Category: News

Hydro Ottawa drives green efforts with 15 per cent EV fleet and customer decarbonization initiatives

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Today, Hydro Ottawa Group (Hydro Ottawa) is proud to announce its selection as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the 15th year. This prestigious designation recognizes the utility’s dual role as a leader in sustainable operations and a critical partner in helping the customers it serves transition to a net-zero future.

Guided by its own goal to achieve net-zero operations, Hydro Ottawa is accelerating its internal sustainability efforts while simultaneously expanding its grid capacity to meet increasing demand for electrification. From an expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet to comprehensive carbon-pathway studies for its facilities, the utility is demonstrating that going green is both an environmental necessity and an operational advantage.

Central to this year’s recognition is Hydro Ottawa’s proactive support for its customers’ decarbonization journeys. The utility has a dedicated team to help customers reduce electricity consumption and improve efficiency through initiatives such as lighting retrofits, solar generation installations, and shifting to off-peak energy usage. Utilizing federal funding received two years ago, the utility provides commercial customers with third-party consulting services to audit operations. These audits deliver comprehensive decarbonization plans, enabling customers to achieve their net zero goals.

Quick Facts

  • Fleet electrification: The 10-person field operators’ unit at Hydro Ottawa Limited, a subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Group, is the organization’s first unit with a fully electric mobile fleet, consisting of three electric pickup trucks. Currently, 15 per cent of the company’s total fleet is electrified, with 70 EV chargers installed across its work centres.
  • Operational savings: Removing just one of the field operators’ gasoline pickup trucks from the road saves approximately $11,000 in fuel costs and 26 metric tonnes of CO2 per vehicle, per year – equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 24 homes.
  • Decarbonizing the city: Hydro Ottawa is hyper-focused on making it easier for organizations in its community to participate in a sustainable energy future. In the final year of its strategic roadmap program, Hydro Ottawa has helped create decarbonization pathways for over 150 buildings in Ottawa, providing commercial customers with a 10-to-20-year plan for electrification and energy efficiency.
  • Leading by example: Hydro Ottawa has completed carbon pathway studies for four of its major buildings, integrating these findings into its capital planning to transform its own facilities into low-carbon hubs.
  • Renewable generation: Portage Power, Hydro Ottawa’s renewable generation subsidiary, remains 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).
  • Sustainable infrastructure: Hydro Ottawa’s main office and two operations centres are LEED Gold certified. Solar energy generation at these facilities offsets approximately 25 per cent of energy demand at the East Campus and 80 per cent at the South Campus.
  • Waste diversion: The utility continues to divert more than 90 per cent of its waste from landfills through robust recycling and metal reclamation programs for copper wire, steel, and aluminum.
  • Grid innovation: To support local decarbonization, Hydro Ottawa is designing programs that partner with customers to leverage their own devices, such as EVs and batteries, to address grid needs and provide incentives for sustainable choices.

 

Quote

“Sustainability is no longer a choice to be weighed, but rather, the blueprint for our industry’s future. As a company, our mandate extends beyond operational excellence; we are the architects of an ecosystem that empowers our customers to realize their own climate ambitions. This recognition is a testament to our employees, whose tireless pursuit of innovation is building a cleaner, more resilient Ottawa.” 

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media contact:

Susan Fekete
Manager, External and Corporate Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Group
(613) 738-5499 x2345

[email protected]
www.hydroottawagroup.com

Empowering the engineers of the future: Hydro Ottawa named one of National Capital Region’s Top Employers

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – By investing in the specialized skills and career trajectories of its engineering and technical teams, Hydro Ottawa Group (Hydro Ottawa) has once again been recognized as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers.

As the electricity sector undergoes an unprecedented expansion to support population growth and community-wide electrification, Hydro Ottawa is distinguishing itself through a dedicated focus on ‘upskilling’ opportunities and versatile career development for its employees. This year’s recognition highlights the company’s commitment to providing engineers and technical professionals with the freedom to work across disciplines – from solar installations and hydroelectric maintenance to dam safety and grid operations.

