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TOMORROW
VERBUND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009

VERBUND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009
WE DEDICATE ALL OF OUR ENERGY
TO CREATING CLEAN ELECTRICITY
AND NEW, EVEN MORE EFFICIENT
APPLICATIONS. FOR A BETTER LIFE
FOR THE GENERATIONS OF TODAY
AND TOMORROW.

CORE INDICATORS
ECONOMY
EVA¹ MILLION 1 DIVIDEND PER SHARE 1 PRODUCTIVITY PER EMPLOYEE T 1
07
08
09
ENVIRONMENT
HYDROPOWER GENERATION GWh THERMAL POWER GENERATION GWh ISO 14001 FACILITIES %
07
08
09
SOCIAL
EMPLOYEES PERSONS TRAINING PER EMPLOYEE HOURS ACCIDENT RATE ‰
07
08
09
435.8
468.2
351.3
24,321
25,308
27,099
2,537
2,638
3,070
¹ KEY FIGURE REVISED; PRIOR-YEAR AMOUNTS ADJUSTED.
07
08
09
07
08
09
07
08
09
0.90
1.05
1+ 0.25
3,986
3,352
2,714
48.5
48.0
38.0
07
08
09
07
08
09
07
08
09
1,244.7
1,473.7
1,235.1
² THE SUCCESSIVE AUDIT AND CERTIFICATION OF THE 13 POWER PLANTS ON THE BAVARIAN PART OF THE INN RIVER AND THE WIND AND SOLAR LOCATIONS IS PLANNED.
59.5
80.2
70.6²
15.4
16.0
12.1

2007
2008 2009
EVA¹ MILLION 1 435.8 468.2 351.3
DIVIDEND PER SHARE 1 0.90 1.05 1+ 0.25
PRODUCTIVITY PER EMPLOYEE T 1 1,244.7 1,473.7 1,235.1
SALES MILLION 1 3,038.3 3,744.7 3,483.1
EARNINGS PER SHARE 1 1.88 2.23 2.09
CASH FLOW PER SHARE 1 2.62 3.03 3.14
¹ FIGURE HAS BEEN REVISED; THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED.
2007 2008
HYDROPOWER GENERATION GWh 24,321 25,308 27,099
THERMAL POWER GENERATION GWh 3,986 3,352 2,714
SHARE OF ISO-14001 PLANTS % 59.5 80.2 70.6²
SHARE OF FACILITIES WITH EMAS AUDIT % 31.5 41.4 36.5
CO 2 -EMISSIONS AVOIDED BY HYDROPOWER GENERATION³ kt 19,700 20,499 22,036
VOLUME OF WASTE t 12,218 16,906 7,941
2007 2008
EMPLOYEES PERSONS 2,537 2,638 3,070
TRAINING PER EMPLOYEE HOURS 48.5 48.0 38.0
ACCIDENT RATE ‰ 15.4 16.0 12.1
SHARE OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES % 16.4 18.0 18.6
LENGTH OF SERVICE YEARS 20.5 20.1 18.9
RATE OF FLUCTUATION % 1.80 1.50 0.8
² IT IS PLANNED TO SUCCESSIVELY AUDIT OR CERTIFY THE 13 POWER PLANTS ON THE BAVARIAN PART OF THE INN RIVER AND THE WIND AND SOLAR PLANTS.
³ CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF A MODERN HARD COAL POWER PLANT; BASIS FROM 2009 IS THE NET GENERATION OF THE POWER PLANTS; FIGURES FOR 2007 AND 2008 HAVE
BEEN ADJUSTED.
2009
2009

IMPRINT
PUBLISHER: VERBUND AG (formerly: Österreichische Elektrizitätswirtschafts-Aktiengesellschaft), Am Hof 6a, A-1010 Vienna
VERBUND’S SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER: Mag. Renate Pretscher, e-mail: sustain@verbund.at
EDITOR: Mag. Karin Kichler, e-mail: sustain@verbund.at
GROUP COMMUNICATIONS: Mag. Beate McGinn, phone: +43(0)50313-53702, e-mail: media@verbund.at
CONCEPT: Verbund; AHA design / planetx
DESIGN: AHA design / planetx
IMAGE PHOTOS: Severin Wurnig
PHOTO PROCESSING: Severin Wurnig
MANAGING BOARD PORTRAITS: Lukas Beck
PHOTOS IN THE REPORT SECTION: htl donaustadt, Rainer Fehringer, Verbund
PRINTED BY: Gugler GmbH, Melk

CONTENTS
FOREWORD 4
VERBUND IN BRIEF 6
BOARD MEMBERS 12
ABOUT THIS REPORT 14
2009 IN REVIEW 15
BUSINESS FRAMEWORK 18
CLOSE UP: 2010 – THE YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY 24
ANOTHER VIEW – STUDENTS REPORTS: 29
WITHOUT A TRACE – RE-NATURATION OF PENSTOKES IN KAPRUN 32
A GREEN FUTURE FOR THE GREEN HEART OF AUSTRIA –
ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE STYRIA LINE 36
SUSTAINABILITY IS IN THE AIR – VERBUND WIND FARM 40
THERE IS NO ENERGY PROBLEM – VERBUND SOLAR ENERGY PACKAGE 44
THREE MILLIMETRES AND NO MORE! – OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY 48
INDICATORS:
ECONOMIC INDICATORS 52
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 60
RESEARCH INDICATORS 67
SOCIAL INDICATORS 69
SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS 78
AUDITOR’S CERTIFICATE 84
DISCLAIMER: THIS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
WHICH ARE TYPICALLY PARAPHRASED WITH TERMS SUCH AS »EXPECT«, »PLAN«, »ANTICIPATE«
ETC. DUE TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, THE PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACHIEVED
BY THE COMPANY MAY DIFFER FROM THE EXPECTATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT. THIS
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN GERMAN. IN CASE OF DOUBT, THE GERMAN
VERSION APPLIES.

