Performance Report 2005
Point of Reference
Throughout 2005 we worked with the Greater London Authority on how the private and public sector could come together to provide sustainable solutions to the country's energy requirements. This work came to fruition in 2006. EDF Energy was chosen ahead of other major utility companies as preferred bidder to partner the London Climate Change Agency in a joint venture to deliver sustainable solutions throughout the capital. These will include the development of decentralised generation such as combined heat and power plants. The Mayor described the decision as the most important thing he has done for London.
For the second year running, EDF Energy clinched a coveted title in the National Customer Service Awards 2005. The Customer Services team responsible for Priority Services won the award of Customer Service Team of the Year – Focus on Disability. From our Development Branch, the BAA Heathrow Terminal Five team won the High Five award for best performing team on site (from BAA). This same team were also finalists in the Institute of Electrical Engineers' Innovation Awards.
During the Distribution Price Control Review (DPCR4), EDF Energy appeared isolated in demanding a significant increase in investment. By negotiating robustly and building a dialogue based on firm evidence and objectivity, we made steady progress, with the regulator moving towards our position. The final proposals meant that 2005 was the first time in fifteen years in which the regulator has agreed to a substantial increase in the level of capital investment in the UK electricity infrastructure.
In May 2005 we launched Read.Reduce.Reward. This unique market-leading, award winning product enables customers to read their own meters in return of a reward of 250 Nectar points per fuel per quarter's read, for a reading provided online. Customers are also rewarded with Nectar points for consumption reduction year on year, thereby actively promoting energy savings and efficiency.
EDF Energy received the 2005 Utility Industry Achievement Award for this ground-breaking product, which in effect is the only product in the market that actively encourages and rewards consumption reduction.
EDF Energy is recognised as being the leading energy company in supporting the Government's aims of eradicating fuel poverty. At the beginning of 2005, EDF Energy offered vulnerable customers the chance to avoid a price change until at least 31 March 2006. During the registration period from 10 January to 28 February 2005, 62,000 vulnerable customers were registered for the EDF Energy price change exemption. As part of the price change exemption, we offered a free benefits entitlement check that told customers whether they were eligible for other potential sources of support, resulting in an average annual increase in benefits of up to £1,100.
The trust awards grants to our customers who face extreme financial difficulty, not just for their energy bills but for also for other household bills. Since its inception in November 2003 to the end of 2005, the EDF Energy Trust has awarded £1.27 million.
In 2005, we installed an additional two FGD units at our coal-fired power stations, which will remove more than 90% of the sulphur dioxide emissions from the flue gases.
In 2005, the positive profile of EDF Energy rose significantly in the national, regional and trade press according to our independent evaluation agency, Precis.
The company's sponsorship of the successful London 2012 bid was a key driver in that success. The debate on future energy policy, the group’s share flotation, the better billing initiative and a major energy efficiency campaign also generated favourable coverage. All this was further boosted by high profile interviews in leading print and broadcast media with our Chief Executive, Vincent de Rivaz.
During the year, other media coverage was dominated by the company’s two price rises as a result of soaring wholesale costs. However, EDF Energy's pioneering special tariff for its most needy customers helped to underline its growing reputation in the media as a socially responsible company.
In June, the first regional EDF Energy Media Awards was launched in the South West. Over 150 journalists attended the Bristol event. Two further annual awards schemes, in the South East and East of England, are being launched in 2006.
EDF Energy is pro-actively engaged with UK Government on a wide range of energy policy issues. It is EDF Energy's policy not to make cash donations to any political party. However, EDF Energy does undertake activities, such as event sponsorship, which are not designed to support or influence support for any particular political party.
This is covered under The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 that extended the definitions of donations and political expenditure to the extent that they cover activities which form part of normal relationships between companies and the politicalmachinery, but which would not be thought of as either political donations or expenditure.
EDF Energy was the first company to become a premier partner of the London 2012 Olympic bid and was delighted with the victory. Our 'Leap Counters' picked up the theme of the bid advertising and enabled one million people from around the country to show their support for the bid. The leap counters were staffed by over 3,000 employees who volunteered their time to be 2012 ambassadors. The sponsorship generated media coverage worth several times the level of investment and had a positive impact on relationships with key stakeholders and on the value of our brand.
2007 TARGET |
Rank top amongst our peers in the BITC CR Index |