Author: Morgan

Hydro Ottawa is greening Canada’s capital through innovative initiatives; makes Canada’s Greenest Employer list

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OTTAWA – Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. celebrates a ‘lucky 13’ today, after being named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the 13th time. With its commitment to local sustainability initiatives and strategic planning, this achievement highlights that true luck ‘is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’ 

By growing its expertise and leadership in sustainable and net-zero focused initiatives, Hydro Ottawa has become a partner of first choice for local green energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects, assisting the City of Ottawa, and many local companies and institutions – big and small – to take similar action by mapping out customized sustainability pathways and creating a larger net-zero energy ecosystem. 

This year’s selection focused on the valuable partnerships Hydro Ottawa has built within the community: supporting the City of Ottawa’s transition to electric buses which has helped reduce emissions and costs; converting Ottawa’s streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs; working with large customers to understand and reduce their GHG emissions by exploring alternative, cleaner technologies; and teaming up with the Ottawa International Airport Authority to work towards net-zero operations and implement energy-saving upgrades.

Hydro Ottawa is also focused on making it easier for residential customers to participate in a sustainable energy future. It promotes the adoption of electric vehicles by increasing awareness and access to electric vehicle chargers and infrastructure, rooftop solar panels, and providing support with connections. As a result of this work, there has been an 80 per cent year-over-year increase in solar connections.

Quick Facts

  • Hydro Ottawa has earned the prestigious Sustainable Electricity Leader designation from Electricity Canada, recognizing its commitment to environmental, economic, and community excellence.
  • Hydro Ottawa is the first Canadian municipally-owned utility to issue a Green Bond, which supported the refurbishment of hydro assets and construction of its LEED Gold campuses. Additionally, Hydro Ottawa is the first Canadian utility to earn ISO 55001 certification for asset management. These initiatives align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, building a more peaceful and prosperous world.
  • Portage Power, Hydro Ottawa’s renewable generation subsidiary, is Ontario’s largest municipally-owned producer of green power, with hydroelectric, solar and landfill gas-to-energy facilities generating 131 megawatts of renewable electricity (enough to power 110,000 homes annually). In total, Portage Power’s renewable generation capacity has increased six-fold in just 12 years.
  • Hydro Ottawa’s two operations centres and main office are LEED Gold Buildings certified, a globally recognized benchmark of sustainability achievement for green buildings. 
  • Hydro Ottawa has committed to becoming the first municipally-owned utility in Canada to achieve net zero operations – by the year 2030.
  • Solar energy generation at Hydro Ottawa’s new facilities offsets approximately 18 per cent of the energy demand at its East Campus and 100 per cent at its South Campus.
  • Hydro Ottawa diverts more than 90 per cent of its waste from landfill, and works with scrap metal companies to perform metal reclamation of copper wire, steel and aluminum from its small transformers and meters.
  • Approximately 1.6 million litres of water are saved per year thanks to rainwater harvesting and an advanced filtration system at the main office.
  • Hydro Ottawa’s education program, in partnership with Electricity Safety and Conservation and Relay Education, builds awareness and a culture of conservation and sustainability among elementary-aged children; the program has educated nearly 345,000 local students since its inception.
  • Hydro Ottawa is a catalyst member of EnviroCentre and Carbon613, a growing network of organizations that are setting and achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets in Ottawa.
  • Envari, Hydro Ottawa’s energy management subsidiary, continues to upgrade a City of Ottawa wastewater treatment plant by replacing the plant’s three cogeneration engines, and adding a fourth, which will eliminate 1,565 tonnes of CO2 per year and reduce utility costs by $80M over 25 years.

 

Quotes

“Sustainability isn’t a goal, it’s a journey we take together. Every electric bus, every energy-efficient LED, every rooftop solar panel or renewable energy project – that’s how we drive real change and build a greener future. We will continue championing innovation and sharing our expertise to create a net-zero ecosystem that benefits everyone.”

