Kari Hyde

Energy Transition & Grid Modernization Leader

Kari is a recognized leader in grid innovation, modernization, and demand-side management (DSM), with over 10 years of experience advancing the energy transition across North America’s electricity markets.

She brings a strong foundational energy background with over 20 years spanning both the oil and gas and utility sectors, specializing in regulatory structures, rates, distribution policy, distributed generation and utility transformation that delivers both customer value and decarbonization outcomes.

As Manager, Utility Integration and Demand Side Management at the Pembina Institute, Kari leads the Alberta Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiatives in building capability and capacity within the retrofit industry and driving DSM policy advocacy. She works closely with utilities and policymakers across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, supporting long-term resource and electrification planning and embedding DSM solutions into broader energy transition strategies.

A 2025-2026 Fellow with the Energy Futures Lab, Kari also serves as the Solutions Lead for the Markets Working Group, advancing decentralized market models that enable DSM and distributed energy resource (DER) participation in Alberta’s electricity system.

Her previous pioneering positions as Program Manager in Grid Innovation and DSM at ENMAX Power and Senior Advisor, Emerging Customer Solutions at FortisAlberta saw her create new roles and cross-functional teams to tackle emerging customer and grid challenges. Kari led electrification pilots, DER integration strategies, and DSM program development, driving regulatory and policy changes that opened new growth opportunities for utilities while delivering affordability and reliability benefits for customers.

Earlier in her career at Pengrowth Energy, Kari managed over 1,750 power sites and led distributed generation projects, achieving major cost savings and implementing business transformation initiatives that improved energy management and reduced operational expenditures.
Kari brings a strong foundation in customer experience strategy, having led customer-centric energy transition initiatives and continuous improvement programs. She excels at bridging utility operations, policy innovation, and market design to accelerate practical solutions that work for everyone.

She has also served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance (AEEA) Board with ENMAX and FortisAlberta respectively and as a Board Director for the Industrial Power Consumers Association of Alberta (IPCAA) on behalf of Pengrowth Energy.