Justin Crewson provides context for the conversation with Brien, and Senior Advisor Megan Falle drops by to...