It is easy to take electricity for granted. We usually do. We assume it will “just be there”. Of course, the truth is that electricity must be generated, transmitted and regulated with effort and care by many skillful people. Ian Martin supports the electricity sector, as an important long-term client partner, with an essential job to accomplish in our society.
On September 1, I participated in a conference, entitled “The Energy Future for Ontario”, staged in Toronto by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. Addressing the audience, industry and government speakers reminded everyone that energy use and economic growth are tied tightly together. Some presenters pointed out that electricity pricing policy should be clearer. There was good debate on government intervention and whether or not pricing policy should reflect the actual full cost of delivering electricity to the public.
Left to right: Parva Alavi, Bruce Mullock, Pauline Watson, Jerry Cuttler
Ms. Elyse Allan, President and CEO of GE Canada, was forceful on the need for appropriate regulatory framework and constant innovation.
I had the opportunity to speak with Jerry Cuttler, President of Cuttler and Associates. Jerry has provided his expert nuclear services to the power generation industry through IML. I also spoke with two representatives from Women in Nuclear (WiN), Golden Horseshoe Chapter. Ms. Pauline Watson, P.Eng, is current chair of WiN in the Golden Horseshoe and Ms. Parva Alavi, M.ing. is Past Chair. Both women are acquainted with our own Laura Machan. Laura will be speaking at WiN’s 8th Annual Conference later in September on the topic of “telling the nuclear story”.
As long as electricity is readily available, few people ever think about it. Among those who do, however, are some of our best clients, the dedicated people who generate and transmit our power.
