A regional alliance of municipally owned electric utilities across Atlantic Canada is receiving new federal support for long-term planning, cybersecurity and clean energy preparation.
The Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance has secured $420,750 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for a project valued at $505,000. Member utilities are contributing the remaining funds.
Alliance Chair Glen Fillmore says the funding will be used collectively to strengthen operations across all nine member utilities.
“The body of work today that we’re announcing will benefit all the utility members,” he said.
Planned work includes long-term infrastructure planning, operational benchmarking, cybersecurity upgrades and an electrification business plan aimed at helping utilities prepare for growing demand tied to electric vehicles, heating and other technologies.
Fillmore says cybersecurity is now essential for utilities and other organizations that operate critical infrastructure.
“Cyber security is a priority for every organization that operates critical infrastructure today,” he said.
He says the alliance allows smaller utilities to share expertise while each remains locally owned and accountable to the communities they serve.
“What the alliance does is strengthens what each member does through collaboration, sharing of knowledge and expertise,” Fillmore said.
Alliance members
The Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance includes all nine municipally owned electric utilities in Atlantic Canada:
Nova Scotia
- Lunenburg Electric Utility
- Mahone Bay Electric Utility
- Riverport Electric Utility
- Berwick Electric Utility
- Antigonish Electric Utility
New Brunswick
- Saint John Energy
- Edmundston Energy
- Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission
Prince Edward Island
- Summerside Electric Utility
