Who would have thought that a business plan for Camrose Energy – drafted at the bedside in 10 days – would grow and evolve into an award-winning business in the energy industry 10 years later? At the time, even we weren’t sure, but looking back at the days and weeks that turned into months and years, we’re confident that the hard work, setbacks and triumphs have all been worth it.
It’s easy to say that nobody falls into the role of being an energy provider, but in the case of Camrose Energy, every step laid the foundation for what was to come next.
How Did We Start This Journey?
And when did it all start?
Well, it all goes back to 2012 when we moved into a new house – Russell was a home builder at the time, and this was one of his new builds; it was an opportune time to dip our toes into an emerging trend by adding solar arrays to the roof of the house.
Always the innovator and pioneer, Russell took a weekend course through Solar Alberta on installing solar panels – and as fate would have it, he was introduced to Gordon Howell – one of the pioneers of solar innovation in Alberta.
Gordon must have sensed Russell’s enthusiasm for innovation because it was during the training course that Gordon suggested Russell reach out to a colleague at Utility Network & Partners to discuss exciting opportunities in the energy industry.
The following weekend, Russell and a friend installed the first two residential microgeneration systems in Camrose. The next weekend, we were headed to Calgary to meet with UTILITYnet to investigate Gordon’s recommendation further.
It was all happening so fast! While it may have seemed overwhelming at the time, Russell and I spent the whole drive home discussing business models and the pros and cons of the opportunity that lay at our feet – to become an electricity provider in Camrose and, in reality, if this was something for us.
But there had to be a catch. I searched, hunted and scoured to uncover the one flaw that would bring this pyramid of opportunity crashing to the ground. It just sounded too good to be true, but after our due diligence and once my naturally skeptical mind was put at ease, we realized that there was nothing lurking in the shadows.
This was too good, yet it was true – and too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Sometimes things in life don’t quite go as planned. While we fully intended to become an electrical provider, a short time after our initial meeting with UTILITYnet, Russell was seriously injured while helping an acquaintance. For the next ten days, I spent most of my waking hours writing the business plan for what would become Camrose Energy.
In that business plan were the Four Pillars which form the foundation of Camrose Energy: supply customers with the education needed to navigate a technical and confusing industry, provide a level of customer service unmatched by multi-national and corporate competitors, deliver our services in a pressure-free environment, and do it all while helping promote and build the community for which we are proud to call home.
Camrose Energy had to crawl before it could walk and eventually run; the company operated out of our home and met our first customers – mainly family and friends – from the comfort of our kitchen table. Those ground-level customers became the foundation for Camrose Energy – we cannot thank them enough for trusting and believing in a new and relatively untested innovation in the energy industry. Those first customers were an integral part of our success and growth; looking back, it was just like the 80s Faberge Organics shampoo commercial where one customer told two friends about our company… and they told two friends… and so on, and so on and so on….
Camrose Energy experienced steady growth and development over the next several years, but the real expansion was realized in December 2015 when we became a natural gas provider. This allowed Camrose Energy to be a single stop for customers looking to consolidate their electricity and natural gas under one provider.
In October 2016, Camrose Energy was recognized as Home Based Business of the Year by the Camrose and District Chamber of Commerce.
We were honoured to receive such recognition after just four years in operation, and it gave us confidence knowing that we were doing the right thing – and the community was taking notice.
We continued to grow, and by 2017 we outgrew our home office – it was time to move to downtown Camrose where we opened an office in the Camrose Wellness Collective building on 51st Street. The storefront offered our customers improved access and heightened our visibility in the community.
Two short years later, UTILITYnet expanded to unveil the Solar Club, which brought Camrose Energy full circle to its genesis – our passion for solar energy. Whenever someone calls to discuss solar energy, my heart starts to sing! Later in 2019, Camrose Energy was again recognized by the Camrose and District Chamber of Commerce – naming us the 2019 Small Business of the Year! We are always humbled by the support of our customers and the Camrose community as a whole – such an endorsement from the Camrose community made us want to work even harder for the community where we live, work and play.
We were optimistic in early 2020 – despite global uncertainty and upheaval, Camrose Energy was experiencing ongoing growth – we hired our first employee, Maurina, in February.
A friend of a friend, Maurina and her husband was one of our first customers. I still remember sitting at their kitchen table, discussing the value and benefits of joining Camrose Energy. Since that first meeting, Maurina has become a valued friend and a crucial member of the Camrose Energy team.
We were optimistic about building the business through personal visits to customers who couldn’t visit our downtown office. Still, as Covid-19 forced a change in every sector of society, those plans were put on hold.
Despite the pandemic-related setbacks, Camrose Energy continued to grow to the point where we needed more office space, so we packed up all our little office and moved three blocks east to our current 48th Street location. We have renewed optimism that we can begin to increase our overall presence in the Camrose community – promoting Camrose Energy as the premier provider of choice for electricity, natural gas and solar power not only in Camrose but for customers anywhere in Alberta looking for a provider who cares about their customers and the community. That care about community is evident in Camrose Energy’s Community Partnership Program, where a portion of our profits is returned to community non-profit organizations.
Community Partners
Our Community Partner Program has been a part of Camrose Energy since we began. We wanted a way to foster strong ties and help build the community in a long-term, residual manner. Over the years, an increasing number of customers have permitted us to do more.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
We have attended every home dedication since Habitat for Humanity became a partner, and these ceremonies move me every time. It’s heartwarming to see how grateful partner families are when they realize how life-changing affordable home ownership is. The big winners are the children and the stability they get by having a home around them. With Solar Harvest’s donation of labour and Camrose Energy’s donation of materials, less any government grants available at the time, we installed a solar array on the Habitat for Humanity ReStore building. We are so proud of this project as it aligns with Habitat for Humanity beliefs and will continue to reduce its long-term operating costs.
BATTLE RIVER WATERSHED ALLIANCE was also an original Community Partner as we wanted to include an environmental aspect to our program. This resonates with our values as well. We had so much fun attending pie-making contests and educational series hosted by BRWSA. I was so fortunate to be invited to join their Finding Common Ground tour, which included tours of coal and natural gas-powered electrical generation stations. We also toured the Halkirk wind farm – what a fantastic experience it was to look up at the belly of an 80-meter tall wind turbine tower.
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION was also an original Community Partner. With the increased stress and mental health issues that COVID brings, the need for their services has never been greater. The money from our Community Partner program goes toward non-government-funded programming. Thank you for making a difference and helping those who need support to become stronger.
CAMROSE OPEN DOOR has also moved me over the years. I had a discussion one day with Jessica (their Director) about how donating single-serve food items can impact the lives of their clients. A donation of single-serve food items may prevent youth from returning to an unsafe place, or how it may help lift the stress from a youth recovering from addiction… a single-serve may
help them stay clean. How powerful is that? Last year we decided to expand our Community Partner Program to include THE BAILEY THEATRE (the oldest performing arts theatre in Alberta) and CAMROSE WOMEN’S SHELTER (which helps women and children leave domestic violence situations) to our list of community groups receiving our support. Through the Solar Synergy Program, we provide financial contributions toward adding solar systems to their buildings.
We cannot thank our customers enough for choosing us as your local utility provider. Your continued support has afforded us the opportunity to continue to help our community, and we look forward to being In Our Community for Our Community for another 10 years.
Denise and Russell Hawkins
Camrose Energy