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Re-Cap of the Annual CIE Energy Seminar, Energy '98


On January 22, 1998, over 160 people "converged" on the Hotel Vancouver for "Energy '98", the thirteenth annual energy seminar held by the Vancouver Branch of the Canadian Institute of Energy (CIE).

The theme of Energy '98 was "convergence"; more specifically, the seminar was designed to explore whether the convergence of gas and electricity is good or bad for British Columbia. The CIE assembled a slate of speakers designed to provide a variety of insights on this important energy issue.

Morning Session

The conference began with speakers from Alberta and the U.S. providing their perspectives on the convergence issue:

  • Tim Curtis, V.P. Pipelines and Energy Marketing for the Ziff Energy Group in Houston, Texas, spoke on how gas and electricity convergence is transforming the U.S. energy industry.
  • Dr. Robert Michaels, Professor of Economics at California State University (Fullerton), and Consultant with Hagler Bailly Consulting, spoke on definitions of gas and electricity convergence and the usefulness of the concept. Click here to view his presentation.
  • Jeffry Myers, V.P. - Business Development for Westcoast Gas Services Inc., in Calgary, discussed the strategies of new wave energy service companies. Click here to view his presentation.

Four speakers from B.C. next gave their perspectives of the province's place in the convergence evolution:
  • Dr. Mark Jaccard, former Chair and CEO of the B.C. Utilities Commission, Professor of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University, and head of the B.C. Task Force on Electricity Market Reform, discussed his report on restructuring B.C.'s electricity market. The final report may be viewed at http://www.ei.gov.bc.ca.
  • Randy Jespersen, Sr. V.P., Gas Supply of BC Gas Utility Ltd. provided the perspective of B.C.'s largest natural gas distribution utility on the convergence issue. He distinguished between two kinds of convergence: the first involves the convergence of the provision of numerous services by one company (gas, electricity, home security, consumption information, etc.); the second - the focus of his talk - is what he termed "Btu convergence". Click here to view his presentation.
  • Robert Hobbs, Director - Regulatory Affairs for West Kootenay power, an investor-owned electric utility, discussed the convergence issue from the local distribution company perspective. He discussed the role of LDC's in an increasingly competitive energy market, and the need by LDC's to prepare for retail competition. Click here to view his presentation.
  • David Alsop, President and C.O.O. of WesTel, Communications Ltd., discussed the convergence of telecommunications and energy utilities. Click here to view his presentation.
Lunch

The Honourable Dan Miller, Minister of Employment and Investment (the Minister in charge of provincial energy-related matters) was luncheon speaker at Energy '98. The Minister provided an overview of B.C. energy-related and economic issues.

Also at lunch, the third annual CIE Energy Awards were presented. These awards are intended to recognize excellence in energy-related activities in British Columbia. Three sorts of activities are recognized: student research; research and development; and implementation of innovative energy technologies or programs (DSM, alternative energy, etc.).

The three awards presented annually are:

1. Energy Scholarship Award: This award is presented each year to a student majoring in energy policy analysis and energy modelling at SFU's School of Resource and Environmental Management.

2. Energy Research and Development Award: This award recognizes outstanding R&D achievement in the field of energy technology. A broad spectrum of energy technology development is considered in the selection of the winner in this category. Relevant technologies may be involved in energy extraction, conversion, transportation, and utilization. Evaluative criteria include the degree of innovation, commercial market potential, and indirect benefits (such as environmental improvement, productivity increases, and product quality improvement).

3. Applied Energy Innovation Award: This award recognizes innovative demand-side management or alternative energy projects which have been implemented in British Columbia. It is distinguished from the R&D award in that it is limited to operational projects installed in commercial applications, as opposed to projects in the laboratory, pilot project, or design phases. In addition to demonstrated energy savings (or energy output in the case of alternative energy projects), evaluative criteria for this award include the degree of innovation and indirect benefits.

The 1997 Energy Award winners were:

1. Energy Scholarship Award:

Mallika Nanduri

MRM Candidate - SFU School of Resource and Environmental Management.

Research project: An Assessment of Energy Intensity Indicators and Their Role in Policy-Making

2. Energy Research and Development Award:

Co-winners:

Dr. Philip Hill, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia

David Demers, Westport Innovations Inc., Vancouver, B.C.

Project: High Pressure Direct Injection Natural Gas Fueling Systems for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines

3. Applied Energy Innovation Award:

Harold Kalke, Salt Lick Projects Ltd., Vancouver, B.C.

Award-winning project: Commercial Ground Source Heat Pump Installation, "The Capers Building", 2211 West 4th Ave., Vancouver

Afternoon Session

After lunch, a panel session was convened to discuss: "Is Convergence Good or Bad for B.C.?". The panel consisted of morning speakers Dr. Mark Jaccard and Randy Jespersen; Peter Leighton, Manager, Business Development, Fletcher Challenge Energy; and Dr. Michael Margolick.

Less emphasis was placed on whether convergence is "good or bad"; rather, the panel concurred amongst themselves that it is inevitable. What remains to be decided are some market characteristics and who the ultimate "players" in the new marketplace will be. During their discussion, the panel touched on numerous aspects of the convergence issue, including public versus private ownership; the relative market power of different parties on the energy "chain"; the likely merging by energy companies of marketing and sales forces; and the role of regulation in an increasingly competitive energy industry where market forces are having greater and greater impact.

Thank you to all those who attended Energy '98, and to those CIE volunteers who worked to make it such a success.

See you at "Energy '99" in January.

Timo Makinen, Seminar Chair