To meet the demands of a rapidly evolving energy landscape, Hydro Ottawa has launched new programs and enhanced existing ones aimed at internal mobility. This includes a specialized development program for engineering interns and new graduates to help them meet the knowledge and experience requirements of the licensing process, alongside a new technical career path that allows engineers to advance into intermediate, senior and lead engineering roles without being limited to a traditional management pipeline.

Quick Facts

Hydro Ottawa invests heavily in a culture of continuous learning, offering role-specific training that allows employees to use the full breadth of their technical knowledge. Across its companies, Hydro Ottawa invests close to 40 hours per employee annually on training in trades and safe work practices, business skills, management and leadership development.

The company supports its employees’ holistic well-being with an $1,800 mental health practitioner benefit and access to virtual health and wellbeing resources and services.

Hydro Ottawa fosters a strong sense of community and purpose, with employees contributing 538 volunteer hours to local causes last year.

With nearly 17,000 job applications received last year, the utility remains a destination of choice for talent in the National Capital Region.

The National Capital Region’s Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes the employers in the Ottawa-Gatineau area that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.

Quote

“As we transition to a smarter, decarbonized power grid, our work is no longer just about maintaining infrastructure; it’s about pioneering the digital nervous system of our city. Our engineers are architecting solutions for a net-zero future, effectively redefining the role of the modern engineer. As one of the top employers in the electricity sector, we’re counting on them to help us solve the greatest energy challenges of our generation.”

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

Media contact:
Susan Fekete
Manager, External and Corporate Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Group
(613) 738-5499 x2345
[email protected]
www.hydroottawagroup.com

Mentorship and innovative training drive Hydro Ottawa’s recognition as a Top Employer for Young People

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Today, Hydro Ottawa Group (Hydro Ottawa) was recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People. This award highlights the company’s commitment to fostering a new generation of talent through cutting-edge technology, robust apprenticeship programs, and a culture of continuous learning.

Hydro Ottawa is in the midst of an organization-wide knowledge transfer. About 35 per cent of the company’s employees are under the age of 35 — a figure that continues to rise as the company recruits the next generation of talent to help meet growing energy demands while its long-term employees prepare for retirement.

To support the expanding demographic of young employees, Hydro Ottawa is leveraging innovative technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), to provide immersive technical and safety training. These tools allow apprentices and students to get “hands-on” experience working through complex scenarios in a controlled, safe environment before heading into the field.

Hydro Ottawa offers exciting careers and programs designed to ensure young workers can make meaningful contributions to the organization and community early in their careers.

Quick Facts

  • Approximately 35 per cent of Hydro Ottawa’s workforce is under the age of 35, with many long-term employees getting ready to retire.
  • The company is bringing back recent retirees as instructors for its powerline technician program delivered in conjunction with Algonquin College, and as mentors for its apprenticeship programs, to make sure younger employees can take advantage of their decades of knowledge and experience.
  • The company has partnerships with Algonquin College and Carleton University to promote careers in the energy sector and encourage women to enter skilled trades, technical and engineering roles.
  • Hydro Ottawa is leveraging VR and video-based training to help employees master complex technical tasks in a risk-free environment before performing them in the field.
  • This is the 11th time Hydro Ottawa has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.


Quotes

“I’m always proud when I hear we’ve won this award. As the energy sector undergoes its most significant transformation, we’re looking to the next generation to help us lead the way as our business continues to grow. By empowering young talent with the latest technologies and interactive training, we’re helping to ignite the passion and innovative thinking needed to build a smarter, more sustainable future for our community.”

