Atlantica recently interviewed Ryan Mitchell, President and CEO of Saint John Energy, to learn more about the utility’s partnerships and impact on the energy sector.
Tell us a little bit about Saint John Energy. What makes the utility different?
Saint John Energy is a municipal electricity distribution utility that has been keeping customers’ power on and their rates stable since it was founded in 1922. We are owned by the City of Saint John and receive electricity for distribution as a wholesale energy provider from NB Power.
We are proud to be a national leader in the energy transition to net zero. We currently have $130 million in revenue and have saved customers $1.8 million in the last year alone by implementing peak-shaving measures. We offer one of the lowest electricity rates in Atlantic Canada and some of the highest reliability among utilities as measured by Electricity Canada.
Our small but mighty team of around 120 employees has allowed us to be agile and focus on our customers’ needs, innovation and partnerships.
How does Saint John Energy’s innovative approach translate to customers?
Our team leverages creativity and innovation to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions to our customers and community. To put this into perspective, Saint John Energy has one of the highest net promoter scores among electrical utilities in Canada.
This score shows a customers’ willingness to recommend a utility’s products and services (with -100 being the worst possible score and +100 being exceptional). According to results compiled by Electricity Canada, Saint John Energy enjoys a net promoter score of 48 versus the national average of 5.
Can you please give some examples of your recent projects and the partnerships that have enabled them?
We started our clean energy journey when we commissioned the world’s first Tesla Megapack in Millidgeville late 2019. This first Megapack, a large-scale rechargeable lithium-ion battery, became fully operational by April 2020.
In June 2023, we were proud to officially bring online the Burchill Wind project, Saint John’s first utility-scale wind farm, capable of producing up to 15 per cent of the city’s electricity needs. Saint John Energy transmits the power produced at Burchill to the grid serving the city. The project is co-owned by Natural Forces and Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation).
The power produced from Burchill’s 10 wind turbines has avoided more than 43,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, akin to removing nearly 13,500 cars off the road.
This past March, three additional Tesla Megapacks were installed at our Somerset substation, making Saint John Energy the operator of the largest electrical battery storage deployment in New Brunswick.
The Burchill Wind project in partnership with Natural Forces and Neqotkuk.
This project, another successful partnership with Natural Forces and Neqotkuk, harnesses and stores power generated by the Burchill Wind project. The batteries, which provide a combined 6.95 megawatts of storage, play a key role in shifting energy resources to help Saint John Energy avoid peak demand, storing enough electricity to power 3,100 homes for two hours.
In May, we became the first Canadian-based company to partner with British software firm Kraken Technologies. Kraken will help advance the adoption of low-carbon technologies and develop an integrated platform for Saint John Energy to manage and optimize our grid, operations, and resources, as well as deliver an enhanced customer service experience at a lower cost.
On June 12, 2024, after the interview with Ryan Mitchell, Saint John Energy announced it is seeking developers to build a solar project for up to 5 megawatts.
Please help the readers understand the importance of collaboration with First Nations partners in developing clean energy projects.
Partnering with First Nations has become increasingly important for Saint John Energy. We take great pride in building trust and partnerships in our innovative projects that are helping us transition to net zero.
As previously mentioned, the Burchill Wind project was our first collaboration with Neqotkuk, followed by the Tesla Megapacks project, both of which were amazing experiences.
These partnerships have taught us that Saint John Energy doesn’t need to own everything in a project to be successful. In fact, Neqotkuk is the majority owner of the Burchill Wind project and the Tesla Megapacks at our Somerset substation, while we manage the energy distribution.
First Nations are dedicated to the seven-generation principle, which states that the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world for seven generations into the future.
Three Tesla Megapack installations at Saint John Energy’s Somerset substation in partnership with Natural Forces and Neqotkuk.
Saint John Energy embraces this philosophy, and we are grateful for the support and partnership of First Nations communities in our clean energy projects aimed at achieving net zero and protecting the environment. We are committed to continuing to build friendships and trust with First Nations communities as we explore future opportunities together.
What are some of the innovative strategies Saint John Energy uses to become a modern, leading electrical utility?
One approach that has worked well for Saint John Energy is scenario planning with a focus on agility in people, processes and technology. We try to envision future scenarios and study contrasting realities. This allows us to identify which potential projects to prioritize in each scenario.
By planning for various scenarios, we remain agile and prepared to pivot when necessary. Instead of resetting our plans, our strategy enables us to recalibrate and adapt to different scenario plans we have already developed.
Can you describe what you feel is Saint John Energy’s role in Atlantic Canada’s energy transition?
Saint John Energy’s vision is to be a national leader among electric utilities in the transition to net zero. We’re a year into Zero30, our ambitious initiative to become carbon neutral in our operations by 2030 and to help our customers get there too if they wish.
On June 7, 2024, Saint John Energy held its Annual General Meeting, where it was announced that Deloitte would be assisting Saint John Energy in the development of this roadmap. The roadmap will focus on ways to clean the energy supply, planning for future energy demand, and advancing customer innovations.
Rather than a thick report destined to take up space on a dusty shelf, Zero30 will be a dynamic report. That means that as variables change, as we choose certain options, the modelling, forecasts and the potential paths ahead will change too.
Saint John Energy is embracing change and pursuing impactful opportunities, aiming to demonstrate how innovation and partnerships can be effective in achieving a net-zero electricity grid in the region.
All this to say that we certainly foresee others in the region showing an interest in what we discover and adapt. We’re keen to share, to collaborate, to innovate with others. If other utilities or companies in the region can benefit from what we’re learning – on Zero30 or other projects – so much the better.
I believe that Atlantic Canada has all the ingredients to be a powerhouse in the energy transition. Consider that about 80 per cent of our electricity in New Brunswick is already coming from non-emitting sources. The region has abundant renewable resources and has yet to fully explore its wind energy potential. The best carbon sink on the planet are trees, something Atlantic Canada has in abundance.
Our collaboration with academia and partners like Electricity Canada, Smart Grid Innovation Network and the Atlantica Centre for Energy is crucial and will continue to strengthen energy awareness and innovation.