Peter Wynne

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Peter Wynne, Technical Services Manager, Chevron Canada Limited

Peter Wynne graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BASc in Chemical Engineering in 1983. After summer jobs in mineral exploration in the Yukon, a pulp and paper mill on Vancouver Island, and an oil refinery in Alberta, Peter started with Chevron Canada Limited after graduation and has been with them the past 27 years. Most of that time has been at the refinery in Burnaby in a number of roles including projects, operations, and planning, but he also spent two years in the Vancouver Finance and Marketing groups early on. Peter has been the Technical Services Manager at the refinery since 2002.

Who do you represent on BC Hydro's engagement initiatives?
I represent a typical large industrial transmission rate customer, in this case Chevron Canada Limited's Burnaby Refinery. As a residential customer, I also have a lot of interest in Hydro's residential programs for energy efficiency.

What are some of your responsibilities as the Technical Services Manager at the Burnaby Refinery?
I manage the process engineering group which is responsible for monitoring, optimizing, and troubleshooting the refining processes. My group is also responsible for the energy efficiency of the refinery – energy is the single largest operating expense for the refinery, and I am also responsible for monitoring and consulting on new fuels regulations and climate change regulations.

What are the biggest challenges facing Chevron Canada Ltd.?
The refining industry in North America is facing big economic challenges due to declining demand locally and increasing refining capacity in Asia and the Middle East. Demand for refined product is declining due to the poor economic conditions, increasing substitution of biofuels, and consumers switching to more fuel efficient vehicles. Other significant challenges are all the new regulations related to climate change, including biofuels requirements, low carbon fuels requirements, the carbon tax, GHG reporting regulations, and cap and trade systems that are being adopted at both the federal and provincial levels.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy being part of an important global industry that has been around for over 100 years but continues to evolve. For example, the Burnaby Refinery is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, but the refinery today is a much more complex and efficient operation even from when I started here 27 years ago.

When did you become involved with BC Hydro's engagement initiatives?
I was invited to join the Rates Working Group in 2008.

What are your top two or three energy interests?
At the refinery, our largest energy source is fuel gas which is a byproduct of the refining process that we supplement with natural gas. Efficient use of our fuel gas though better recovery of heat from our processes, efficient furnace and boiler operation, and efficient steam systems is therefore a big interest. We also use a significant amount of electricity so improving its efficient use through equipment upgrades and management of the loads is a major interest for me.

What are your top two or three BC Hydro interests?
I'm interested in conservation and efficiency, especially when it can be achieved in a manner that helps keep the refinery competitive by keeping our total energy cost down.

What BC Hydro initiatives are you currently involved in?
The Rates Working Group. The Refinery has also participated in Power Smart initiatives, and at home we've signed up for Team Power Smart with the goal of reducing our electrical consumption by 10%.

What motivates you to engage with BC Hydro?
The Rates Working Group is a great opportunity to provide input on how rates can influence efficient use of a valuable resource while still maintaining B.C.'s critical competitive advantage of access to low cost, low emission power.

What strengths do you bring to the engagement table?
I bring a good understanding of what practical measures can be taken to save power in industry and how electricity costs factor into the business model. I also have experience with the implementation of the Stepped Rate for our refinery.

What's your most memorable experience with BC Hydro?
Following the development and implementation of the Stepped Rate for industrial customers. This was a way of approaching a rate structure that had not been used anywhere in the world.

Do you feel your stakeholder interests are given due consideration?
Yes, Hydro always has several representatives at the Rates Working Group meetings and has given good feedback about our ideas.

What are your top two recommendations to help BC Hydro become more stakeholder-focused and better able to meet your interests?
Continue to encourage your Key Account Managers to seek input from customers on a regular basis, and continue the support for groups like the Rates Working Group.