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

Media contact:

Susan Fekete
Manager, External and Corporate Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Group
(613) 738-5499 x2345
[email protected]
www.hydroottawagroup.com


About Hydro Ottawa Group

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. [operating under the brand ‘Hydro Ottawa Group’] is a private company 100 per cent owned by the City of Ottawa and whose strategic business lines include electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. As a future-powered energy provider and partner in key green energy projects, the Hydro Ottawa Group is committed to innovation, community and sustainability. It owns and operates four primary subsidiary companies that drive its vision for a dynamic energy future: Hydro Ottawa Limited – a local distribution company that delivers electricity to approximately 372,000 customers in Ottawa and Casselman; Portage Power – the largest municipally-owned producer of renewable energy in the province of Ontario with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); Envari – an innovative energy solutions company offering products and services designed to improve energy efficiency and drive cost savings for municipalities, industrial and business clients, governments and utilities; and hiboo networks – a high-speed fibre optic network solutions and internet services company focused on powering a strong digital future by providing secure and scalable connectivity for customers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Learn more: hydroottawagroup.com

Hydro Ottawa presents 2024 Annual Report to City Council

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Today, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (‘Hydro Ottawa’) presented its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting successes in maintaining a safe and reliable supply of electricity, enabling sustainable energy solutions for customers and achieving milestones across its diverse lines of business.

Board Chair, Bernie Ashe, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Bryce Conrad, presented the company’s 2024 financial results during the Annual General Meeting before Ottawa City Council. They also provided an update on local clean energy project partnerships, the recently completed financial restructuring of the company and plans for investing in distribution system infrastructure over the coming years to support the city’s growth and increased electrification.

As part of the presentation, the company introduced its refreshed brand identity—Hydro Ottawa Group. This change reflects a more comprehensive identity focused on empowering customers through the delivery of sustainable energy solutions and reflects the promise to enable a smarter energy future by leading innovation, fostering community and embracing sustainability.

Quick Facts

  • In accordance with the City Council-approved dividend policy, Hydro Ottawa’s dividend payment to the City will be $22.3 million this year, which will be used by the City to fund municipal programs and services. 
  • In 2024, Hydro Ottawa maintained best-in-class reliability and achieved its best-ever outage frequency result. On average, customers had power 99.98 per cent of the time.
  • As part of its ongoing focus on improving emergency preparedness and response, the company introduced two-way outage communications, enabling customers to report outages and register for outage alerts via text message.
  • Hydro Ottawa undertook a corporate restructuring to better position the company for long-term financial success. This provided an immediate benefit to its credit rating, creating a stronger posture for executing on major investment plans and increasing capacity for growth and diversification.
  • Significant milestones were achieved in support of the City of Ottawa’s Zero Emission Bus project, including completion of the first tranche of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure installation and the initiation of a new electrical substation project providing dedicated capacity for bus charging.
  • Planning and design advanced for two major local sustainability partnerships: the energy-efficient central utility plant for The Ottawa Hospital’s new Civic campus and a wastewater heat recovery pilot project for a residential development in downtown Ottawa. 
  • Portage Power, the company’s renewable energy subsidiary, produced a record-high volume of clean electricity across its 36 stations as a result of hydroelectric plant upgrades and water flow optimization.
  • Envari, the company’s energy solutions provider, continued to support key partners like the Ottawa International Airport Authority, Ottawa Community Housing and Renfrew County school boards in reducing their energy consumption and carbon emissions through sustainable energy initiatives.
  • Hiboo networks, the company’s telecommunications subsidiary, completed its first full year of operations. It continued to focus on acquiring customers, expanding its network and building internal capacity for long-term value creation. It was also a founding partner in CommuniFi, a pilot project offering free Wi-Fi for Ottawa Community Housing tenants.
  • As part of its commitment to achieving net-zero operations, Hydro Ottawa expanded its corporate EV fleet, installed additional EV chargers at its work centres and broke ground on the Piperville Municipal Transformer Station, its first substation being designed and constructed using low-carbon techniques. As noted in the Annual Report, there was a 24 per cent year-over-year reduction in corporate emissions within the company’s control (known as Scope 1 emissions) relative to the prior reporting year.
  • Hydro Ottawa is dedicated to making the communities it serves better places to live, work and play. In 2024, its employee-driven charitable campaign raised approximately $142,000 for United Way East Ontario and $151,000 for The Royal Ottawa Prompt Care Clinic. The company also contributed $76,000 through its Community Investment Program to sponsor local organizations seeking to build stronger and healthier communities and support vulnerable groups.