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media Contact

Susan Fekete

Manager, Media and Public Affairs

Hydro Ottawa

[email protected]  

Hydro Ottawa increases renewable energy production and earns LEED Gold certification; making Canada’s Greenest Employer list for 12th Year

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OTTAWA – Today, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. celebrates its 12th win as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. This year’s selection recognizes the company’s end-to-end approach to sustainability: increasing production of clean, renewable energy; helping customers conserve energy and lead energy-efficient lifestyles; building and designing its facilities to meet LEED Gold standards; implementing green technology; and building a culture of sustainability within its own organization.

Climate change, coupled with the push for electrification, is driving innovation and change in the electricity sector. As a trusted voice in the industry, Hydro Ottawa proactively seeks opportunities to help shape policy, regulatory and operational responses to these critical issues and endeavours to play a leading role in helping the city of Ottawa, and its residents, businesses and institutions, reduce their energy footprint, in the transition to net zero.

Given the inextricable link between energy and the environment, Hydro Ottawa is committed to leading the way to a smart energy future by advancing energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy generation. Hydro Ottawa’s pledge to transition its operations to net zero by 2030 is a first for any municipally-owned utility company in Canada.

Quick Facts

  • In December 2022, Hydro Ottawa (through its subsidiary, Portage Power) acquired two additional hydroelectric generating stations from TransAlta Renewables located on the Mississippi River in the towns of Appleton and Galetta Falls. Together, these facilities generate an average of 12.5 gigawatt hours of clean energy annually. 
  • Portage Power is Ontario’s largest municipally-owned producer of green power, with hydroelectric, solar and landfill gas-to-energy facilities generating 131 megawatts of renewable electricity (enough to power 110,000 homes annually). 
  • In 2022, Hydro Ottawa’s two operations centres and main office (built in 2019) officially received LEED Gold Buildings certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement for green buildings. 
  • Solar energy generation at Hydro Ottawa’s new facilities offsets approximately 18 per cent of the energy demand at its East Campus and 100 per cent at its South Campus.
  • Hydro Ottawa consistently diverts more than 90 per cent of its waste from landfill, and works with scrap metal companies to perform metal reclamation of copper wire, steel and aluminum from its small transformers and meters.
  • Approximately 1.6 million litres of water are saved per year thanks to rainwater harvesting and an advanced filtration system at the main office.
  • Now offered in a virtual format, Hydro Ottawa’s education program, in partnership with Electricity Safety and Conservation and Relay Education, builds awareness and a culture of conservation and sustainability among elementary-aged children; the program has educated just over 325,000 local students since its inception.
  • To date, Hydro Ottawa has converted more than 40 per cent of its fleet to flex-fuel, battery and hybrid technology, and lowered energy use at 52 of its 91 substations through the installation of building automation systems to control lighting and heating.
  • Hydro Ottawa is a catalyst member of EnviroCentre and Carbon613, a growing network of organizations that are setting and achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets in Ottawa.
  • Envari, Hydro Ottawa’s energy management subsidiary, continues to upgrade a City of Ottawa wastewater treatment plant by replacing the plant’s three cogeneration engines, and adding a fourth, which will eliminate 1,565 tonnes of CO2 per year and reduce utility costs by $80M over 25 years.

 

Quotes

“Our employees are passionate about leaving an environmental legacy that they can look back on and claim as theirs. They want their work to matter and know that they positively contributed to a clean and renewable energy future for our city and all its residents. I’m proud to say that our employees apply that sustainability mindset to their work every single day. They’re not only helping us reach our goal to be net-zero in our operations by 2030, they are guiding the residents of Ottawa on their journey to be more energy efficient, too.”

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media Contact

Josée Larocque

Manager, Media and Public Affairs

Hydro Ottawa

Tel: 613-738-5499 ext. 2345

[email protected]

After facing its biggest storm ever, Top Employer winner, Hydro Ottawa, remains resilient thanks to a connected workforce

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OTTAWA – For the fifteenth consecutive year, Hydro Ottawa has earned a spot among the National Capital Region’s Top Employers.

