Recorded on March 29, 2023, the day after the release of the Government of Canada’s 2023 budget, episode 76 features a conversation with Electricity Canada’s Julia Muggeridge, VP of Communications and Customer, and Michael Powell, VP of Government Relations, getting their reaction to and analysis of Budget 2023. We discuss the lead-up up to the Budget, what’s in Budget 2023, what this means for the electricity sector, and what comes next on the road to our net zero future. We talk about Budget dynamics, what a Budget Day looks like for a trade association, and what happens in Ottawa post-Budget. They also provide book recommendations for additions to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Recorded live at Capitol Counsel’s office in downtown D.C, episode 74 features a conversation with Clint Robinson, partner at Capitol Counsel. This wide-ranging discussion will be a treat for political junkies and those interested in how legislation is made in Washington. We discuss the challenges of a divided Congress, the emerging comprehensive energy bill, the debt limit, the potential impacts of the “Buy America” sentiment, and Clint’s time on the Hill and with RIM/Blackberry. We also talk about the Presidential primary season and Clint suggests an addition to the Flux Capacitor Book Club that is right on point.

Recorded live at GLOBExCHANGE in Toronto in late February 2023, episode 73 features a conversation with Rob Lister, President and Chief Executive Office of Oakville Enterprises Corporation (OEC). Following the release of Electricity Canada’s annual State of the Canadian Electricity Industry, Rob sat down to chat about electrification and greenhouse gas reduction challenges, the importance of leadership to address these challenges, the collaborative nature of the electricity sector, and some of the most pressing issues facing businesses today. We also discuss the breadth of OEC’s operations, and the increasing importance of ESG and Indigenous reconciliation. We close the conversation with Rob’s addition to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Brittany Botting, Director of Generation at Electricity Canada takes over the podcast for International Women’s Day 2023, and her special guest is Heather Ferguson, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Affairs at Ontario Power Generation. Their wide-ranging conversation touches on diversity, the imperative of Indigenous reconciliation, and how OPG will be leading the drive to net zero, with plans for SMRs, new hydro, hydrogen, storage, and electrified transportation. They also touch on some of the challenges, including the need for Canada to ensure a competitive investment climate and the need for regulatory efficiency. They wrap up their conversation with Heather’s book recommendation.

Recorded live at GLOBExCHANGE in Toronto in late February 2023, episode 71 features a conversation with David Morton, the Chair and CEO of the BC Utilities Commission. Following the release of Electricity Canada’s annual State of the Canadian Electricity Industry report and a panel discussion at GLOBE, David joined the podcast to talk about electrification and greenhouse gas reduction challenges, customer affordability, the limits of current legislative frameworks for regulation, and we do a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of regulatory processes. We close the conversation with David’s addition to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Recorded on Zoom in late December 2022, episode 070 features a conversation with Greg Lyle, founder and President of Innovative Research Group. Greg joins the podcast to talk about what his research is revealing about the views of Canadian electricity customers. The conversation touches on overall customer satisfaction, underlying concerns about affordability, and the challenge of reaching customers in a crowded media space. Greg shares his views on future challenges of greater electrification, building more infrastructure and cost pressures. And we close the conversation with an interesting addition to the Flux Capacitor Book Club.

Recorded on Zoom in late December 2022, episode 069 features a conversation with Hydro-Québec’s Alexandre Mignault. This episode features a wide-ranging year-end discussion covering the current and future energy prospects from Hydro’s perspective, what the future energy mix may look like in a net zero future, the role of hydro and wind resources, demand response, behind the meter opportunities, and the future impact of the electrification on future electricity needs. Alexandre helps unpack the complexities of the Quebec energy marketplace, the role Hydro-Québec may play in decarbonizing the northeast electricity grid, the role of indigenous communities in building the system of tomorrow, and where hydrogen will fit in the puzzle. And as always, we close the conversation with his addition to the Flux Capacitor Book club.

Recorded at Canada Pavilion at the United Nations Climate Conference, COP27, at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on Energy Day, November 15, 2022, episode 68 features a panel discussion, “Powering Net Zero: Achieving Deep Decarbonization with Canada’s Clean Electricity Advantage.” Organized under the banner off Electricity Alliance Canada, the panel featured intro remarks by Catherine Stewart, Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change, and a conversation with Guy Lonechild from First Nations Power Authority, Manitoba Hydro’s Jay Grewal, Kerry O’Reilly Wilks from TransAlta, Gary Rose from Ontario Power Generation and Capital Power’s Brian Vaasjo.

Recorded in the delegate zone of the United Nations Climate Conference, COP27, at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on November 15, 2002, episode 67 features a conversation with Electricity Canada’s Vice-president of Government Relations, Michael Powell. Following a week at COP27, Michael talks about what it’s like to attend the UN Climate Conference, how the experience is different this year due to the location of the event, the different experiences at the event for negotiators versus the majority of attendees at the pavilions, who we get to meet and work with, and how the discussions here connect to politics and policy back home. I even get a book recommendation from Michael to add to the Flux capacitor Book Club list.