 

 

Quotes

“2024 marked a year of strong financial and operational performance across our core business lines. With a new organizational structure in place, Hydro Ottawa is well-positioned to build on this momentum as we prepare to embark on the largest grid investment program in our history. We look forward to elevating our engagement and partnerships with customers and stakeholders as we help deliver the energy transition and lead the way to a smarter energy future.”
– Bernie Ashe, Chair, Board of Directors

“Everywhere you look in the nation’s capital, Hydro Ottawa is at the forefront of transforming how we use and think about energy—whether it’s meeting the demand for more clean electricity or deploying customized solutions for high-rises, hospitals, homeowners and everyone in between. We will remain relentless in our quest to be the trusted energy advisor and partner for our customers, and to unlock new value for our community through sustainability and innovation.”

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media contact:

Susan Fekete
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Group
[email protected]
613-738-5499, ext. 2345

About Hydro Ottawa Group

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. [operating under the brand ‘Hydro Ottawa Group’] is a private company 100 per cent owned by the City of Ottawa and whose strategic business lines include electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. As a future-powered energy provider and partner in key green energy projects, the Hydro Ottawa Group is committed to innovation, community and sustainability. It owns and operates four primary subsidiary companies that drive its vision for a dynamic energy future: Hydro Ottawa Limited – a local distribution company that delivers electricity to approximately 372,000 customers in Ottawa and Casselman; Portage Power – the largest municipally-owned producer of renewable energy in the province of Ontario with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); Envari – an innovative energy solutions company offering products and services designed to improve energy efficiency and drive cost savings for municipalities, industrial and business clients, governments and utilities; and hiboo networks – a high-speed fibre optic network solutions and internet services company focused on powering a strong digital future by providing secure and scalable connectivity for customers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Learn more: hydroottawagroup.com

Sustainability initiatives help Hydro Ottawa secure another top spot on Canada’s Greenest Employers list

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Today, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) celebrates its inclusion as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. This accolade highlights Hydro Ottawa’s deeply rooted commitment to achieving net-zero operations by 2030 and its comprehensive approach to environmental responsibility.

Sustainability is a core value deeply integrated into all aspects of the organization. This commitment is evident in its ambitious goal to electrify its fleet, encompassing light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks with electric and hybrid technologies.

Beyond its fleet, Hydro Ottawa has implemented a four-stream waste collection system, utilizes geothermal heating and cooling in its buildings, employs water conservation systems, and adheres to a comprehensive green procurement strategy. Its subsidiary, Envari Energy Solutions, further contributes by providing sustainable energy solutions and innovative lighting design.

The utility integrates climate change considerations into its infrastructure planning by incorporating low-carbon techniques in its substation designs and, where feasible, creating pollinator meadows around new facilities to enhance biodiversity.

Quick Facts

  • Hydro Ottawa is hyper-focused on making it easier for organizations in its community to participate in a sustainable energy future. In 2024, Hydro Ottawa was selected by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to deliver the Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator program (ORA), a $10 million program running until March 31, 2027, to help commercial, institutional, mid-rise and high-rise residential buildings receive expert guidance to implement deep retrofits that significantly reduce their emissions.
  • Hydro Ottawa partnered with Ottawa Community Housing to reduce its carbon footprint across its portfolio of properties through the Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator (ORA) program, and expanding on its existing partnership to take advantage of future energy-saving projects like EV charging infrastructure, solar panels, building automation systems, and the installation of heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling.
  • 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 13 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.
  • 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.
  • Envari Energy Solutions, 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

“At Hydro Ottawa, sustainability isn’t just a corporate objective; it’s a shared passion that resonates wholeheartedly with our employees. Their commitment to prioritizing sustainability in every aspect of their work, coupled with their willingness to adopt new technologies, practices, and green solutions, gives me great confidence in our ability to build a dynamic energy future for our customers and our city.”

– Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media Contact

Susan Fekete
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.
[email protected]

www.hydroottawa.com

 

About Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) is a private company 100 per cent owned by the city of Ottawa and whose core businesses are electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. As a leading partner in a smart energy future, Hydro Ottawa is committed to sustainability and reducing its impact on the environment in all aspects of its operations. It owns and operates four primary subsidiary companies: Hydro Ottawa Limited – a local distribution company that delivers electricity to more than 364,000 customers in the city of Ottawa and the village of Casselman; Portage Power – the largest Ontario-based municipally-owned producer of green power with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); Envari Energy Solutions offers products and services that help reduce energy consumption and costs for municipalities, industrial and commercial clients, and various local distribution companies; and Hiboo Networks – a high-speed fiber optic network solutions and internet service company providing customers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region with secure and scalable connectivity to enable a strong digital future.

Hydro Ottawa’s evolution to a technology-driven organization places it among the National Capital Region’s Top Employers

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Today Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) won a spot among the National Capital Region’s Top Employers. 

As the energy sector enters the fourth industrial revolution, it’s more apparent than ever that automation, cyber-physical systems (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, cognitive computing, and artificial intelligence, are all playing a part in how Hydro Ottawa has evolved into a technology-driven organization.

Hydro Ottawa is a private company 100 per cent owned by the city of Ottawa and whose core businesses include electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. 

The company operates four primary subsidiary companies, and offers exciting careers for employees with expertise in emerging technology fields like data analytics, sustainability, and cybersecurity. This shift is driven by evolving industry demands in the energy sector and a rising need for electricity due to electrification, clean energy, data centre growth, and Ottawa’s expansion.

Quick Facts

  • Across its companies, Hydro Ottawa invests close to 40 hours per employee annually on training in trades and safe work practices, business skills, management and leadership development. The company continues to modernize 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. Leaders benefit from a Conversation AI Simulator, an innovative generative AI based tool for simulating business and leadership conversational skills.
  • 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. The company has a fully digital, therapist-led, cognitive behavioural therapy program designed to help employees and their families struggling with mental health challenges.
  • The company raised more than $151,000 for the Royal Ottawa Prompt Care Clinic, made $158,000 in sponsorships and donations to local organizations supporting vulnerable groups, and raised nearly $142,000 through its annual employee fundraising campaign (vis-à-vis with corporate matching) for the United Way of East Ontario.
  • Hydro Ottawa fosters a safe and inclusive culture that enhances employee engagement and innovation, and strengthens partnerships in the community. In addition to its own gender equity commitment goals, Hydro Ottawa has established external partnerships with Algonquin College’s We Saved You as Seat Program and Carleton University’s Women in Engineering and IT Program to increase gender equity in trades, technical, engineering and leadership roles.
  • 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.
  • Hydro Ottawa’s talent attraction strategy has succeeded in recruiting young talent, with nearly 40 per cent of employees aged 35 and under. Further, employees are supported by tuition subsidies, a comprehensive digital learning platform, and programs designed to enhance their professional growth.

 

Quotes

“Employees are inspired by our vision of a sustainable, more connected future, and are eager to play an active role in the larger global energy transformation. As the demand for electricity grows exponentially in our community, we are attracting a workforce of the future that is passionate about developing innovative solutions for an increasingly electrified world  – one that is rooted in data and technology, but unlimited by their imagination. We foster a culture where work is meaningful, and every individual is empowered to contribute.”

-Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media contact:

Susan Fekete
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.
[email protected]

www.hydroottawa.com

 

About Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) is a private company 100 per cent owned by the city of Ottawa and whose core businesses are electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. As a leading partner in a smart energy future, Hydro Ottawa is committed to sustainability and reducing its impact on the environment in all aspects of its operations. It owns and operates four primary subsidiary companies: Hydro Ottawa Limited – a local distribution company that delivers electricity to more than 364,000 customers in the city of Ottawa and the village of Casselman; Portage Power – the largest Ontario-based municipally-owned producer of green power with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); Envari – an energy solutions company offering products and services that help reduce energy consumption and costs for municipalities, industrial and commercial clients, and various local distribution companies; and Hiboo Networks – a high-speed fiber optic network solutions and internet service company providing customers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region with secure and scalable connectivity to enable a strong digital future.