When a historic derecho wind storm devastated Ottawa and its electricity system on May 21, 2022, Hydro Ottawa employees came together for days on end to restore power for their customers. From severe damage to property and Ottawa’s urban forest, the impact on the company’s electrical infrastructure made this storm its biggest yet; significantly worse than the 1998 ice storm and the 2018 tornadoes.

The restoration effort was so massive an undertaking that it was the equivalent of doing four years worth of construction work and emergency repairs in 14 days. Through it all, employees from across the organization stepped up to assist. The powerful connection between employees and the community, as well as to each other, has been carefully nurtured over many years within the culture at Hydro Ottawa. It’s that connection to purpose and community that is a key driver of the organization’s success and vision for the future.

As a leader in a smart energy future, the company has committed to being the first municipally-owned utility in Canada to achieve net zero operations by 2030. It’s a moonshot, and employees across the company are taking up the challenge to innovate and plan the way forward. Employees of Hydro Ottawa work in rewarding careers that shape and influence the world around us, specifically in the rapidly evolving fields of electricity, sustainable energy solutions, and renewable energy generation.

Quick facts

  • Hydro Ottawa places an emphasis on the health and wellbeing of its employees through its healthcare benefits, fitness and wellness programs, paid volunteer day, and employee assistance programs. Since the pandemic, the company introduced a fully digital, therapist-led, cognitive behavioural therapy program designed to help employees and their families struggling with mental health challenges.
  • The company supported 11 local charities in 2022, including a donation of $150,000 for the Ottawa Food Bank, and an employee-led campaign that raised more than $166,000 for the United Way of East Ontario.
  • In 2021, Hydro Ottawa launched its 2021-2025 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework and Corporate Plan, the third plan since 2013, with a focus on continuing to increase the diversity of our workforce, providing a safe and inclusive work environment and strengthening partnerships in the community. And in 2022, the company outlined its commitment to gender diversity goals by 2030.
  • On average, Hydro Ottawa invests close to 40 hours per employee annually on training in trades and safe work practices, business skills, management and leadership development. In 2022, the company continued its approach to modernizing its training and development programs, enabling employees to access micro learning anytime and anywhere on any device. A constantly growing eLearning library of courses, videos and ebooks for professional and skill development keeps employees learning, when it works for them. For field employees, new virtual reality training modules are changing the way they learn and practice their trade.
  • Hydro Ottawa supports employees through key stages in their lives, and also invests in their families through programs like mental health support extended to family members and Safety Scholarships for post-secondary education.

 

Quotes

“When an emergency happens, whether it’s the derecho wind storm in May or the winter storm we experienced in December, I know our employees will give their all, and more, to restore power to our customers. They are committed to finding and implementing innovative solutions that will make our systems more resilient to climate change, and spearheading initiatives for a greener, more sustainable electricity future. That dedication to their work and their community is the reason for our continued success.” 

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media contact:

Josée Larocque
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.
Tel: 613-738-5499 ext. 2345
[email protected] 

Hydro Ottawa and ESG – New to the name, not new to the game

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“Show me the money!”

For the longest time, this quote from the film Jerry Maguire pretty much summed up the prevailing philosophy in the financial investment world. Buy low, sell high. Maximize rates of return. Yield a stable dividend. Check these boxes and investors were happy.

But in recent years this model has been changing. With an international consensus around tackling climate change and the heightened influence of social movements, investors are shifting their understanding of what constitutes a “good investment.”

These days, if you open up the business section in most newspapers or tune into the quarterly earnings calls for many companies, you’re as likely to hear about “people” and “purpose” as you are “profits.” That’s because, for many investors, it’s not just about dollars and cents anymore. Investors want more information on how companies are reducing their environmental impacts, addressing social issues and running their businesses more ethically. Out of this push has emerged the concept of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting.

But what does “ESG” mean in practice?

What is ESG?

“ESG” refers to environmental, social and governance factors that are considered in investment decision-making. Knowing the strength of a company’s balance sheet is important. But when it comes to ESG, the focus is on non-financial performance indicators.

ESG practices are intended to create accountability and a purpose-driven culture. The notion of ESG is about positively influencing company behaviour and facilitating socially-responsible investing.

