As artificial intelligence accelerates across industries, utilities are under increasing pressure to innovate while protecting the systems that keep cities running. Oshawa Power, in collaboration with BHC Canada and POWERCONNECT.AI, is charting a responsible path forward — one that balances innovation, embraces technology while supporting people, processes, and ensuring public trust. 

The partnership introduces Agent 360 and Customer 360, two AI-powered solutions designed to help Oshawa Power support customers and have teams work more efficiently. By automating repetitive tasks and surfacing real-time insights, these tools will free employees to focus on higher-value, often more complex interactions, improving both customer experience and operational performance. 

For Oshawa Power, this initiative is about more than implementing new technology. It’s redefining the business . 

“AI isn’t a magic solution. It’s a problem-solving tool. We want it to help people work smarter and give customers a better experience — not replace what makes us human.” 

— Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power. 

A Measured Approach to Modernization 

Speaking about the partnership, Steve Dawson, CEO of POWERCONNECT.AI, said the goal isn’t to chase headlines — it’s to make a real difference. “AI should make work easier, not more complicated,” he explained. “For Oshawa Power, it’s about giving people better tools, shortening the time it takes to solve problems, and improving the experience for both employees and customers. That’s what builds trust — and that trust is what really matters.” 

That trust is central to Oshawa Power’s transformation. With over 130 years of community service, the utility is approaching AI with methodical intent, making sure each step adds tangible value. Its modernization strategy centers on four core principles — People, Product, Process, and Performance — a framework that balances technology with purpose. 

People: Equipping employees with AI-powered tools that make their jobs more rewarding and impactful. 

Product: Delivering faster, more responsive service experiences for customers. 

Process: Streamlining workflows, adding increasing automation and reducing overheads. 

Performance: Strengthening reliability, agility, and regulatory compliance across operations. 

This structure allows Oshawa Power to move quickly and confidently — a rare advantage in a traditionally slow-moving sector. 

A Lighthouse for Ontario’s Energy Future 

The collaboration also builds on BHC Canada and POWERCONNECT.AI’s growing momentum in Ontario, following their successful co-innovation program with GrandBridge Energy. Together, these partnerships reflect a shift toward small and mid-sized utilities leading the way in AI adoption — leveraging their agility to test, refine, and scale new ideas faster than their larger counterparts. 

“We are truly excited about leveraging POWERCONNECT.AI as a transformative AI tool for supporting our business transformation efforts by working with our new Jomar CIS platform to enhance our customer experience. This integration will enable real-time information access and insights for both our agents and customers, while introducing enhanced intelligence and automation across our operations” 

— Maged Yackoub, CTO, Oshawa Power 

Unlike some utilities investing millions in custom-built systems, Oshawa Power’s approach is pragmatic: deploy proven tools, measure impact, and adapt quickly. This agility makes smaller utilities like Oshawa and GrandBridge the real innovators in the field, showing that meaningful digital transformation doesn’t require massive budgets — only vision, readiness, and collaboration.