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canadian electricity association

Regulatory Efficiency: A Must for Electricity Infrastructure Renewal

February 7, 2012 by Jim Burpee
with 200 views
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We at the Canadian Electricity Association have publicly raised, many times, that our electricity sector faces a complex challenge over the next two decades. In order to meet Canada’s increasing demands for electricity, we must invest in electricity infrastructure. That means renewing, replacing and adding to the generating stations and power lines that power the economy. [read more]

The Canadian Electricity Infrastructure Deficit

October 31, 2011 by Jim Burpee
with 354 views
1

It’s time for Canadians to focus on the urgency of making multi-billion-dollar investments to upgrade, repair and expand the electricity infrastructure across Canada. Capital investment in electricity infrastructure declined dramatically in the 1990s. After reaching a peak of $15 billion in 1991, investment fell rapidly to just $5.3 billion in 1997 as a result of overcapacity, poor economic conditions and electricity prices that had outpaced inflation as the new facilities built in the prior ten years caused rates to rise. [read more]

Canada is not like the rest of the energy world

September 20, 2010 by Jim Burpee
with 1,439 views
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CEA President and CEO Pierre Guimond’s latest blog on theenergycollective.com focuses on Canada’s current stance on the energy industry based on the observations from the 21st World Energy Congress (WEC) held in Montreal. Guimond notes that Canadian energy industry executives have been mulling over how to overcome the fact that Canada is one of the few resource rich countries lacking a cohesive plan to develop its energy resources. Although different provincial outlooks exist, Guimond suggests that if Canada is to be a clean energy super power and have energy production as a large component of its economy, we should have the public debate necessary to build and maintain a broad social consensus. [read more]

Is a Cohesive Energy Vision for Canada Possible in the Minority Government Era?

August 13, 2010 by Jim Burpee
with 1,678 views
2

June 2010 marked the sixth consecutive year of minority government rule in Canada, the second longest run of consecutive minority governments in Canadian history (second only to an nine year stretch in the 1920s).  While the past six years have produced an ample serving of political drama, the legislative and policy output during... [read more]

Technologies for Clean Electricity Generation: Challenges and Opportunities (Part 2)

November 23, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 272 views
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In a recent blog post, I mentioned that the appetite for low emissions and carbon-free technology in electricity generation has never been so great.  Here in Canada, we are making great strides in the development of low emissions technologies in order to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets we fully expect will become legally... [read more]

Technologies for Clean Electricity Generation: Challenges and Opportunities (Part 1)

November 4, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 424 views
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Recently, the Canadian Electricity Association organized a joint strategic session where we welcomed members of our Corporate Partners Committee along with members of our Generation Council. Corporate Partners are the many firms that provide equipment, services and technology to the electricity industry, and the Generation Council is... [read more]

Energy Efficiency's Important Role in Meeting Future Electricity Needs

October 10, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 296 views
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At a recent event CEA held in Toronto, to discuss our Action Plan for electricity in Canada with members of the industry’s supply chain, we spoke a bit about the next megawatt. In one question I received from the audience, the concern raised by this individual was that we (the industry) seemed to be focused more on supply options than... [read more]

Tracking Public Perceptions (Part 3): Electricity Price Trade-offs

September 28, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 254 views
3

In my previous posting I highlighted the importance that electricity customers place on the price they pay, and shared data that showed price-related concerns have risen to an all-time high.  In my final post about CEA’s 2009 Public Attitudes research I want to focus again on price, but this time in terms of the relative importance... [read more]

Poised for Transformation (Part 4): Environmental Policies and Investment

September 17, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 239 views
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In previous posts I addressed the technology shift, infrastructure investment and policy priorities. In my final recap of the Energy and Mines Ministers Conference I'll look at the environmental policies and their impact on the industry. Interwoven throughout the policy drivers and priorities identified in my previous posts is the need... [read more]

Tracking Public Perceptions, Part 2: It’s All About Price

September 14, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 266 views
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The gloomy economic headlines of the past year have coloured the views of consumers about all things financial. According to our public opinion research, it has also coloured their perceptions of, and concerns about, the price they pay for electricity. The customer’s focus on price is understandable, but it also points to the challenges... [read more]

Poised for Transformation (Part 3): Policy for Transformation: Technology Shift

September 10, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 174 views
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This post is part three of a series on Canadian Electricity Industry policy priorities, found here: Part One Part Two In order to facilitate the transformation to a more efficient and lower-emitting electricity system that continues to meet the needs and expectations of a growing population, a massive technology shift is required.... [read more]

Sustainable Electricity

August 6, 2009 by Jim Burpee
with 122 views
2

Well, today is a day of numerous firsts. This, right here, is our first blog post ever. We plan to make a regular home here at the Energy Collective, and look forward to some interesting debate and lively discussion, as well as finding a forum for sharing the Canadian electricity industry’s take, as I see it, on the energy issues of... [read more]