Interest in ESG has risen steadily since the term was coined in a 2005 United Nations report. It’s now one of the hottest topics in global financial markets. Financial regulators around the world are in different stages of either proposing or implementing ESG reporting requirements. And it’s not just government authorities who are taking action. Ask some of the biggest money managers in Toronto, New York or London. They’ll say that combating climate change and fostering sustainability have become investment imperatives, because they drive value and make good business sense.

ESG helps tell a story that doesn’t otherwise come across in statements about profits and loss. The image below shows a few of the common areas in which investors are interested in ESG reporting:

Graphic with description of ESG

Disclosing how materials are sourced through sustainable and ethical supply chains, how many Board members are from underrepresented groups, or how a safe and healthy workplace is maintained – these are all examples of ESG reporting in practice.

Hydro Ottawa’s history with ESG

How does Hydro Ottawa fit into this discussion? We’ve had best-in-class environmental, social and governance practices in place for as long as we can remember. But we haven’t talked about these activities under the formal banner of ESG. They’ve happened organically, as part of our long-standing strategic focus on good corporate citizenship and our responsibilities as a community-owned company that delivers an essential service to customers.

For example, we developed our first Environmental Sustainability Strategy back in 2010, way before the idea of “ESG” enjoyed the kind of prominence that it does now. Since then, we’ve steadily reduced our environmental impact, including decreasing paper and water usage, diverting over 90 per cent of non-hazardous waste from landfills, and integrating electric vehicles into our fleet. We’ve also demonstrated our commitment to lowering emissions in our sector by increasing the capacity of our renewable generation fleet by over 500 per cent, making us Ontario’s largest municipally-owned producer of green power.

More recently, Hydro Ottawa received the Sustainable Electricity CompanyTM designation from Electricity Canada, which attests to responsible business practices across a range of sustainability indicators. In addition, 2022 marked the 11th year in which we were named one of Canada’s greenest employers.

While the “E” in “ESG” arguably gets the most attention from investors, our record in addressing the “S” and the “G” is also strong. We have a long history of placing employee safety as our top priority and we’ve received best-in-class certifications for our occupational health and safety systems. Similarly, our efforts to foster a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace have been recognized by numerous local and national organizations. And our employee charitable fundraising has raised more than $2 million over the past 10 years in the spirit of giving where we live.

Hydro Ottawa also prides itself on maintaining leading governance practices for a company of our size and mandate. We meet or exceed governance standards applicable to much larger corporations, we proactively disclose information like executive compensation, and for many years, approximately 50 percent of our Board positions have been held by women.

Where do we go from here?

Between our own sustainability journey and all the momentum building around ESG, the outlook is favourable for continued leadership by Hydro Ottawa in this space.

We’ve already given strong signals in this regard through our 2021-2025 Strategic Direction. Our corporate strategy is anchored in an ambitious commitment to reach net-zero operations by 2030. This will make us the first municipally-owned utility in Canada to reach this critical milestone. At the same time, we plan to be a catalyst for other organizations to take similar action – whether it’s helping the City of Ottawa to achieve its clean energy and climate change objectives, the Ottawa International Airport to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, or The Ottawa Hospital’s New Civic Campus to minimize its carbon footprint.

Alongside this cornerstone initiative, our Strategic Direction acknowledges the need to enhance our ESG reporting. Various international accounting and financial reporting bodies have introduced different frameworks for how companies can measure their ESG performance, using a range of metrics. Hydro Ottawa is in the process of evaluating these standards and best practices, and we plan to adopt an approach that will best meet the needs of our stakeholders.

When it comes to ESG, you might say that we’re not new to the game, just new to the name. So we’ll be looking to speak the language of ESG more fluently in the years ahead.

A hallmark of our evolution as a company has been a commitment to sustainability. We’re excited to continue strengthening these efforts through the lens of ESG. Investors and regulators (in their best Jerry Maguire voice, of course) are saying “show me the ESG!” and we don’t intend to disappoint.

Special contribution by Patrick Brown and Robin Kennedy