Bryce Conrad

President and Chief Executive Officer at Hydro Ottawa Group of Companies
Ontario

© Our Moon Shot To Be Net Zero by 2030 with Bryce Conrad - thinkenergy Podcast Episode 79, Hydro Ottawa

Bryce Conrad is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Hydro Ottawa Group of Companies, responsible for delivering electricity to more than 335,000 homes and businesses in Ottawa and Casselman.

Early life

When Bryce Conrad was young, his dream was to become a hockey player and then a lawyer. Growing up, his father was in the air force and his family frequently moved around. From his teenage years, where he attended Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute, right through to his time as an undergraduate student at Queen’s University, Conrad resided in Kingston. After earning his master’s degree, the federal government saw his potential and recruited him into a development program in Ottawa that groomed people for policy and leadership roles.

Education

Conrad attended Queen’s University from 1989 to 1993, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Science and Government. From 1993 to 1996, he finished a Master of Arts in Public Administration at Carleton University, then pursued a Master of Business Administration at the University of Ottawa, which he graduated from in 1997.

Career

While completing his Master of Arts in Public Administration at Carleton University, Conrad completed a Co-op at Pest Management Regulatory Agency from 1994 to 1996. Conrad’s career began in 2004 when he was named Director General of Surface Infrastructure Programs at Transport Canada. Conrad remained Director-General until 2009 after he became the Assistant Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Canada for two years. Conrad was responsible for managing the implementation of the $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, overseeing the selection and management of 4,000 projects that created more than $10 billion in economic activity. Conrad additionally oversaw and administered the Building Canada Fund, the Green Infrastructure Fund and the Gas Tax agreements with numerous provinces and municipalities. Since 2011, Conrad has remained the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro Ottawa Group of Companies. Under his leadership, Hydro Ottawa has become one of the most profitable, advanced, and customer-oriented utilities in Canada. Hydro Ottawa has regularly been awarded for its impressive customer service and innovation. In addition, Conrad has contributed to Hydro Ottawa’s renewable generation that has tripled, making it the largest municipally owned generator of clean, green energy in Ontario.

Net Worth

Hydro Ottawa’s 2020 consolidated net income was $34.1 million. In 2014, the net worth of President and CEO Bryce Conrad was estimated at $4 million.

Achievement

Conrad has gained extensive governance experience while serving on the Board of Directors for industry associations including the Canadian Electricity Association, Ontario Energy Association, Institute on Governance, Electricity Distributors Association and The MEARIE Group. Conrad is currently a board member of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and the United Way/Centraide Ottawa. In 2021, the Canadian Electricity Association awarded Hydro Ottawa for its Sustainability Achievements. Hydro Ottawa became the 11th electricity company in Canada to achieve this designation and the third company in Ontario. In 2022, Canada’s Top Employers Competition named Hydro Ottawa as a Top Employer in the National Capital Region.