4 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | FOREWORD
DI WOLFGANG ANZENGRUBER
CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGING BOARD
DR. ULRIKE BAUMGARTNER-GABITZER
MEMBER OF THE MANAGING BOARD
DEAR READERS,
Now more than ever, sustainable business
management is key. This has been our tried-andtrue
practice for years, and we stand by it as our
task is to find the right path to economic recovery.
Focusing on long-term, eco-friendly investments,
while taking a balanced view of ecological and
social needs when making economic decisions –
these are the building blocks of stable business
management. Verbund has successfully followed
this course from the outset, and continues to do
so today.
Our solid foundation of environmentally friendly
energy production from hydropower secures our
income, no matter how choppy the economic waters
may be. We will continue to pursue this strategy:
DR. JOHANN SEREINIG
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGING BOARD
MAG. CHRISTIAN KERN
MEMBER OF THE MANAGING BOARD
in the 2009 financial year, we expanded our power
plant park by acquiring 13 hydropower plants in the
Bavarian part of the Inn River, thereby reinforcing
our core competencies. A number of additional
projects to increase our hydraulic capacity are
already under construction or in the planning stage;
wind and photovoltaic facilities, along with the
expansion of our thermal power plants, round out
our portfolio of energy production sites.
Today, we provide 225,000 Austrian households,
commercial and agricultural customers with
clean energy from hydropower and also help
our customers generate their own energy with
solar power.
As part of our solar energy package, we and our

partners plan photovoltaic facilities, support
clients in obtaining federal grants and loans,
supervise facility construction and take surplus
energy that is not needed by households themselves.
This is our contribution to ensuring that
renewable sources of energy can be decentralised
and used on a larger scale.
2009 marked the launch of an especially forwardlooking
project: electromobility. Verbund initiated
the “Austrian Mobile Power” platform to focus
on this issue, as we work to get 100,000 electric
vehicles on the streets of Austria by 2020.
In November 2009, Austrian Minister Mitterlehner
awarded us the “Work and Family Audit” certificate.
A project team was devoted to the topic of
work-life balance, highlighting the importance
of our employees to our corporate success. After
evaluating a wide array of existing offers to
harmonise the work-life balance, the company
engineered a package of measures that will assist
our employees in better managing their private
and professional obligations.
In the area of corporate citizenship as well, we
moved a giant step ahead during the year under
review. Thanks to our strong partners, we put our
social responsibilities into action. In cooperation
with Caritas Austria, we founded a special fund,
“Verbund Stromhilfe Fonds der Caritas” that
helps low-income households – regardless of their
energy provider – to pay their electricity bills. We
also offer these households a way to balance out
their energy consumption for the long term: by
offering energy consulting services and energyefficient
appliances, we help people and the
environment.
Our second initiative “Verbund Empowerment
Fund der Diakonie” is devoted to improving
technical communication options for persons with
disabilities who rely on electrical devices.
We are also breaking new ground with this
Sustainability Report. We invited pupils of htl
donaustadt to visit Verbund projects and put their
impressions and experiences on paper. This is
one step toward integrating outside viewpoints
into our reports while capturing the views and
opinions of those generations whose future we are
contributing towards shaping with our projects.
We are particularly pleased to have received the
Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award, despite
the fact that we had not submitted our 2008
report, which was only available electronically.
We were named “Long Term Winner” with a total
of eight winning environmental and sustainability
reports since 1999. We will make every effort to
uphold this trend, and invite you to give us your
feedback at sustain@verbund.at.
DIPL.-ING. WOLFGANG ANZENGRUBER DR. JOHANN SEREINIG DR. ULRIKE BAUMGARTNER-GABITZER MAG. CHRISTIAN KERN
FOREWORD | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 5

6 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | VERBUND IN BRIEF
VERBUND IN BRIEF
Verbund is listed in the Commercial Register as Österreichische Elektrizitätswirtschafts-AG (from May
2010: VERBUND AG); the head office is located at Am Hof 6a, 1010 Vienna, Austria. The purpose of the
company is to produce, transport, trade and sell electric energy within Europe.
SHAREHOLDER STRUCTURE
REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA
EVN AG
WIENER STADTWERKE HOLDING AG
TIWAG AG
FREE FLOAT
51
> 10
> 10
> 5
< 24
Verbund is Austria’s leading electricity company and one of Europe’s largest producers of hydropower.
For more than six decades, it has been by far the largest producer and transporter of electric energy in
Austria, covering some 40 % of Austria’s electricity demand from its own power plants.
Verbund is not only one of Europe’s most profitable energy providers, it is also one of the most ecofriendly.
About 90 % of the annual production comes from renewable hydropower. In 2009, we
expanded our power plant park by 13 run-of-river power plants on the Bavarian part of the Inn River
and now have 123 hydropower plants, three available thermal power plants, three wind farms and two
photovoltaic power plants.
Since the start of energy deregulation, the Verbund Group has followed a consistent course of inter-
nationalisation; about one-half of its revenues is generated outside Austria, primarily in Germany and
France.
We are active in trading and production in some 20 countries and continue to reinforce our status as
an international hydropower company. Apart from our home market of Austria, we are focused on
Germany and our participating interests in France, Italy and Turkey. Our market position is boosted by
subsidiaries in Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech
Republic and Hungary. We were the first foreign investor charged with building a hydropower plant in
Albania.
On the European wholesale market, we trade at energy exchanges and bilaterally with more than 150
partners. We are in business at electricity or certificate exchanges in Vienna, Leipzig, Paris, Amsterdam,
Rome and Ljubljana. We also supply to industrial companies and distributors in Europe.
%

GROUP STRUCTURE
VERBUND Österreichische Elektrizitätswirtschafts-Aktiengesellschaft (from May 2010: VERBUND AG)
GENERATION
TRADING/
DISTRIBUTION
TRANSMISSION
PARTICIPATING
INTERESTS
VERBUND-AUSTRIAN
HYDRO POWER AG
VERBUND-AUSTRIAN
THERMAL POWER GMBH & CO KG
VERBUND-AUSTRIAN
RENEWABLE POWER GMBH
VERBUND-AUSTRIAN
POWER SALES GMBH
VERBUND-AUSTRIAN
POWER TRADING AG
VERBUND-AUSTRIAN POWER GRID
AG
VERBUND-INTERNATIONAL GMBH
VERBUND IN BRIEF | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 7
Environmentally friendly and cost-effective
generation form the basis of the success of
Verbund across Europe. Around 90 % of
Verbund’s electricity in Austria comes from
hydropower. Furthermore, Verbund is
increasingly turning to electricity generated
from wind power. The thermal power
subsidiary supplies key supplementary
energy.
Verbund is one of the most expansive
and successful electricity traders in Europe
and operates in most EU member states.
Since July 2005, Verbund has also been
highly active in direct sales to Austrian
end customers. To date, approximately
225,000 customers have been acquired in
this segment.
Verbund operates the national high-voltage
grid in Austria, which is used to transport
around 50 % of the total electricity consumed
in Austria. With its connections to the
international grid, Verbund is also a key
connection point in European electricity
transport.
Verbund holds numerous participating
interests in Austria and abroad, predominantly
in its core business of energy. These
successful companies are making increasing
contributions to the Verbund result.
VERBUND-International GmbH controls
all of the Group’s foreign interests. Domestic
interests have been allocated to other
head companies.

