Canadian Electric Utility Systems 101

May 10-11, 2023 | Online :: Central Time

0523-canadian-electric-utility

“This was great insight into in-depth functions of electric utility systems.” –Accounting Coordinator, City of Saskatoon

“Ron is a charismatic speaker with lots of stories.” –Commercial Counsel, Toronto Hydro

“Ron was excellent! He even stayed and reviewed a section I missed. Great presentation and a lot of material.” –Director of Environmental Services, Hydro One

This introductory seminar is intended to provide non-power engineers with a basic understanding of how Canadian power systems are planned, designed, and operated. This program aims to provide attendees with:

• A comprehensive understanding of the power system, its components, and how they work together
• The role of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) and its regulations
• The importance of disruptive technologies and how they are shaping grid evolution
• An examination of emerging trends in electric grid configuration
• Information needed to share informed opinions in discussions about energy matters that are trending in today’s media

This highly rated program is tailored for anyone in the Canadian market who is new to the industry and needs an overview, or those who would like a deeper understanding of transmission and distribution systems. Those who work for utilities or related organizations in the United States can also benefit from this program if they have industry relationships in Canada.

Register your group today for discounts starting at 20% off when you register five or more!

Learning Outcomes  

• Examine the basic elements of a power system, how power grids started, and how they continue to evolve as technology advances 
• Review utility demographics and how Canada and US systems are interrelated
• Describe the components of a power system and understand how they work together 
• Discuss how the electric grid is operated and why health and safety management is critical 
• Analyze the regulatory environment under which power systems operate 
• Recognize the paradigm shift occurring in the industry today – smart and micro grids and disruptive technologies 
• Explain how customer expectations for value-added services are driving innovation 
• Review technological innovations to the electric utility system 

Wednesday, May 10, 2023 : Central Time

 

Overviewing Electric Power Systems 

• Introduction to the course  
• Leaning objectives 
• History of the electric grid 
• Power system components 
• Electric grids of the 21st century   

Relating the Canadian System to the US Grid  

• Structure of the provincial utilities 
• What is the role of the Federal Government 
• What are the size of the markets 
• What regions are deregulated 
• How the US structure is similar  
• Power pools and interconnectivity 

Exploring the Basic Electrical Engineering Factors 

• Resistance, inductance, and capacitance 
• Voltage and current 
• Power and energy  
• Losses  
• Frequency 
• Reactive power 
• Power factor and correction 
• Generation:
  • Heat (thermal) energy generated from:  
    • Fossil fuels
    • Coal 
    • Petroleum
    • Natural gas
    • Solar thermal energy 
    • Geothermal energy
    • Nuclear energy
  • Potential energy from falling water in a hydroelectric facility 
  • Wind energy
  • Tidal energy from the ocean tides 
  • Solar electric from solar (photovoltaic) cells 
  • Chemical energy from: fuel cells, batteries 
• Transmission Lines
  • Characteristics 
  • Conductors
  • Surge impedance loading 
  • Clair Curve
  • Sag
  • HVDC 
• Substations
  • Purpose of a substation  
  • Components that make up a typical substation 
  • Protection  
  • Grounding  
  • Security and related safety issues 
• Transformers
  • How they work
  • Distribution type
  • Single and three phases 
  • Ratings and operational factors 
• Distribution Grids
  • Familiar images – typical distribution equipment 
  • Automated sectionalizing switches and reclosers 
  • Lightning/surge arrestors 
  • Protection 

Operating the Power System  

• Reliability SAIFI, SAIDI and SAIRI 
• NERC 
• Operating control centers 
• SCADA 
• Outage management systems 
• Response 
• Communication networks  
• Health and safety management 

Planning for the Electric Utilities System 

• Load forecasts 
• Power flow analysis 
• Short circuit studies 
• Asset management

 

Thursday, May 11, 2023 : Central Time

 

Regulating Canadian Electric Utility Systems 

• Regulatory oversight 
• Rate applications 

Evolving Systems to Smart and Micro Grids  

• What is a smart grid? 
• What is a micro grid? 

Disrupting Technologies and Global Landscapes 

• Electric vehicles  
• Charging stations 
• Energy storage 
• Distributed generation 
• Smart meters 
• Emerging technologies 
• Global influences  

Emerging Customer Service Expectations 

• Electricity as an essential service 
• Pricing matters  
• Mobile notifications 
• Web self-service requirements 
• Self-managed energy solutions  
• Plug and play  
• The value propositions 

Wrapping Up: Closing Questions and Answers 

• Summary  
• Questions 

Ron LaPier, P. Eng. Bayfield Engineering, Inc.  

Ron LaPier is a professional electrical engineer with more than 34 years of experience in the design, operation, and management related to power distribution systems. Ron’s entire career has been serving the electrical utility sector in Ontario, either with the Local Distribution Company (LDC) or as an LDC contractor. As an engineering contractor, Ron has worked with most Ontario LDCs on various design projects, system studies, and system planning.

Some of the LDCs he has worked with include Five Nations Energy, Elexicon Energy, Ottawa River Power Corp., London Hydro, Burlington Hydro, Westario Power, Waterloo North Hydro, Entegrus , Tillsonburg Hydro, Sault Ste Marie PUC, Algoma Power Inc., and Erie Thames Powerlines. He’s also worked with telecommunications companies for third party attachment projects. He is very familiar with Ontario Regulation 22/04 and the application of the Utility Standards Forum (USF) standard design drawings, having been associated with the USF since early in its existence.

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
• Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
  • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Canadian Electric Utility Systems 101

May 10-11, 2023 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before April 07, 2023 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.0 CEUs for this course

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

PowerPoint presentations, interactive group exercise, and group discussion will be used during this course.

---

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 11.5
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

Who Should Attend 

Anyone in Canadian utilities and markets who need an overview or a deeper understanding of transmission and distribution systems will benefit from this content.