Investing in young talent and future leaders, Hydro Ottawa earns ‘Top Employer’ recognition

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Today, in recognition of the importance Hydro Ottawa places on skill development and education for its young workforce, the company earned a spot on Canada’s Top Employers for Young People list for the 10th time.

With the transition to electrification, digitization and its ambitious goal to achieve net-zero operations by 2030, the company is embracing new technologies and innovation, and is attracting young professionals excited about the electricity industry, renewable energy, sustainability and the environment.

In addition to scholarships and tuition subsidies for professional accreditations, the company offers a large digital learning platform for all employees and virtual reality training scenarios for its trades and apprentices. Mentoring on the job is another important value the company encourages.

The utility offers exciting careers and programs designed to ensure young workers can make meaningful contributions to the organization and community early in their careers. 

Quick Facts

  • Hydro Ottawa’s talent attraction strategy has succeeded in attracting young talent, with nearly 40 per cent of employees aged 35 and under. 
  • Apprentices represent nearly 24 per cent of Hydro Ottawa’s trades workforce. 
  • The company offers paid in-house apprenticeship and engineering intern programs, and provides employment opportunities for post-secondary summer students as well as internships and co-op placements.
  • The company’s jointly delivered Powerline Technician Diploma Program was recently included in Algonquin College’s We Saved You a Seat program to encourage more female students to join careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
  • In 2018, Hydro Ottawa established the Hydro Ottawa Award, which is a $2,500 scholarship given to a first-year female student in the Powerline Technician Diploma Program at Algonquin College. 
  • Hydro Ottawa established an external partnership with Carleton University’s Women in Engineering and IT Program to increase gender equity in trades, technical, engineering and leadership roles.

 

Quotes

“At Hydro Ottawa, we’re empowering a young and talented workforce ready to build and lead the future of energy. We offer exciting careers and the opportunity to tackle big challenges to spearhead innovative, sustainable solutions for our industry, our environment, and our planet.”

-Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Media contact:

Susan Fekete
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.
[email protected]

www.hydroottawa.com

 

About Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) is a private company 100 per cent owned by the City of Ottawa and whose core businesses are electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. As a leading partner in a smart energy future, Hydro Ottawa is committed to sustainability and reducing its impact on the environment in all aspects of its operations. It owns and operates four primary subsidiary companies: Hydro Ottawa Limited – a local distribution company that delivers electricity to more than 364,000 customers in the city of Ottawa and the village of Casselman; Portage Power – the largest Ontario-based municipally-owned producer of green power with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); Envari – an energy solutions company offering products and services that help reduce energy consumption and costs for municipalities, industrial and commercial clients, and various local distribution companies; and Hiboo Networks – a high-speed fiber optic network solutions and internet service company providing customers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region with secure and scalable connectivity to enable a strong digital future.

 

Hydro Ottawa updated green bond framework to support net-zero goal

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Today, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (referred to as “Hydro Ottawa” or the “Company”) published an update to its Green Bond Framework (“Framework”), first issued in 2019. The Framework allows Hydro Ottawa to further build on its commitment to excellence in sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, as well as its target to achieve net-zero operations by 2030. 

Key updates to the Framework expand its scope to include subsidiaries like Hydro Ottawa Capital Corporation, broaden eligible use of proceeds categories, and allow investments to finance a wider range of programs, including:

  • eligible clean electricity distribution infrastructure;
  • energy efficiency projects such as smart grid technology and energy storage systems;
  • biodiversity and conservation initiatives including habitat and land reclamation/restoration projects; and
  • climate change adaption and resilience capabilities for extreme weather and flood defense, monitoring systems and hardening of distribution networks.

Hydro Ottawa intends to fully allocate the green bond proceeds to Eligible Investments within 36 months from the issuance date, and will provide annual updates within one year of issuing a bond under the Framework, and until full allocation of proceeds. 

Sustainalytics reviewed the Framework and provided a Second-Party Opinion which confirmed it is credible and impactful, and aligns with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles 2021. The Framework and the Second-Party Opinion can be found on the Company’s website.

BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank acted as Co-Green Structuring Agents for Hydro Ottawa’s Green Bond Framework.

“Sustainability isn’t a goal, it’s a journey we take together. By investing in electric buses, energy-efficient LEDs, and renewable energy projects, we’re driving real change and building 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

 

About Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. 

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) is a private company 100 per cent owned by the City of Ottawa and whose core businesses are electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, and energy and utility services. As a leading partner in a smart energy future, Hydro Ottawa is committed to sustainability and reducing its impact on the environment in all aspects of its operations. It owns and operates three primary subsidiary companies: Hydro Ottawa Limited – a local distribution company that delivers electricity to more than 364,000 customers in the city of Ottawa and the village of Casselman; Portage Power – the largest Ontario-based municipally-owned producer of green power with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); and Envari Holding Inc. – an energy solutions company offering products and services that help reduce energy consumption and costs for municipalities, industrial and commercial clients, and various local distribution companies. For more information visit: hydroottawaholding.com

For more information:

Hydro Ottawa Media Relations
[email protected]
613-738-5499 ext. 2345

Hydro Ottawa’s Retrofit Accelerator program powers Ottawa Community Housing to Reduce Emissions

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA – Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) is supporting Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) in making significant strides towards reducing emissions across its portfolio through the Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator (ORA) program.

As part of this initiative, OCH has engaged Envari Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa and ORA approved carbon pathway study delivery consultant. Envari’s expertise will provide OCH with a comprehensive analysis and a tailored roadmap to maximize energy efficiency across 38 high-rise buildings and pursue its emission reduction targets. They hope the rest of OCH’s portfolio will also go through the programs.

This ambitious project aims to align OCH with the City of Ottawa’s Climate Change Master plan of achieving a 96 per cent reduction in OCH’s emissions by 2040.

This collaboration between Hydro Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing exemplifies the power of partnership in tackling climate change. Hydro Ottawa’s innovative energy solutions are helping OCH achieve its environmental goals, while OCH’s leadership in sustainability sets a model for other commercial, institutional, or multi-residential buildings to follow in the transition to cleaner energy.

Quick facts

  • In July of 2024, OCH and Hydro Ottawa announced an expansion to their existing partnership to further reduce carbon emissions in OCH communities through innovative energy-saving projects. These projects included technical support for the installation of EV charging infrastructure, heat pumps, on-site solar panels, and building automatic systems.
  • Hydro Ottawa’s ORA program is available to commercial, institutional, mid-rise and high-rise residential buildings within Hydro Ottawa service territory.
  • Hydro Ottawa was selected by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to deliver the Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator, a $10 million program running until March 31, 2027.
  • Hydro Ottawa’s ORA program provides an ecosystem of support services to help streamline the deep retrofit process and cover a portion of the cost.
  • OCH’s goal is to align with the City of Ottawa’s Climate Change Master Plan of reducing emissions by 96 per cent by 2040.
  • Since 2011, OCH has saved $64.1 million as a result of their sustainability and efficiency efforts

 

Quotes:

“This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in tackling climate change and the energy transition. We’re proud to support Ottawa Community Housing in leading the way towards decarbonizing through our Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator program. By investing in energy efficiency and embracing innovative solutions, we can help OCH achieve its ambitious carbon reduction goals while making their buildings more comfortable and affordable for residents. This project is a testament to our shared commitment to a sustainable future for Ottawa.”

  • Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

 

“Reviewing our eco performance is crucial for integrating our climate goals into our long-term capital planning. By understanding the decarbonization pathways for each of our buildings, we can make informed decisions on infrastructure upgrades, ensuring both sustainability and affordability for our residents.”

  • Stéphane Giguère, CEO, Ottawa Community Housing

 

Learn more about Hydro Ottawa’s ORA program.

