Operational Reporting - Essential Energy

AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER
Understanding our footprint – carbon
reduction program
As part of our broader corporate responsibility initiatives,
we’re actively seeking to minimise the impact our operations
have on the environment.
Our footprint, like our network, is significant. We have around
4,000 employees located in 142 sites and we maintain a large
and diverse fleet of vehicles. Our powerlines, substations and
other infrastructure are spread across the largest electricity
network in Australia.
The challenge
During 2007–08 we undertook a major audit of our
emissions to gain a clear understanding of the scope and
scale of our footprint.
The audit spanned the entire organisation, taking in all
activities including air travel, vehicles, buildings and
electricity distribution. Independently verified by Deloitte
Consulting, it provides a clear picture of the scope of our
emissions and the challenge ahead to reduce them.
The audit showed that Country Energy emits about 28,000
tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2
-e) each year in
emissions from direct sources. These direct emissions
represent a small proportion of our total emissions – less
than 4 per cent.
The audit also identified that our indirect emissions are
around 773,000 tonnes of CO 2
-e from line losses and onsite
power usage – accounting for more than 96 per cent of
our total emissions. To ensure transparency and integrity in
our reporting, we’ve voluntarily accounted for and included
in this figure around 136,000 tonnes of CO 2
-e of indirect
emissions from waste, air travel and hired vehicles.
Responding to the challenge
Our response focuses on two major areas:
for example, continued use of accredited GreenPower
will reduce our carbon emissions
performance measures across all our business divisions.
These targets and measures will be phased in during
2008–09.
Environmental performance and compliance
Country Energy’s environmental performance is overseen
by our Chief Safety Officer. Outcomes are reported quarterly
to a Country Energy Board Sub-Committee – the Safety and
Environment Committee – and to the Board, as appropriate.
Country Energy uses an Environmental Management System
(EMS) to identify a range of issues, risks and control
measures associated with our operations, including:
During the year, our EMS was audited and certification to
AS/NZS ISO 14001 was maintained.
To assist our people in carrying out their work in line with the
EMS, this year we developed an Environmental Operations
Handbook for use by employees and contractors. The
Handbook includes a broad overview of our environmental
management activities. It also helps employees and
contractors understand how the activities they perform interact
with the environment and how to conduct operations in line
with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.
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44 Finding better ways