2010 Sustainability Report Highlights

SaskPower's 2010 Sustainability Report provides our stakeholders with a balanced account of SaskPower's environmental, economic and social performance. We also discuss the challenges ahead in 2011 and beyond.

The report includes progress made against specific targets. As SaskPower's sustainability program develops, we will be adjusting the indicators that appear.

During the year, SaskPower participated in the Government of Saskatchewan's Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies inquiry into Saskatchewan's energy needs. In addition to also sharing our Electricity and Conservation Strategy at community meetings throughout the province, our company was active on a number of other sustainability-related fronts:

Environmental performance

• SaskPower marks the 10th year of registration of our company's International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Environmental Management System
• Mercury, sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and total particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) emissions and emissions intensity decreased
• Rebuild of Boundary Dam Power Station Unit #3 announced and carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture system chosen in preparation for construction of the Boundary Dam Integrated Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Project, among the first commercial scale ventures of its type in the world
• Technical and business concepts completed for development of a neutral testing platform at Shand Power Station for different carbon capture and storage technologies
• Six environmentally friendly power projects totalling 33 megawatts (MW) from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) selected under Green Options (GO) Partners Program
• Call for participants issued for GO Plan for up to 175 MW of wind power
• Over 640 projects screened for sensitive land habitat, species or archaeological sites
• Number of reportable spills increased
• Approximately 45,000 wood poles tested through Wood Pole Maintenance Project
• Approximately 115,300 tonnes of fly ash sold, equating to a savings of over 115,300 tonnes of CO₂
• SaskPower Shand Greenhouse distributes nearly 600,000 seedlings for habitat conservation and restoration

Economic performance

• Operating income of $179 million and per cent debt ratio of 59.7%
• Over $1 billion flows from SaskPower into the province's economy through the procurement of goods and services from Saskatchewan suppliers, the purchase of coal, the acquisition of electricity from IPPs, and the payment of wages and benefits to employees
• $2 billion in spending to be saved or avoided by 2020 targeted by Business Renewal Program
• $565-million investment made in provincial electrical infrastructure
• 138 MW gas-fired Yellowhead Power Station completed and commissioned
• New 160-kilometre, 230-kilovolt transmission line between Poplar River Power Station and Pasqua Switching Station near Moose Jaw energized
• Reliability System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) measured 5.9, a greater length of interruptions than the target due largely to the unusual number of severe weather events
• Reliability System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) measured 2.5, a greater number of interruptions than the target due to the unusual number of lightning incidents and heavy rainstorms
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project announced, with approximately 500,000 new electronic meters expected to facilitate quicker response times for power outages while assisting customers to become more energy efficient
• Net Metering Program expanded to 184 participants
• Demand Side Management programming realizes 29 MW of demand reduction while adding a new Refrigerator Recycling Program, Parking Lot Controller Program and Self-generated Electricity Demonstration Project for Ice Rinks

Social performance

• SaskPower recognized as one of Saskatchewan's top 20 employers and one of Canada's best diversity employers
• Net increases in diversity employees was 30, below target due in part to a temporary company-wide hiring review that limited the number of external hires
• Safety Index performance target exceeded
• Five-year Safety Strategy completed, Health and Wellness Program launched, and Corporate Drug and Alcohol Program approved
• Implementation of Contractor Health and Safety Management Program and Policy continued
• Energy efficiency and farm safety educational advertising campaigns continue
• Employee retention rate of 98.5% (as compared to 84.5% average of the Hewitt Associates top 50 Canadian companies)
• Employee survey shows engagement core of 49%, a 10 percentage point improvement from 2007 results
• Memorandum of Understanding to investigate potential hydroelectric development on Fond du Lac River entered into with Elizabeth Falls Hydro Limited Partnership, a corporate entity owned by Black Lake First Nation
• Agreement to evaluate the feasibility of a hydroelectric project near the confluence of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers entered into with James Smith Cree Nation, Chakastaypasin Band of the Cree, Peter Chapman First Nation, and their partner Brookfield Renewable Power
• Over $1.6 million invested in province-wide community (culture, sports and charities), education and environment-focused initiatives