8 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | VERBUND IN BRIEF
ECONOMY
The year 2009 was positive for Verbund, despite the continued economic crisis.
In a difficult environment, we continued to press ahead with our growth projects in Austria and abroad
and further expanded our position in key strategic markets.
Verbund had its second best results ever in fiscal 2009, just behind the record figures of 2008. Sales
declined from € 3,744.7 million to € 3,483.1 million (–7.0 %), the operating result fell by 8.5 % from
€ 1,138.6 million to € 1,042.3 million and consolidated net profit dropped by 6.2 % to € 644.4 million.
ENVIRONMENT
Since the launch of a Group-wide environmental management programme, our power plants and grid
locations are being successively audited or certified under EMAS and ISO 14001. Since the end of 2009,
more than 80 % of all hydropower plants of Verbund in Austria have had an environmental system
regularly subject to review. Verbund’s thermal power plants in operation have also been externally
audited for many years; the respective preparations are underway for the headquarters in Vienna. The
integrated management system of the independent Verbund grid subsidiary was once again successfully
certified at all locations including the lines in the areas of environment, quality, safety, health and
information security.
Verbund’s electricity is also certified: Verbund’s customers receive energy that originates 100 % from
hydropower plants. This is inspected by TÜV Süddeutschland.
SOCIAL
Careful selection, fair pay, providing encouragement and challenging our employees are top priorities
for our corporate success. We carefully recruit our future employees and offer fair market salaries using
a performance-based salary model. Comprehensive training and education helps our employees develop
continually. We offer a comprehensive health programme to keep employees healthy longer in the work
process, and in 2009 we were awarded the “Work and Family Audit” basic certificate. We train a large
number of apprentices – in 2009 we had 142 – and we awarded a women's scholarship at the Technical
University of Vienna for the first time in 2009.
For more than 50 years, we have supported aid organisation SOS Children’s Villages and for two decades,
we have helped sponsor a school in Vienna for children with physical disabilities. In 2009, two major
initiatives for disadvantaged persons were launched: “Verbund Stromhilfefonds der Caritas” assists
households in Austria that need assistance with energy-saving measures and energy bills. With “Verbund
Empowerment Fund der Diakonie”, we assist people with disabilities that are heavily dependent on
electrical devices to communicate in their surroundings.
GENERATION
Verbund is by far Austria’s largest electricity producer, covering about 40 % of Austria’s electricity
consumption in 2009.
91 % of our electricity production in 2009 came from our hydropower plants, which are the Group’s
foundation for sustainable energy generation. We are continually renewing and expanding our power

plants with state-of-the-art technologies and in close cooperation with ecology experts. Verbund’s
household customers receive electricity that is 100 % derived from Verbund’s own hydropower produc-
tion. Business and industrial customers can choose between 100 % hydropower – for a surcharge – or the
European UCTE mix, which consists of different energy sources. For 2009, the UCTE mix, according
to preliminary information, was as follows: 13 % hydropower, 7 % other renewable energies, 51 % fossil
fuels, 29 % nuclear energy.
KEY FIGURES – POWER PLANTS
NUMBER EPL RAV 2006 2007 2008 2009
MW GWh GWh GWh GWh GWh
HYDROPOWER 103 6,297 23,695 20,836 21,406 22,221 23,858
HYDROPOWER PROCUREMENT RIGHTS 20 590 3,030 3,017 2,915 3,087 3,241
WIND/PHOTOVOLTAICS 5* 52* – – – 106
THERMAL POWER 8 1,520 4,233 3,986 3,352 2,351
THERMAL POWER PROCUREMENT RIGHTS 1 165 – – – 363
TOTAL 137 8,624 26,725 28,086 28,307 28,660 29,918
*THREE WIND FARMS IN LOWER AUSTRIA (BRUCK AN DER LEITHA, HOLLERN, PETRONELL-CARNUNTUM) WITH A TOTAL OF 49 MW AND TWO PHOTOVOLTAIC
POWER PLANTS IN SPAIN WITH A TOTAL OF 3 MW.
GROUP PROCUREMENT GWh GWh %
2008 2009 CHANGE
HYDROPOWER* 25,308 27,099 +7.1 %
WIND/PHOTOVOLTAICS – 106 –
THERMAL POWER* 3,352 2,714 –19.0 %
OWN GENERATION 28,660 29,918 +4.4 %
PURCHASED ELECTRICITY 27,397 21,371 –22.0 %
GROUP PROCUREMENT 56,057 51,289 –8.5 %
FORWARD CONTRACTS 36,468 60,673 +66.4 %
* INCL. PROCUREMENT RIGHTS
Verbund’s 123 hydropower plants generated 27,099 GWh in 2009. Our 21 pumped storage hydro power
plants are a particular asset. These flexible plants make energy rapidly available at peak times, ensuring
stable grid operations despite heavy increases in the volatility of wind energy.
A number of projects focus on expanding domestic power plant capacity, including pumped storage
hydro power plants that make a significant contribution to safeguarding the power supply. The
Limberg II power plant is under construction, the Reisseck II pumped storage hydro power plant
project obtained EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) approval in 2009 and EIA documents were
submitted for the Inn cross-border/joint venture power plant. On 31 July 2009, the Salzach power plant
Werfen/Pfarrwerfen, a joint facility of Verbund and Salzburg AG that delivers power to 22,000 house-
holds, was opened.
Some of our existing power plants were expanded and revitalised in 2009. Examples include the expan-
sion to the Hieflau power plant and the revitalisation of the Pernegg power plant.
In addition to two photovoltaic facilities in Spain since January 2009 we have operated three wind farms
in the Lower Austrian municipality of Bruck an der Leitha. In May 2009, we started a wind
VERBUND IN BRIEF | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 9
HYDROPOWER
NEW RENEWABLE ENERGIES

10 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | VERBUND IN BRIEF
THERMAL POWER
power project in Bulgaria and in Rumania we took initial steps to launch a wind power project as well.
In 2009, we generated a total of 106 GWh from wind power and photovoltaics.
As part of our energy partnerships with the Almenland and Bruck/Leitha regions, we support
sustainable, eco-friendly regional development and are committed to state-of-the-art technology in
order to produce wind energy most efficiently.
In the field of thermal power, Verbund has eight power plants – three of which are operational, five of
which are currently offline or leased out. In 2009, thermal power generation including drawing rights
was 2,714 GWh.
We focus on those three locations that offer the best conditions for electricity production and district
heating. District heating is decoupled at the district heating plants at Mellach and Neudorf-Werndorf 2.
The amount of district heating delivered is about 800 GWh annually.
Going forward, for our new plants in Austria, we will use natural gas, which emits lower CO2 emissions
than coal. The gas and steam combination power plant in Mellach will deliver electricity and district
heating from the end of 2011.
GRID
VERBUND Austrian Power Grid AG, the independent grid subsidiary of Verbund, is in charge of planning,
operations, maintenance and expansion of the some 3,500 km line route length. It is operated as a high and
extra high voltage grid at 110 kV, 220 kV and 380 kV. Guaranteeing continuous supply is at the heart of all
activities, which makes the three largest projects of the company particularly important: the commissioning
of the new main control centre “Power Grid Control” in October 2009, the Styria line that went into
operation in June 2009 and the Salzburg line that has been underway since mid-2009.
GRID DATA
VOLTAGE OVERHEAD CABLE 2009 SUBSTATIONS/
LINE ROUTE LENGTH IN KM SYSTEM LENGTH IN KM GRID SWITCHING STATIONS
380 kV 1,104 2,218
220 kV 1,661 3,313
110 kV 706 1,232
TOTAL 3,471 6,763 57
TRADING AND SALES
Apart from energy production and transmission, trading and sales are key areas of the company’s
success.
The core competence of the Verbund Group’s international electricity trading company includes
marketing Verbund’s own production, trading electricity on European electricity exchanges and on
the bilateral trading market as well as direct supply to distributors or public utilities in Austria and
other countries. Apart from the core electricity business, Verbund is also active in primary energy
trading and in the field of environmental products with CO2 and “green” certificates. Verbund is thus
one of Europe’s key traders on the electricity market.

