Washington, D.C. (September 10, 2020) — ATCO and Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Electricité (CIE) today received the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI’s) 2020 International Edison Award. Presented annually and selected by a panel of former energy industry executives, the Edison Award is the electric power industry’s most prestigious honor.
ATCO received the 2020 International Edison Award for developing state-of-the-art energy infrastructure in North America, and pioneering models for consultation and engagement, long-term relationships, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Alberta PowerLine, a partnership between ATCO subsidiary Canadian Utilities Limited and Quanta Services, built the Fort McMurray West 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Project in northern Alberta, Canada. Spanning 508 kilometers (316 miles), the project is the longest 500-kV AC transmission line in Canada.
“ATCO did a tremendous job engaging with local communities and landowners as they worked to develop this new transmission line, which has enhanced reliability for all of ATCO’s customers,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn.
“Alberta PowerLine and the Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project represent much more than critical energy infrastructure,” said Siegfried Kiefer, president & CEO, Canadian Utilities. “It is a success story of industry and Indigenous Peoples working together to develop world-class energy infrastructure that benefits customers and communities alike. We are very proud of everything that our partnerships with local communities have accomplished and are humbled – on behalf of all involved – to be selected for the prestigious Edison Award."
CIE was awarded the 2020 International Edison Award for its analysis of Cote d'Ivoire’s low rate of access to electricity, which in 2013 was 26 percent. As a result, CIE proposed the “Electricity For All” program, known locally as “Electricité Pour Tous” or “PEPT,” to address the principal barriers for customers and to accelerate access to electricity for the most vulnerable population. The program was adopted by the government and launched in 2014, and, by 2019 access to reliable electricity had nearly doubled to 50 percent.
“CIE’s commitment to bringing electricity to the people of Côte d'Ivoire truly is inspiring,” said Kuhn. “While we all appreciate the innovative energy solutions being utilized, it is impossible to overstate just how impactful these investments are for the customers who are receiving electricity service for the very first time.”
“It is an honor for our staff to be highlighted among our peers on a global stage,” said CIE CEO Ahmadou Bakyoko. “I am proud to receive this International Edison Award, which comes as a testimony of the results of our company in close cooperation with the government of Côte d’Ivoire.”
“I congratulate both ATCO and CIE for providing cutting edge energy technologies and customer programs that not only enhance the energy grid, but also create tremendous value for customers, businesses, and communities,” said Kuhn.
