Get to Know: Brent Peddle
September 5, 2019

Making sure our electricity equipment is reliable takes planning. Brent has a plan for everything.
Where are you from and how long have you worked at Hydro?
I’m originally from Upper Island Cove, about an hour from St. John’s. This is my tenth year with Hydro.
What made you want to work here?
During university, I completed two work terms in research and development at Hydro, and I gained a real appreciation for the complexity behind generating electricity. At Hydro, everyone truly takes pride in the service they’re providing to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and I wanted to be a part of that.
Tell us about your job – What is long-term asset management and why is it important?
Hydro has thousands of assets, ranging from large generators to domestic water heaters, all of which require maintenance, and we need to make informed, strategic decisions to maintain them, mitigate unplanned failures and maximize their service life – that’s asset management. There are so many components, and having proper plans and procedures to ensure our generation is available is vital. As Manager of Long-Term Asset Planning for hydraulic generation, my job is to help coordinate that process. I work with a team of engineers and asset specialists to develop and implement maintenance, repair, and refurbishment plans. We monitor the health of all equipment and use preventative maintenance programs to ensure we’re generating electricity reliably and safely – not just today, but for the next 5, ten, twenty years and beyond.
What is your favourite part of working for Hydro?
The people working for Hydro are world-class. They’re passionate about how the work they do contributes to the well-being of the province. It’s not without its challenges. But coming to work each day is easy when you’re surrounded by driven, passionate and caring co-workers.
What might surprise people about your job?
I work with many different groups – within Hydro and external to the organization. I’ve had the opportunity to work with industry professionals from other countries and utilities around the globe and each day I learn something new. Those interactions build knowledge and help evolve Hydro’s asset management programs.
Is there a project or accomplishment that you’re most proud of?
It’s hard to pick just one, but I was delighted to be involved with bringing the co-op engineering program back to Bay d’Espoir, which allows student engineers to become immersed in Newfoundland’s largest hydraulic generation plant. I personally believe that developing the next generation and giving young people those kinds of opportunities and work experience is very important. It’s also rewarding to know that I’m helping to ensure the reliable operation of equipment and my work helps to provide the safe, reliable electricity that we all count on every day.