In Austria we supply some 225,000 household, commercial and agricultural customers with electricity
derived from 100 % hydropower. The business and industrial customers of the electricity subsidiaries
can choose between 100 % renewable energy sources – for a surcharge – or energy from undetermined
sources (UCTE mix – see table “Generation”, page 9).
The customer base increased to more than 280 business and industrial customers with a total supply
volume of about 6 TWh in 2009; in the industrial customer segment, demand for electricity from
renewable sources – a premium product – is continually on the rise.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATING INTERESTS
In 2009, Verbund reinforced its foreign activities as well. The portfolio of participating interests
continues to develop in a positive way:
In Italy, Sorgenia – which has grown to become the fifth largest energy provider and largest private
energy supplier in Italy with partner CIR Compagnie Industriali Riunite S.p.A. – celebrated its ten-year
anniversary. In the coming years, Sorgenia plans to invest in an increased share of renewable energy
sources.
In France, POWEO is a competitor on the end customer market and invested in gas, wind and photo-
voltaic plants; in September 2009 the first gas powered plant and another wind farm went into
operations. The Verbund share was increased to some 46 % in 2009.
The EnerjiSA joint venture with Turkish partner Sabanci Holding intends to build 5,000 MW of new
power plant capacity by 2015 – a significant part thereof from hydropower and wind power, thereby
gaining an electricity market share of 10 %. Başkent EDAŞ, the energy supplier in the Ankara region
with three million customers that was acquired in early 2009, is to be developed to become one of the
leading distribution grid companies in Turkey by 2012.
In Albania, following brief but intensive preparations, we are about to build a hydraulic power plant in
the northern part of the country, scheduled to supply energy in 2012.
VERBUND’S MEMBERSHIPS
Verbund’s memberships in sustainability organisations include:
• respACT austrian business council for sustainable development
• AGAW Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpine Wasserkraft e.V.
• IG Windkraft
• International Hydropower Association
• Kleinwasserkraft Österreich
• ÖK-IAD Österreichisches Komitee Donauforschung
• Photovoltaic Austria Federal Association
• WEC World Energy Council (Austrian National Committee)
VERBUND IN BRIEF | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 11

12 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | COMPANY EXECUTIVE BODIES
MANAGING BOARD
SUPERVISORY BOARD
COMPANY EXECUTIVE BODIES – AS AT APRIL 7, 2010
MANAGING BOARD
YEAR OF BIRTH DATE OF END OF CURRENT
FIRST APPOINTMENT TERM IN OFFICE
GENERAL DIRECTOR 1956 1. 1. 2009 31. 12. 2013
DIPL.-ING. WOLFGANG ANZENGRUBER
CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGING BOARD
DEPUTY GENERAL DIRECTOR 1952 1. 1. 1994 31. 12. 2013
DR. JOHANN SEREINIG
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGING BOARD
MANAGING DIRECTOR 1957 1. 1. 2007 31. 12. 2011
DR. ULRIKE BAUMGARTNER-GABITZER
MANAGING DIRECTOR 1966 11. 5. 2007 6. 6. 2010
MAG. CHRISTIAN KERN
SUPERVISORY BOARD
YEAR OF BIRTH DATE OF END OF CURRENT
FIRST APPOINTMENT TERM IN OFFICE
DR. GILBERT FRIZBERG 1956 16. 3. 2000 AGM 2015
CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD
DR. MAXIMILIAN EISELSBERG 1947 23. 2. 1993 AGM 2015
1st DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD
DKFM. PETER PÜSPÖK 1946 16. 3. 2000 AGM 2015
2nd DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD
O.UNIV.-PROF. DIPL.-ING. DR. GÜNTHER BRAUNER 1942 16. 3. 2000 7. 4. 2010
DIPL.-BETRIEBSWIRT ALFRED H. HEINZEL 1947 16. 3. 2000 AGM 2015
DR. BURKHARD HOFER 1944 27. 5. 1999 AGM 2015
MAG. HARALD KASZANITS 1963 7. 4. 2010 AGM 2015
MAG. HERBERT KAUFMANN 1949 26. 3. 2008 AGM 2015
DR. MICHAEL LOSCH 1968 10. 3. 2005 7. 4. 2010
MAG. DR. REINHOLD SÜSSENBACHER 1949 7. 4. 2010 AGM 2015
DIPL.-ING. HANSJÖRG TENGG 1947 15. 11. 1983 7. 4. 2010
CHRISTA WAGNER 1960 7. 4. 2010 AGM 2015
ING. SIEGFRIED WOLF 1957 16. 3. 2000 AGM 2015

EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES
ANTON AICHINGER 1955 25. 10. 2006 -
CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP WORKS COUNCIL
EMPLOYEES OF VERBUND
KURT CHRISTOF 1964 08. 03. 2004
CHAIRMAN OF CENTRAL WORKS COUNCIL
HARALD NOVAK 1952 27. 09. 1991–09.05.1993
CHAIRMAN OF CENTRAL WORKS COUNCIL 25. 10. 2006
DIPL.-ING. INGEBORG OBERREINER 1951 29. 08. 2006
CHAIRWOMAN OF WORKS COUNCIL
ING. JOACHIM SALAMON 1956 25. 10. 2006
CENTRAL WORKS COUNCIL
The Supervisory Board defined the following guidelines relating to its independence (in accordance with
C-Rule 53 of the Austrian Corporate Governance Code):
• The member of the Supervisory Board should not have been a member of the Managing Board or an
executive of the company or a subsidiary of the company in the last five years.
• The member of the Supervisory Board should not have, nor should he have had in the last year,
business relations with the company or a subsidiary of the company that constitute a material conflict
of interests for the member of the Supervisory Board. This also applies for business relations with
companies in which the member of the Supervisory Board has a considerable economic interest. The
approval of individual transactions by the Supervisory Board in accordance with L-Rule 48 does not
automatically lead to the member qualifying as being not independent.
• The member of the Supervisory Board should not have been the auditor of the company in the last
three years, nor should he have held an interest in or been an employee of the company that conducted
the audit.
• The member of the Supervisory Board should not be a member of the Managing Board in another
company where a member of the Managing Board of the company is a member of the Supervisory
Board.
• The member of the Supervisory Board should not be a close relative (direct descendant, spouse,
partner, parent, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, niece, nephew) of a member of the Managing Board or
of a person who holds one of the positions described in the points above.
All elected members of the Supervisory Board have declared, in written form, their independence in
accordance with C-Rule 53. Supervisory Board member Hofer declared that he does not meet the
requirements under Point 2 of the independence guidelines (business relationship to company).
The following elected members of the Supervisory Board also meet the independence criteria defined in
C-Rule 54 (not representing a shareholder with a stake of more than 10 %): Frizberg, Eiselsberg, Püspök,
Brauner, Heinzel, Kaufmann, Tengg and Wolf.
COMPANY EXECUTIVE BODIES 2009 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 13
For information about the committee
members' other functions, please see the
Annual Report
CRITERIA FOR INDEPENDENCE

