As energy delivery systems age, communities continue to grow and an increasing amount of our economic activity relies on a continuous supply of electricity, natural gas, and thermal energy,

Canadian homeowners and businesses are more at risk from widespread and prolonged outages from extreme weather events, says a report released today by QUEST – Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow.

The report entitled Resilient Pipes and Wires examines the level of awareness among electric, natural gas and thermal energy distributors about adapting to climate change, as well as the policy drivers and barriers to adaptation in the energy delivery sector.

“Resilient energy distribution is important not only for ensuring the health and welfare of our cities and communities,” said QUEST Executive Director, Brent Gilmour, “but also for advancing Smart Energy Communities, which improve energy efficiency, enhance reliability, cut costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The report includes 28 recommended measures to enable energy distributors to adapt to climate change and enhance their resilience to extreme weather events.

“In order to continue to ensure resilience, electric, natural gas and thermal energy distributors must adapt their infrastructure, operations, organizational structure, and communications to address climate change risks,” said Tom Crawford, Smart Grid Leader in the Capgemini Utility Sector. “This report offers a pathway forward for energy distributors and governments to facilitate this necessary evolution in energy delivery.”