Increasingly, observers are looking to electricity to address an array of major energy challenges confronting society.  Electricity is widely expected to play a greater role in the global energy system and in meeting societal needs than it has in the past. But if electricity is to answer this call, it must also be given the authority to proceed and the means to succeed.
 
Over the next few days and weeks I’ll be writing a series of blog posts which examine this path forward for electricity, with a special emphasis on electricity here in Canada.
 
Together this series will make two related points.  First, governments must exercise more leadership in supporting and enabling a long-term policy path for electricity. Governments can help electricity secure its social license and its enabling capital.
 
Second, the electricity industry must focus as a community on some of the key issues it now faces – issues with important strategic and policy implications.
 
In particular, five priorities have emerged for government and electricity industry leaders: (truly) integrated resource planning; low carbon electricity sources; carbon pricing; clean energy finance; and governance improvements.
 
Each of these priority areas gives rise to complex and important questions for governments and the electricity industry, the answers to which will help determine whether electricity can rise to the challenges outlined above.
 
Let’s look at these priorities one at a time, and then take on the underlying question: Is electricity ready for centre stage?
 
But first… a little commentary on energy challenges in an interdependent world. Stay tuned for part two, tomorrow.

 

Part two is available now, to read further please click here.

 

Pierre Guimond

President and CEO

Canadian Electricity Association