14 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ABOUT THIS REPORT
BASIC INFORMATION
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND
RESEARCH DATA
ABOUT THIS REPORT
Our Sustainability Report offers a look at the Verbund’s activities from a sustainability perspective. The
company’s general policy in respect thereto can be found in our mission statement (www.verbund.at >
Company Profile > Mission Statement). The report includes the activities of all Verbund Group companies
included in the consolidated balance sheet. Key occurences at companies that are not included in the
scope of consolidation are also presented to provide a complete picture of the company (Italy, Turkey).
The reporting period always covers the last completed calendar year. Special events in the Group that have
occurred after this time period and are of particular public interest are also featured to ensure the most
up-to-date information.
The environmental data are collected by location, reviewed numerous times and certified, e.g. according to
ISO 14001 and EMAS. The product “energy from 100 % hydropower” is inspected by TÜV.
GRI STANDARD
The report is created in accordance with the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for the
creation of sustainability reports at Application Level A+ (www.globalreporting.org). G3 guidelines
were used in creating this report. Additionally, in producing the 2009 report, we have already applied
the Sector Supplement for Electric Utilities to the largest extent possible. The GRI Index is available
at www.verbund.at > Company > Commitment > Sustainability > Basic Information. We follow GRI
guidelines from the time of topic selection: at the start of the multi-phase process, the Sustainability
Work Group gathers topics. The Sustainability Council rates these proposals based on the criteria of
relevance, topicality and popularity in the public debate. Then, it proposes those sustainability topics to
the Managing Board that are best suited for Group presentation in the year under review.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
This 2009 sustainability report further expands on the content of the reports from 2002 to 2008. For
better readability, we offer a concise look at the current projects and events, referring to additional
information sources for details and background information.
General, yet relevant topics on sustainability that we have featured in earlier sustainability reports can be
found on our web site: www.verbund.at > Company > Commitment > Sustainability > Basic Information.
The 2009 annual report primarily features data and activities relating to the economic aspect of
sustainability. They are available at www.verbund.at > Investors > Publications.
The complete data and reports for the topics of environment and research can be found at
www.verbund.at > Company > Commitment > Research & Innovation > Publication Series.
Here you will also find publications about Verbund’s environmental and research projects.
In the tables, differences can arise in the addition of rounded totals and percentages.

2009 IN REVIEW
1 January: Wolfgang Anzengruber is named the new chairman of Verbund’s managing board.
28 January: Verbund and Sabanci sign a purchase agreement with the Turkish government in Ankara for
the distribution grid company Başkent EDAŞ, which supplies some three million end customers in the
Ankara region with energy.
29 January: Just a short time after upgrades are implemented in the control technology of the Dürnrohr
power plant, efficiency, gas consumption and start-up time improve greatly.
5 February: The foundation stone is laid for Kaprun’s modern central and apprentice workshop in
Kaprun. Verbund is investing € 9.4 million and creating 60 new apprenticeships in the next four years.
18 February: As president of Elektrizitätsunternehmen Österreich (VEÖ) Wolfgang Anzengruber
presents the energy package in red-white-red. This is scheduled to generate investments of more than
€ 15 billion while securing more than 100,000 jobs by 2020.
23 March: Verbund receives the 2009 Neptun Wasserpreis (Neptune water prize) for the new fish passes
at the Villach power plant.
25 March: Verbund’s VERENA 2007 research prize for renewable energies, worth a total of € 12,000, is
awarded to four Austrian scientists in Vienna.
2 April: Verbund awards the first women’s scholarship at the Vienna University of Technology.
3 April: Verbund signs a contract for the 30 MW Canakkale wind farm in Turkey.
8 April: Verbund issues a € 500 million bond on the European capital market. The transaction is over-
subscribed seven times within two hours.
20 April: Verbund sponsors the master’s programme “Renewable Energy in Central and Eastern Europe”
at the Technical University of Vienna.
23 April: On the 6th “Bring your daughter to work day”, 25 daughters of Verbund employees learn about
technical vocations.
1 May: Verbund raises the price of electricity for end customers in Austria, but remains the cheapest
provider throughout much of the country.
4 May: Young Styrian women get to know “typical male” jobs at the Styrian Girls’ Day in the Mellach
power plant as they watch operations from an up close and personal angle.
12 May: Verbund enters into a 16 MW wind power project in Bulgaria. The wind farm on the Black Sea
coast is scheduled to start up operations in 2010.
25 May: The groundbreaking ceremony is held for a 48 MW hydropower plant in Ashta, northern
Albania. Verbund also opens an office in Tirana.
2 June: Verbund takes second place in the 2009 Wiener Börse (Vienna Stock Exchange) competition in
the categories of corporate governance and sustainability.
2009 IN REVIEW | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 15
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE

