Project Experts
Jess Burgess Lead Expert, Principal Consultant
Advancing Ontario’s Energy Workforce of the Future
- Client
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Region
- North America (USA-Canada)
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Service
- Capacity Building
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Countries
Canada
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Provinces
Ontario
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Sector
- Utilities
What does it take to turn energy efficiency ambition into real, measurable action across an entire province?
In Ontario, the answer began with listening to businesses, energy professionals, utilities, and sector leaders to understand exactly what knowledge gaps were standing in the way of energy efficiency projects implementation.
A Strategic Investment in Capability
In 2022, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) sought to strengthen Ontario’s energy efficiency ecosystem. To support businesses and public sector organizations in identifying, developing, and executing energy efficiency projects, the IESO launched a multi-year Capability Building Initiative, the most ambitious of its kind in North America.
Before scaling the program, however, one critical step was required: a rigorous, province-wide capacity building needs assessment to ensure the initiative addressed real-world challenges.
Ontario’s economy spans diverse and energy-intensive sectors — including commercial buildings, manufacturing, heavy industry, healthcare, education, and more.
To accelerate participation in the IESO’s Save on Energy programs and strengthen the province’s energy workforce, tailored training and sector-specific support were essential.
Mandate
Build a data-driven foundation to guide capacity building program design and investment.
Capacity Building Needs Assessment for IESO
Building the Skills to Drive Energy Action
Econoler, through its subsidiairy CIET, was mandated to determine:
- Energy efficiency technologies and opportunities businesses would prioritize over the next four years
- Primary challenges faced by energy professionals and decision-makers
- The ecosystem of service providers supporting energy projects
- Existing training resources and information gaps
- Preferred learning formats across sectors (in-person, virtual, short-form content, guides, etc.)
The objective was clear: build a data-driven foundation to guide capacity building program design and investment.
Clarifying the Knowledge Gaps & Mapping Training Needs
Econoler conducted a comprehensive mixed-method research approach combining primary and secondary analysis.
Stakeholder Engagement
- More than 30 in-depth interviews
- Participants included IESO teams, private sector businesses, public institutions, trade associations, and energy industry stakeholders
- Representation from buildings, manufacturing, heavy industry, healthcare, education, social housing, and municipal sectors
Econoler synthesized the research findings to create:
- A detailed report identifying priority training needs and information gaps
- A proposed two-year program plan for the IESO Capability Building Initiative
Aligning the needs assessment outcomes and capacity building program design ensured that the IESO Capability Building Initiative would address current and future market demand and sector-specific realities.
Project Impact
The needs assessment directly shaped the delivery of Ontario’s Capability Building Initiative. By grounding the program in stakeholder insight, the IESO was able to launch targeted training that translated into real project development activity across the province.
Value Delivered to the IESO:
- Clear identification of priority training needs
- Evidence-based program roadmap
- Improved alignment with market demand
- Strengthened provincial energy workforce capacity
Most importantly, the initiative moved beyond theory and into implementation.
Expert Leadership
Lead Expert: Jess Burgess, Principal Consultant
Jess leads the team delivering the IESO’s Capability Building Initiative since 2020. He has conducted capacity building needs assessments for utilities and institutions including:
- Hydro Ottawa
- Toronto Hydro
- Government of Canada
Since 2008, Jess has supported more than 100 electricity and gas utilities across Canada and the United States in designing, delivering, and evaluating energy programs.
Sustaining Momentum
The IESO continues to expand the Capability Building Initiative, with participation growing steadily year over year.
Looking ahead, Econoler has recommended conducting a second capacity building needs assessment in 2026 to inform the next iteration of the program — ensuring that Ontario’s energy workforce remains aligned with evolving technologies, market realities, and decarbonization priorities.
Because building capacity isn’t a one-time effort. It’s an ongoing investment in people, skills, and long-term impact.