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Media contacts

Susan Fekete
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
Hydro Ottawa
Tel: 613-738-5499 ext. 2345
[email protected]

Esther Njuguna
Media Relations Specialist
Ottawa Community Housing
Tel: 343-961-4035
[email protected]

 

About Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) is a private company 100 per cent owned by the City of Ottawa and whose core businesses are electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. As a leading partner in a smart energy future, Hydro Ottawa is committed to sustainability and reducing its impact on the environment in all aspects of its operations. It owns and operates four primary subsidiary companies: Hydro Ottawa Limited – a local distribution company that delivers electricity to more than 364,000 customers in the City of Ottawa and the Village of Casselman; Portage Power – the largest Ontario-based municipally-owned producer of green power with 131 megawatts of installed green generation capacity (enough to power 110,000 homes); Envari – an energy solutions company offering products and services that help reduce energy consumption and costs for municipalities, industrial and commercial clients, and various local distribution companies; and Hiboo Networks – a high-speed fiber optic network solutions and internet service company providing customers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region with secure and scalable connectivity to enable a strong digital future.

About Ottawa Community Housing

Ottawa Community Housing offers approximately 15,000 homes to about 33,000 tenants, including seniors, families, individuals, and people with disabilities. These homes are located in various communities throughout the City of Ottawa and house a diverse population with different languages, cultures, and ethnicities. OCH is Ottawa’s primary community housing provider, managing two-thirds of the city’s housing portfolio and ranking as the second largest in Ontario. It operates at an arms-length of the City of Ottawa. In 2024, OCH earned recognition for the seventh consecutive year as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers.

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. Announces Successful Completion of Reorganization

Posted on by theboss

OTTAWA, October 1, 2024 – Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (“Hydro Ottawa”) today announced that it has successfully completed the corporate reorganization announced on May 21, 2024 (the “Reorganization”). As a part of the Reorganization, Hydro Ottawa implemented the Debenture Amendments (as described in the consent solicitation statement dated May 21, 2024 (the “Consent Solicitation Statement”)), pursuant to which Hydro Ottawa Capital Corporation (“HOCC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa, assumed the obligations of Hydro Ottawa in respect of the four series of its outstanding Canadian dollar senior unsecured debentures (the “Debentures”), as listed in the table below.

Title of Series of Debentures New Issuer                           New CUSIP/ISIN
2.614% Series 2015-1 Debentures due 2025 (“Series 2015-1 Debentures”) HOCC 448975AA0/CA448975AA02
3.639% Series 2015-2 Debentures due 2045 (“Series 2015-2 Debentures”) HOCC 448975AD4/CA448975AD41
3.991% Series 2013-1 Debentures due 2043 (“Series 2013-1 Debentures”) HOCC 448975AB8/CA448975AB84
4.968% Series 2006-1 Debentures due 2036 (“Series 2006-1 Debentures”) HOCC 448975AC6/CA448975AC67

 

The exchange of the debentures previously issued by Hydro Ottawa under CUSIP/ISIN 44882CAD6/CA44882CAD61 (for Series 2015-1 Debentures), 44882CAE4/CA44882CAE45 (for Series 2015-2 Debentures), 44882CAC8/CA44882CAC88 (for Series 2013-1 Debentures) and 44882CAB0/CA44882CAB06 (for series 2006-1 Debentures) for the above Debentures was facilitated through the facilities of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Debentures or any other securities. Copies of the Consent Solicitation Statement may be obtained from TMX Investor Solutions Inc., the information agent for the consent solicitation, by email at [email protected].

Any persons with questions regarding the Debentures should contact Hydro Ottawa’s information agent, TMX Investor Solutions Inc. as follows:

TMX Investor Solutions Inc.

301 – 100 Adelaide Street West

Toronto, Ontario M5H 1S3

Toll Free in North America: 1(866) 796-6867

Call direct: (438) 944-1086

Email: [email protected]

About Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) is a private company wholly owned by the City of Ottawa. Our core businesses include electricity distribution, renewable energy generation, energy solutions, telecommunications and utility services. For more information, please visit: https://hydroottawagroup.com/.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document may include certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic and/or regulatory factors, industry structure and stability, and other factors affecting the operations of Hydro Ottawa.

For more information:

Hydro Ottawa Media Relations
[email protected]
613-738-5499 ext. 2345