16 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 2009 IN REVIEW
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
5 June: CEO Anzengruber receives the symbolic key for the three wind farms purchased by Verbund at
Bruck an der Leitha, Hollern and Petronell-Carnuntum with a total of 49 MW power.
29 June: Verbund offers private Austrian households a solar energy package. This covers everything from
a single source, from technical planning to subsidy processing and assembly to collection of electricity.
30 June: The 380 kV Styria line is commissioned after nearly two years’ construction time.
30 June: Verbund employees collect 50 large bags and ten boxes of toys and clothing for needy persons in
western Ukraine.
8 July: Verbund issues another bond on the European capital market for € 840 million. The transaction is
oversubscribed six times within a few hours.
19 July: At the mountain reservoirs of Kaprun, “Nature and Technology”, a major children’s festival, is
held on the banks of the Mooserboden reservoir.
22 July: “Austrian Mobile Power”, the platform launched by Verbund for e-mobility, is presented to the
public together with partners Siemens Austria, Magna and other companies The programme is designed
to bring Austria into the age of electromobility.
31 July: The Salzach power plant Werfen/Pfarrwerfen, a joint facility of Verbund and Salzburg AG, opens.
The hydropower plant has a maximum output of 16 MW and generates 76 GWh of energy a year.
3 August: The Verbund grid subsidiary begins construction of the 380 kV Salzburg line. The portion
between Salzach neu (S) and St. Peter am Hart (Upper Austria) is scheduled to be commissioned in
early 2011.
1 September: Verbund signs an agreement to acquire 13 hydropower plants on the Inn River in Bavaria.
The facilities purchased from E.ON in Germany have a total output of 312 MW and generate more than
1.8 TWh a year.
1 September: A record number of 45 young persons begin their apprenticeships in the dual vocation of
electrical and mechanical engineering at Verbund.
16 September: Verbund’s three-day energy conference “energy2020” begins in Fuschl. Its theme is “global
energy challenge – time to act”. Verbund pledges its commitment to climate-friendly upgrades in the
energy infrastructure and forecasts a higher electricity share in total energy consumption.
23 September: Verbund increases its share in POWEO to some 46 %, becoming the largest single
shareholder of France’s largest independent energy provider and taking over operational management.
28 September: Poweo commissions the wind farm “Pare Eolien du Plateau de Langres” with six plants
at 2 MW each, thereby raising its production capacity in this area of renewable energy production to
85 MW. The wind farm will produce 26 GWh a year.
30 September: The first photovoltaics plant from Verbund’s solar energy package is installed in Krems.
1 October: After just 2.5 years of construction time, the main work on the expansion of the power plant
in Hieflau has been concluded; the plant can now generate an additional 100 GWh of of electricity a year.
5 October: Verbund invests 4.5 million in the modernisation of Berghotel Malta near Kölnbreinsperre.

The renovation represents a significant investment and strong impetus for Upper Carinthia’s tourism. It
will open in summer 2010.
29 October: In Vienna, the new control centre for the inter-regional Austrian electricity grid is opened.
It took two years to construct the “Power Grid Control”, with the total investment amounting to
approximately € 19 million.
4 November: “Verbund Stromhilfe der Caritas” is founded in Vienna to help households in need
throughout Austria to sustainably lower their energy costs. Verbund donates € 1 for each end customer
per year; the initial donation was more than € 200,000.
12 November: Verbund’s VERENA 2008 research prize, worth a total of € 12,000, is awarded to four
young Austrian scientists in Vienna.
16 November: Verbund receives the basic certificate for the “Work and Family Audit”.
18 November: Verbund is named “Long Term Winner” at the 10th Austrian Sustainability Reporting
Awards (ASRA).
19 November: Verbund and TIWAG agree that the Verbund grid subsidiary will handle operations for
the Tyrolean extra high voltage grid used for inter-regional energy transport. Going forward, Verbund
will be responsible for general transmission to 95 % of the federal region.
25 November: Sammlung Verbund presents the first book on the works of Austrian artist Birgit Jürgenssen.
The monograph is published six years after Jürgenssen’s death; in 2009 she would have been 60.
26 November: Strem, Virgen and Gleisdorf are Austria’s winning climate protection municipalities for
2009. They won the competition of Verbund, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment
and Water Management and the Austrian Association of Municipalities, which was held this year for the
second time.
1 December: With Verbund Empowerment Fund der Diakonie, Verbund helps persons with disabilities
in Austria lead more independent lives, including with the use of electrical technical communication
devices. The fund donates € 1 to each end customer; in all, some 40,000 persons benefit from this
cooperation.
10 December: Verbund wins 2nd place in the CSR ranking of the Center for Corporate Citizenship
Austria (CCCA) that evaluates the social responsibility of major Austrian companies.
2009 IN REVIEW | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 17
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

18 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | BUSINESS FRAMEWORK
THE CRISIS COMES TO THE
GLOBALISED WORLD
IN THE WAKE OF THE GLOBAL
RECESSION
SHARP DROP IN ENERGY
CONSUMPTION
BUSINESS FRAMEWORK
MACROECONOMIC CONDITIONS
2009 saw the most severe recession in the global economy for 60 years. While the economic downturn
mostly affected the USA in the beginning, it spread to other industrialised nations and most emerging
economies thereafter.
While in the second half of 2009, a number of indicators pointed to a recovery in the global economy,
the problems in the international financial system have yet to be overcome. Thus a correction to the
overall economic distortions seem to need more time.
Austria was unable to avoid the impact of the global recession. Austria’s economic output is estimated to
have dropped by 3.4 % (Austrian Institute of Economic Research, WIFO) to 3.7 % (Institute for Higher
Studies, IHS) in 2009.
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IN THE ENERGY SECTOR
The slowdown in global growth also had a remarkable impact on energy consumption in 2009. Based
on initial estimates, demand for primary energy sources declined by around 6 % in Austria. This was
the sharpest annual downturn since the 1970s. With the exception of renewable energies, the use of all
primary energy sources plunged.
Energy production from renewable energies was higher than in the previous year. Growth was recorded
in the field of hydropower as well. At the same time, however, more than 70 % of the Austrian energy
supply in 2009 was based on fossil fuels, (oil, coal and natural gas). While the economic crisis dampened
energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, it also slowed down investments in the renewable
energy sector and increased energy efficiency. For the most part, the economic revitalisation measures
were focused on returning to growth rates seen before the economic crisis.
The current situation, however, can be seen as a chance to devise fiscal stimulus measures in favour
of sustainable structural change in the economic and energy systems. A reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions to a level that would reduce a dangerous destabilisation in the climate also requires
for substantial investments in the use of renewable energies and enhanced energy efficiency. These
investments can create new jobs in this field that increase the security of the energy supply, thereby
generating major synergies.
The recession also made its mark on electricity consumption. The negative economic impact was
cushioned somewhat by the comparatively stable electricity requirements of households and the service
industry, as well as the boost in demand due to the weather conditions in early 2009. According to the
figures of the Austrian regulatory authority E-Control, Austria’s electricity consumption dropped
(total consumption) by 3.8 %.
In all, electricity consumption rose by 3.1 % in Austria in 2009. This meant that the electricity trade
balance was almost neutral in 2009. By way of comparison: in 2008, Austria still had to import around
7 % of the electricity it required in net terms.
When industrial production picks up once again, electricity consumption will also rise. Even if some
electricity applications are becoming steadily more efficient, constant market growth and the substitution
of fossil energy applications – e-mobility – is generally resulting in higher electricity consumption.

