A grand challenge with regard to multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) technology is to simultaneously increase permittivity, material break-down strength and resistivity, while reducing material dissipation loss, and temperature sensitivity of permittivity, using reasonably environmentally friendly constituents. Dipole-like substituted barium titanate (BaTiO3), Ba[(M1/20Ta1/20)Ti9/10]O3 where M is a trivalent ion, Sc3+, Cr3+, Mn3+, or Fe3+, and more complicated electric-field interaction materials, Ba[(M1/30Ta2/30)Ti9/10]O3 where M is a divalent ion, Mn2+, Ni2+, or Cu2+, are investigated as potential candidate materials for MLCC technology. Measured temperature dependent, 273 K to 1173 K, electrical conductivity of Ba[(M1/20Ta1/20) Ti9/10]O3 and Ba[(M1/30Ta2/30)Ti9/10]O3 are reported. The dipole-like substituted materials, Ba[(M1/20Ta1/20)Ti9/10]O3, possess activation energies ranging from 2.02 to 2.40 eV and are nearly independent of the M3+ ion utilized. More complicated electric-field interaction materials, Ba[(M1/30Ta2/30)Ti9/10]O3 possess activation energies ranging from 2.50 to 2.61 eV and are nearly independent of the M2+ ion utilized. The results suggest that the introduction of stronger dipole-like electric fields increase the activation energy of the matrix compared to BaTiO3. Hence, dipole-like substituted materials, Ba[(M1/20Ta1/20)Ti9/10] O3, and more complicated electric-field interaction materials, Ba[(M1/30Ta2/30) Ti9/10] O3, which can be used to significantly and controllable tailor the activation energy of BaTiO3 based materials, remain of interest for MLLC technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]