Jessica McDonald

Date: January 21, 2015

Name: Powering BC’s Future

Presenter: Jessica McDonald

As the population is growing in British Columbia, the need for energy grows. Business in British Columbia will be impacted from the direction of BC Hydro. Leaders need to understand they are a part of the economic system and it is they responsibility to keep on top of the economic trend for the future. The Vancouver Board of Trade invites Jessica McDonald, the CEO of BC Hydro, to share the corporation’s strategic direction for all leaders. Leaders will learn the future growth, the change of industrial landscape of British Columbia, and the new technology in place for the future.

Before Jessica McDonald was appointed the president and CEO of BC Hydro, she was in the leadership role in the public sector and consultant in major infrastructure and industry projects in BC. She served as the Ministry of Premier that oversight the government operations. She managed to improve 10 pints in employee engagement from provincial government and helped over 30,000 employees in Human Resource renewal program. Moreover, she is named in Canada’s top 40 under 40 and Canada’s top 100 most powerful women.

BC Hydro has managed over 25 billion dollar of assets and served over 1.9 million customers. As the only power source in BC, BC Hydro has over 79 water dame and 300 substations. BC Hydro provides the lowest electricity rates to customers in North America. The power generates from clean resource and 95% are from Peace River.

McDonald indicates BC Hydro is collaboration with other power producer companies in BC. Many people are partnering with BC Hydro to connect with the BC Hydro grid. McDonald believes the grid is a system of a system that provides customer choices and innovation. McDonald emphasizes BC Hydro has a complex system that has more impact on more BC residents than any other BC companies do.

BC Hydro has a huge impact on standard living in BC residents and BC Hydro supply energy in different living development. McDonald believes BC Hydro is taking advantage of new technology and safety, which will improve the environment and social impact for future growth. McDonald wants companies to take advantage of the BC Hydro system to support the standard living for the next 50 years.

McDonald points out BC Hydro will face many challenges for the future. The first challenge is the system will get old. The second challenge is the power will outgrow the demand of energy due to large increase of population from economic growth.

BC Hydro is taking the initiative to bring new future redevelopment plans with large infrastructure. One of the biggest redevelopment plans is to build the new dame called “Site C” in Peace River. The new dame will increase GDP and provide power for 450,000 homes. It will be affordable and reliable for BC residents and BC Hydro is looking for new partners in this plan.

McDonald believes it is important to have proper community relation in social media. The core message from BC Hydro is to work hard to meet the highest standards for BC residents. BC Hydro will ensure to keep low rates with thoughtful discipline. Government will support the capital spending with the fixed 10-year rate plan.

McDonald believes BC Hydro has the mandate to work with customer to conserve. By implementing the power smart program, it will create energy efficiency. McDonald introduces a former program that will sell back the energy from customers than sell it to other companies.

Based on stats, baby boomers are more energy interested than millennial. Millennial is the future and they are making technology to efficient in future; however, baby boomer is concern with cost saving and personal conversation. BC Hydro will offer different choices in the future.

Energy utilities usually get low marks for customer services. McDonald emphasizes BC Hydro takes customer services seriously. BC Hydro will monitor the system to ensure power is in everyone’s home. McDonald wants people to have energy anytime and anywhere. BC Hydro introduces Power Meter system to signal any black out in the neighborhood. BC Hydro provides online key service enhancement for online assistance and use drone to investigate the dame for any outage. The purpose is to understand the rate of structure and act as a battery bank for the residents.

McDonald believes BC Hydro’s core values come from affordable, reliable, open and transparent.

“Will make people’s life bright”

Questions and Answers

Leaders are concerned with the Site C Plan’s budget proposal. McDonald responses BC Hydro has expert from KPMG to look after the budget figures and approval process. The plan uses P50 base model to build the budget. She is confident with the result.

McDonald addresses the issue of the aboriginal community that BC Hydro will be transparent with the process to avoid any impact and focus on the improvement.

Leaders are asking if BC Hydro will take consideration of geothermal technology for the future. McDonald believes it will create great potential resource opportunity.

Leaders are concerned with the impact from the goal of 2015. McDonald responses they will utilize the demand size to improve the energy usage. 99% of residents have already installed the Power Smart meter to move away from manual to automatic. The system will build the communication channel between the customers and BC Hydro. In the future, BC Hydro will implement In Home Energy Monitor to calculate the power cost instant moment, which can help people make choices. The digital technology trend is increasing in the economy and many people are using more energy in many ways. BC Hydro expects energy demand increase in 20 years and BC Hydro will track it.

McDonald suggests small business owners to take advantage in procurement. BC Hydro will give opportunities for any one that provides request for proposal.