Webinar | Electrical Utility Distribution Network Challenges
This discussion will provide participants with insight on how electric utility distribution grids can respond and adapt to a new and significant electrical loading created by the charging of EVs. Current distribution infrastructure ranges in age from new to 50-plus years old which will create a range of challenges for distribution utilities and their customers to effectively evolve the system over the next 50-plus years to meet transportation and other needs requiring electrical energy.
Ensuring reliability and capacity to meet the changing needs of customers has been the focus of electrical utilities over their history. Technical advancement combined with a keen sense of affordability has allowed electrical utilities to provide society, at large, the convenience they have come to expect through electrification. Topics will include:
- how updated EV policy direction from Federal Government resets direction
- a review of EV charging methodologies
- a review of electrical utility distribution infrastructure
- where EV charging take place and how that impacts distribution infrastructure
- early adoption EV systems and what has been learned (P2P and City of Lethbridge examples)
- the importance of utility “smart metering” systems and prudent planning
- how regulators will see this change and adapt rate approvals to support
- what other electrification pressures can add fuel to the fire
- what we can we learn from the past
Join the Lethbridge Branch for this event.
For any questions about this event, please contact [email protected].
About the presenter
Stewart Purkis, P.Eng., graduated from the University of Calgary in 1988 with a B.Sc. in electrical engineering and began his career in TransAlta utilities as an engineer-in-training, and obtained his P.Eng. in 1991.
During the utility sector’s uncertainty in the 1990s, Stewart shifted into entrepreneurship, operating businesses in retail and agriculture. He returned to engineering in 2001, as TransAlta’s projects division transitioned to SNC‑Lavalin ATP, where he secured their first external consulting project. In 2003, he moved to Lethbridge to join the City's Electric Utility department. Over the years, he advanced from design engineer to operations manager to utility manager.
Now retired, Stew remains active by delivering utility safety and damage‑prevention training through Utility Safety Partners and serving on the Lethbridge Polytechnic Power Line Technician Industry Advisory Committee, while enjoying more leisure time.
This event applies to the following Work Readiness Program skill area:
