SCC and Canadian Electricity Association enter partnership to strengthen standardization in the electricity sector
The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) have signed a partnership agreement to enhance the competitiveness of Canada’s electrical sector. This partnership creates new opportunities to promote efficient and effective strategies in standards development.
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Descriptive Transcript
Start of video
[Photos of a woman and a man smiling and signing a document appear side by side on screen. SCC logo is above the woman’s photo and Canadian Electricity Association logo is above the man’s photo]
(Text at the bottom: SCC and Canadian Electricity Association enter partnership to strengthen standardization in the electricity sector)
[White triangle with SCC logo is at the bottom right of screen]
[The woman and man appear side by in separate video frames, each wearing a poppy]
(Text under the woman’s video frame: Chantal Guay, CEO of SCC)
(Text under the man’s video frame: Francis Bradley, President and CEO of CEA)
(Text disappears after 20 seconds)
[Woman speaks]
Hello everyone! Hello Francis! Welcome to our signing ceremony.
I’m Chantal Guay, the Chief Executive Officer of the Standards Council of Canada and I’m delighted to be here with Francis Bradley, President and CEO of the Canadian Electricity Association. After several years of working together to promote the value of standardization in the electrical sector, we are thrilled to formalize our partnership by signing a cooperation agreement.
We, at SCC, have been Canada’s respected voice for standards and accreditation on the world stage. And this year, it is our 50th anniversary! We are proud to formalize our partnership with CEA as we mark this milestone in SCC’s history.
Our partnership with CEA boosts collaboration between the standardization world and Canada’s electricity sector.
Standards and conformity assessment provide confidence in the quality of products and services. They give industries a competitive edge. Within the electricity sector, standards safeguard the design, engineering and management of infrastructures.
By participating in standards development, utilities can shape the national and international standards that impact their work. Otherwise, other countries and sectors will define the standards that affect the utilities market.
With evolving customer expectations, regulatory changes, aging infrastructure, climate change and rapid advances in technology, there is no better time for Canadian electricity companies to get involved in standards development.
Updated standards are crucial as the industry enters an intensive capital replacement program, estimated to cost $1.7 trillion, to replace legacy devices with current technologies.
Involvement in standards development is an opportunity for electricity companies to lead at a time when major changes are underway.
We’re delighted to work with a partner who represents electricity companies, manufacturers and suppliers as the national voice of electricity in Canada.
This cooperation arrangement is an important step forward for both SCC and CEA, and a win for Canada’s electricity sector.
Francis, the floor is yours.
[Man speaks]
Well thank you so much Chantal. On behalf of the Canadian Electricity Association membership, congratulations on 50 years. You played an integral role in protecting the health, safety and well-being of Canadians while helping businesses prosper.
The Association has been a proponent of electricity utility standards since the organization’s inception in 1891. Without standardization, our industry would not have been able to develop into the integrated and complex provider of electricity that it is today. It not only influences our economy, but our daily life.
Electricity industry standardization ensures reliability, compatibility and performance using accepted practices. These practices are essential for the delivery of sustainable electricity by our members to their customers.
The Canadian Electricity Association is proud to formalize this partnership with the Standards Council of Canada. It demonstrates our members’ commitment to continuously improve our systems and processes, and to better meet the needs of customers.
Chantal, are you ready to make this cooperation agreement official?
[Woman speaks and lifts pen]
Yes, I am.
[Both sign the documents. The man’s video frame is zoomed into him signing]
[Woman speaks]
Et voila it’s official. Thank you, Francis, for joining me today.
I’m excited to work more closely with CEA. Anyone who would like to get involved or learn more about standardization activities can visit our website at www.scc.ca
(Text at bottom: www.scc.ca)
[Animation appears with music and SCC logo at the centre. Images and text appear under logo: red arrow, Standards Council of Canada, tagline Open a world of possibilities and watermark of Government of Canada]
End of video
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“After several years of working together to promote the value of standardization in the electrical sector, SCC is delighted to formalize our collaboration with the Canadian Electricity Association,” says Chantal Guay, CEO of SCC. “As Canada’s respected voice for standards on the world stage, SCC can leverage its global networks and resources to support Canadian utilities in shaping the national and international standards that impact their work.”
This strengthened collaboration comes at a time when industry is facing evolving customer expectations, regulatory changes, aging infrastructure and rapid advances in technology.
“CEA is committed to ensuring the utilities sector delivers safe, secure and sustainable electricity for all Canadians,” says Francis Bradley, President and CEO of CEA. “Participation in standards development gives our sector access to defining industry best practices. From integrating renewable energy and storage, to facilitating smart grid technologies, and to protecting utility assets from cybersecurity attacks.”
Through this cooperation agreement, SCC and CEA will work together to promote awareness of their organizations, facilitate an exchange of knowledge and research, and support engagement within each other’s recruitment programs.
Standards are the invisible foundation of the national and international economy. The electricity sector is fundamental to powering our country’s homes, schools and businesses. The collaboration between SCC and CEA is a significant step for advancing the well-being and economic prosperity of Canadians.
About the Standards Council of Canada
Established in 1970 as a federal Crown corporation, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is Canada’s voice on standards and accreditation on the national and international stage. SCC works closely with a vast network of partners to promote the development of effective and efficient standards that protect the health, safety and well-being of Canadians while helping businesses prosper. As Canada’s leading accreditation organization, SCC creates market confidence at home and abroad by ensuring that conformity assessment bodies meet the highest national and international standards. SCC advances Canada’s interest on the international scene as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) by connecting thousands of people to global networks and resources, opening a world of possibilities for Canadians and businesses.
About the Canadian Electricity Association
Canadian Electricity Association(CEA) members generate, transmit and distribute electrical energy to industrial, commercial, residential and institutional customers across Canada every day. From vertically integrated electric utilities, independent power producers, transmission and distribution companies, to power marketers, to the manufacturers and suppliers of materials, technology and services that keep the industry running smoothly -all are represented by this national industry association.