Austria is already capable of covering a large portion of its electricity needs from renewable energies:
Austria’s hydropower plants delivered 5.3 % more electricity in 2009 due to a good water supply. And
due to the ambitious climate protection goals, it will still be important to attach high priority to the
promotion of renewable energies.
In the Austrian Energy Strategy presented in March 2010, the potential for hydropower expansion
was estimated to be 3.5 TWh by 2015. The doubling of energy generation from wind power, hoped
to be achieved by 2020, places a clear focus on pumped storage power plants to balance out natural
fluctuations in wind energy as necessary.
On the international crude oil markets, the drastic price reduction seen since mid-2008 came to a halt in
the first quarter of 2009. However, oil prices remained a long way from the highs recorded in 2008. Brent
crude oil traded 2009 at an average of $ 63 in 2009; in 2008 it was $ 98 (Brent Front Month).
Based on average prices for 2009, the long-term price of natural gas on the EEX futures market (NCG
front year) was around 41 % lower than in the previous year.
Due to the recession the trading volume on the international market for hard coal for use in power
plants declined significantly compared with 2008. Based on the average price for 2009, the price of coal
on the EEX futures market (ARA front year, euro basis) was around 37 % lower than the average value
for 2008.
European trading in CO2 emission allowances was also hit by the recession. Production shutdowns
at energy-intensive businesses meant that the market was flooded by additional certificates, putting
pressure on prices.
In February, emission allowances (EU Emission Allowances – EUAs) for 2009 briefly traded at less than
€ 10/t. Prices then recovered somewhat, before subsiding once again at the end of 2009 due to the largely
unsuccessful climate summit in Copenhagen in December 2009. Since no binding reduction targets were
agreed, there was no incentive to trade with CO2 certificates. Most recently, a price of just over € 14/t was
reached for the EUA contract for December 2009.
Starting in 2013, the energy companies in western Europe – including Verbund – will no longer be
awarded free CO2 certificates. These companies will then have to buy 100 % of their CO2 certificates, as
previously, on the secondary market or at CO2 auctions.
Significant drops in the price of fuel and emission rights were reflected in European wholesale electricity
markets. The average base and peak price for the German/Austrian market region in spot trading on the
Paris-based EPEX electricity exchange in 2009 was substantially lower than in the previous year: the price
for base-load energy was € 38.9/MWh and was therefore about 41 % down on the average value for 2008.
The price for peak-load energy came to € 51.2/MWh, or 42 % down on the 2008 average.
Prices in forward electricity trading also fell. At € 49.2/MWh, the average front-year base price for the
German/Austrian market region on the Leipzig-based EEX electricity exchange in 2009 was down 30 %
on the average figure for 2008.
Meanwhile, the average front-year peak price in 2009 amounted to € 69.8/MWh, also 30 % lower than
the average price for 2008.
BUSINESS FRAMEWORK | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 19
EXPANSION OF PRODUCTION
FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOURCES
PRIMARY ENERGY PRICES
WELL UNDER PREVIOUS
YEAR'S FIGURES
CO 2 EMISSIONS TRADING:
CERTIFICATE PRICES
TEMPORARILY DROP
BELOW 10-1
LOWER PRICES ON THE
EUROPEAN ENERGY
MARKETS

20 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | BUSINESS FRAMEWORK
APPROVAL OF 3RD EU ENERGY
AND CLIMATE PACKAGE
EIA NOVELLE
APPROVAL OF 3RD EU ENERGY
DOMESTIC MARKET PACKAGE
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
In order to overcome challenges presented by environmental policy, the energy and climate package
was adopted at EU level in April 2009. The package provides for an increase in the share of renewable
energies to 20 % between now and 2020, as well as a 20 % reduction in CO2 emissions and a 20 %
improvement in energy efficiency. The new directive promoting the use of renewable energies prescribes
a target of 34 % for Austria based on total energy consumption. The necessary measures are being
developed within the “Austrian Energy Strategy” initiative.
Thanks to the high proportion of hydropower in its generation portfolio, Verbund is already partially
responsible for the large share enjoyed by renewable energies in Austria and will be able to make a
significant contribution to achieving the target of 34 % through a further expansion in its hydropower
and wind power operations.
In July 2009, the Austrian National Assembly resolved an extensive revision of the Environmental
Impact Assessment Audit Act (UVP Amendment 2009). This was a direct response to the adjustments
required by EU law. However, the aim of the governing parties was to achieve a more comprehensive
reform in order to shorten the approval time for energy infrastructure projects, which is often excessively
long, and to simplify the process. Verbund considers this an essential factor in ensuring security of
supply and meeting climate protection targets.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Audit Act amendment simplifies processes for the electricity
sector in certain areas, such as the exemption of hydropower optimisation measures from the scope of
the Environmental Impact Assessment Audit Act. New requirements have also been introduced in some
cases. For example, in future the environmental impact declarations (EID) prepared by future project
applicants must contain a “climate and energy concept” that sets out measures aimed at ensuring energy
efficiency and a reduction in greenhouse gases.
The 3rd EU internal energy market package came into force on 3 September 2009. The EU is providing
its member states with three unbundling options for the areas of generation and transmission: full
ownership unbundling, the outsourcing of network operation to an independent system operator, and
a comprehensive package of measures aimed at ensuring the operational independence of the network
operator (independent transmission system operator, ITO). Verbund is in favour of implementing the
“ITO” version which allows the system operator to remain part of the consolidated balance sheet.
The EU member states have been given 18 months to implement the directive in national law. The
company (in this case Verbund) has a one-year deadline for implementing the ITO system operator:
however, it must also be certified by the E-Control regulatory authority within this time.
UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN COPENHAGEN ENDS WITH
MINIMAL CONSENSUS
The stated goal of global environmental policy is to limit the temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius
compared with pre-industrial levels, which, according to studies carried out by the IPCC (Intergovern-
mental Panel on Climate Change), is necessary to counteract the most serious consequences of global
climate change. At the G8 summit in L’Aquila in July 2009, the eight major industrialised nations also
agreed on this 2-degree limit.
In order to stabilise the rise in global temperatures, global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by
at least 50 % by 2050 as compared with 1990 levels. The G8 nations agreed to restructure their economies
in order to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 are at least 80 % lower than in 1990.
The intended aim of resolving a follow-up treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012, containing

