It’s not just about keeping the lights on in the nation’s capital anymore. While that remains a critical function, Hydro Ottawa is undergoing a digital revolution, evolving from a traditional utility into a technology-driven organization for the future.
“The electricity industry is going through a major transformation,” says Donna Burnett Vachon, director of change and organization development. “What we’re seeing is a significant move to more technology, more digitization. It’s broadening the skill sets that we’re looking for when it comes to employees joining us.
“While the importance of our trades and technical employees endures, we’re growing in areas where we’re focused on technology. We have employees coming out of new and innovative programs that didn’t exist 10-15 years ago, such as engineers in data analytics programs or sustainability. For example, we’ve got experts in cybersecurity, which we wouldn’t have had in the past.”
This digital shift is being driven by evolving industry demands and a growing population with increasing consumer needs.
“There’s been an exponential increase in demand for electricity due to factors like electrification, the growth of data centres and the overall expansion of the city of Ottawa,” explains Sarah Green, director of IT planning, programs and grid technology. “We have e-vehicles coming out. We know we have provincial and federal mandates for zero emissions. All of these have demands that are increasing exponentially, which is, in turn, increasing the need for more capacity.
Kelly Landry, left, acting manager of human resources, service centre and technology, and Sarah Green, director of IT planning, programs and grid technology at Hydro Ottawa
“We’re entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where everything is becoming digitized, mobile and connected through the internet of things,” Green continues. “Everything is smart now — even our fridges can connect. We’re able to unlock capabilities and capacities that previously weren’t possible just because of the communication and connectivity that we have through our devices. We have to find solutions to keep up.”
For Hydro Ottawa, this also means embracing new tools and capabilities designed for today’s mobile world while on the job. For instance, employees in the field can access critical information and perform key tasks from their smartphones and tablets from any location.
“We’re piloting digital tailboard solutions, so tasks that used to be manual are now something people can do on their devices in the field,” says Kelly Landry, acting manager, HR service centre and HR technology.
“We’re continuing to streamline all our business processes through automation and doing away with paper-based processes, making them more accessible for employees wherever they are.”
This mobile-first approach extends to training and development as well. As Burnett Vachon says, “We’re looking for mobile ways to do that so that employees can access e-learning and other types of information, all through their smartphone.”
Additionally, Hydro Ottawa is focused on fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration to empower employees to think differently. While Hydro Ottawa has always had a “can-do” culture and problem-solving mindset, the introduction of collaborative tools like Google has enabled more cross-functional collaboration across previously siloed groups.
“We have big projects where we’re working together to find innovative solutions,” says Burnett Vachon. “It’s a really exciting time to be part of what’s happening in electricity right now.”
Another influence is the large number of younger employees, who make up 40 per cent of Hydro Ottawa’s workforce.
“These young employees are helping us evolve in areas from data analytics to sustainability,” says Burnett Vachon. “Our president and CEO actively encourages younger employees to contribute. As he says, ‘You’re here to do meaningful work. If you have an idea, we want to hear it.’ ”
This story was produced by Mediacorp in partnership with Postmedia, on behalf of Hydro Ottawa.