According to a CityNews article, temperatures hit a high of 35 degrees celsius in Ottawa on June 23, 2025, breaking a more than 100-year record for the same day in 1921 (as per Environment Canada’s almanac). That first record-breaking heat has served as an ominous predictor for our current summer in the region.
Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts that Ottawa, like most of the country, will experience above-seasonal temperatures this summer, and into September. Their publicly available temperature and precipitation map offers a clear visualization of how widespread the issue is, and will be, across the country over the coming months.
It’s a reminder that a sustainable energy future isn't just about high-level strategies and ambitious targets; it's about people, and in our case, the daily work of hundreds of our dedicated employees on the frontline. From the lineworkers braving the elements to the technicians integrating new technologies, our climate change mitigation efforts are profoundly shaping their roles, bringing both challenges and incredible opportunities. (And speaking of lineworkers, we want to give a special shout-out to them, especially as July 10th recently marked National Lineworker Appreciation Day in North America, a well-deserved recognition of their tireless efforts).
Some of our robust efforts include grid modernization, renewable energy integration, and enhancing resilience against extreme weather. But what does this mean for the people who are literally building and maintaining this future?
Evolving roles: From traditional grid to smart energy systems
Our frontline workers are at the heart of transforming Ottawa's energy landscape - and for many that means braving extreme heat and all kinds of weather - to keep the lights on for our customers. Grid modernization isn't just a buzzword; it means our crews are working with increasingly sophisticated equipment and digital systems. The upgrade of our grid’s ‘cerebral cortex,’ known as the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, for instance, means technicians are now managing a more intelligent and automated network.
This demands new skills in data interpretation, remote operations, and troubleshooting complex integrated systems. Furthermore, to meet the city's growing energy demands, Hydro Ottawa is embarking on the largest grid investment program in its history in order to support an unprecedented transition to an increasingly electrified way of life in our city. So much so that we are on track to energize a new substation nearly every year until 2030 to keep up with demand.
It's a seismic shift from purely mechanical tasks to a blend of physical and digital expertise in support of the increased electrification of heating and transportation in our community.
Battling the elements: Resilience in the face of extreme weather
Climate change means more frequent and severe weather events, and nowhere is this felt more acutely than on the frontline. Our lineworkers are often the first responders during heat waves, ice storms, high winds, and intense thunderstorms, working tirelessly to restore power. When extreme weather hits, our crews face significant challenges, and their safety is always our top priority. For instance, when winds pick up, we enforce a strict 48 km/h wind restriction, ensuring all of our lineworkers remain safely grounded. During extreme heatwaves or deep freezes, our teams follow established safety processes. This not only keeps them safe but also allows them to efficiently address outages and restore power to customers as quickly as possible.
Our investments in making the grid more resilient, includes replacing aging infrastructure and building redundancy. For our crews, this translates to working with stronger, more modern equipment, but also to an increased demand for rapid, safe, and efficient restoration efforts under very challenging conditions.
Their dedication ensures the community recovers quickly, and showcases their unwavering commitment to public safety and our customers.
Upskilling for the future: New technologies, new opportunities
The push for electrification, digitization, and distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar panels and EV charging stations is creating a new and innovative electricity industry that is hyper focused on renewable energy, sustainability and the environment. Our teams are now actively involved in installing and maintaining these cutting-edge technologies across the city. This requires continuous learning and adaptation. Hydro Ottawa is investing in comprehensive training programs, ensuring our employees have the skills needed to work with electric vehicles, new technologies, green solutions, and advanced energy management systems. This commitment to upskilling not only future-proofs their careers but also positions them as leaders in the green energy transition, directly contributing to our ambitious goal of achieving net-zero operations by 2030.
Safety and support: Our top priority
As mentioned above, in this evolving and often demanding environment, the safety and well-being of our frontline workers remain paramount. Hydro Ottawa's rigorous health and safety programs include extensive safe work practices training in the age of climate change.
As new technologies are introduced and the nature of work changes, ensuring every employee goes home safely at the end of the day is a non-negotiable priority.
In essence, we believe our frontline workers are the heroes of Ottawa's energy transition. They are adapting, learning, and innovating every day to build a more sustainable, resilient, and reliable electricity system for our growing city. Their expertise, courage, and dedication are truly powering Ottawa's future, one connection at a time.