specific emissions reduction targets was not achieved at the UN Climate Change Conference in
Copenhagen in December 2009. The climate conference ended with minimal consensus on a political
declaration, which includes a nonbinding target for limiting global warming to two degrees, but does
not contain any specific guidelines for reducing harmful greenhouse gases. It was also agreed that the
industrialised nations would each set their reduction targets and base years at the start of 2010 and that
developing countries would notify the UN every two years of the national measures they are planning
to take to reduce greenhouse gases. In terms of financial support for developing countries, the result of
the conference was pledging $ 30 billion between 2010 and 2013, the establishment of a “Copenhagen
Green Climate Fund” with pledging $ 100 billion a year from 2020, and the introduction of international
measures to monitor this financial aid. A legally binding framework for the creation of a Kyoto follow-up
treaty is now to be drawn up for the next UN climate conference at the end of 2010.
ENERGY STRATEGY FOR AUSTRIA
In March 2010, Austrian Federal Ministers Mitterlehner and Berlakovich outlined the key points of the
Austrian Energy Strategy, as commissioned by the government and overseen by the Federal Ministry of
Economy, Family and Youth and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water
Management since April 2009.
The basis for achieving the energy and climate goals in 2020 is to stabilise energy consumption in Austria
to 2005 levels (1,100 petajoules). This will be achieved by consistently increasing energy efficiency,
expanding renewable energy and ensuring the energy supply long-term.
In the realm of energy efficiency, the focus is on building thermals and lowering energy requirements
of households and companies through energy consulting and energy management. Additionally,
electromobility is a central goal for the efficient use of (primary) energy and lowering emissions.
Experts are also predicting that electrical energy will be required to make an even greater contribution
to the achievement of energy and environmental policy goals in future. Substituting fossil fuels with
electricity will help increase efficiency throughout the energy system.
With regard to expanding renewable energy, the focus is on the potential of hydropower to generate
electricity. By 2015, 3.5 TWh will be generated by small, medium and large plants. Of particular interest
is the significance of expanding pumped storage capacity and transmission and distribution grids to
balance out wind energy, which is also to be increased.
VERBUND’S COURSE
Due to the general economic situation in the wake of the financial crisis, the strategic process took
on particular importance in 2009. As a result, the company has re-evaluated its long-term focus and
continues its development.
The company’s strategic definitions were further developed while the activities and projects necessary for
implementing the strategy were defined together with the operating units. The resulting strategic focus
was consolidated at Group level, incorporated into mid-term planning and will now serve as a guideline
for strict implementation of the Group strategy for the coming years.
Verbund’s strategy has a focus on sustainability. This is reflected in the overarching corporate goal
of becoming one of Europe’s largest hydropower generators. Expanding and optimising domestic
hydropower as well as utilizing hydropower competence when investing in major foreign holdings
in France (POWEO), Italy (Sorgenia) and Turkey (EnerjiSA) are the key elements in strategy
implementation.
BUSINESS FRAMEWORK | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 21
VERBUND'S STRATEGIC
PROCESS
VERBUND'S STRATEGY

22 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | BUSINESS FRAMEWORK
SUSTAINABLE GENERATION
STRATEGIC MARKET
DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY TRADING AND SALES
A further step towards sustainable generation was the acquisition of 13 run-of-river power plants from
E.ON on the Inn River in Bavaria and integrating them into Verbund in 2009. These hydropower plants
not only generate eco-friendly energy for thousands of households; we are also committed to complying
with the ultimate ecological standards and local requirements when it comes to operating the plants.
This is set forth in a policy paper on “Bavarian-Austrian regional concept” that we concluded upon the
acquisition of the run-of-river plants with the Free State of Bavaria and Bavarian municipalities. We
place top priority on local needs like flood protection and consolidate our hydropower plants into one
Bavarian company on location. Additionally, the Bavarian municipalities, counties, public utilities and
power plant operators have been given the opportunity to hold up to a 30 % stake in the hydropower
plants. This is intended to take regional and local interests into account as far as possible.
However, the national market remains of central importance to Verbund, since hydropower is the
number one energy source and an eco-friendly form of energy production in Austria. Optimal use
of domestic hydropower will remain the key priority in Verbund’s strategic focus – wherever it is
economically sensible and ecologically feasible. An example of the many new hydropower plant pro-
jects is the expansion of the pumped storage cavern/power plant Limberg II that will double its output
by 2012 and the planned new construction of the pumped storage cavern/power plant Reisseck II by
2014. It is particularly important that, while constructing the power plants, there is an absolute mini-
mum impact on natural surroundings and maintain close cooperation with the local residents to be
sure that their interests are well represented in the project.
Verbund’s environmentally friendly power generation mix is supplemented by wind power, alongside
low CO2 gas power projects in Austria and throughout the EU. This diversification of energy production
also follows the strategic goal of eco-friendly power generation. For instance, in January 2009, Verbund
acquired three wind farms in Bruck an der Leitha, Hollern and Petronell-Carnuntum. With a total
output of 49 MW, this represents somewhat more than 5 % of wind power production in Austria and
produces climate-friendly electricity for 30,000 homes.
The market strategy of Verbund is aimed at sustainability and long-term growth by focusing on core
markets in order to secure earnings power. We will primarily reinforce our market presence in the coming
years in five countries Apart from the home market of Austria, these include Germany, France, Italy and
Turkey. In the three latter countries, we have increased and expanded our involvement in recent years via
joint ventures with local partners – in France, Poweo, in Italy, Sorgenia and in Turkey, EnerjiSA. As stated
above, the company has purchased 13 run-of-river plants on the Inn River in Bavaria, too. Of special note
is the extensive investment package in Turkey that will be continued in the coming years.
With these projects, Verbund is making a significant contribution towards reaching national and inter-
national climate goals.
In energy trading, we are following a risk-optimised strategy that focuses on the marketing of primarily
eco-friendly energy via stock exchanges and trading partners. At the same time, we cultivate long-term
customer relationships founded on trust, such as those with domestic energy suppliers and other large
customers.
Additionally, due to the unique production position that focuses on hydropower, we take advantage of
the interesting opportunity to expand and optimise the sale of ecopower certificates in Austria, Germany
and Italy. Particularly in Germany, our premium brand “H2Ö” has been hugely successful. Starting a
venture as a “green trader” to market wind energy is also an attractive strategic option in the sales field.
Our sales activities are focused on energy from 100 % hydropower that we supply to 225,000 private
households, commercial and agricultural customers in Austria. Additionally, since 2009 we have offered
the Verbund solar energy package with the mission of bundling as many homes as possible into Austria’s

largest decentralised photovoltaics power plant. For further information on the solar energy package, see
the student presentation in this report, “There is no energy problem”.
Through the energy partnership with the EU leader region Almenland, Verbund is further strengthening
its image as an environmentally friendly company. The twelve municipalities in the region are aiming
at secure sustainable energy generation by erecting small-scale hydropower plants and other renewable
energy sources.
Sustainability also requires innovative thinking. We create new products and developments in end
customer service, such as our online platform, product differentiation with clean energy, decentralised
production with the solar energy package and e-mobility. For the latter, we founded an Austrian
initiative for electromobility. Its goal is to get as many electric vehicles on Austria’s streets as possible
and to operate them with clean energy. For more on the “Austrian Mobile Power” platform, please see
the chapter “Key figures – research” under “Select research projects”.
We are also sustainable in our capital market orientation. A stable A rating is an integral part of our
company strategy, which has a focus on long-term growth. It secures the necessary degree of high
flexibility when financing new projects. Verbund is one of Europe’s top-rated energy companies, and
with good reason. We have premium access to the international capital markets, which helps put our
sustainable corporate strategy into action even in turbulent economic waters.
BUSINESS FRAMEWORK | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 23
INNOVATIONS
A RATING AS THE FOUNDATION
OF SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

24 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 2010 – THE YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY
HYDROPOWER AND
BIODIVERSITY
2010 – THE YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity – a wide array of and within species – is one of our world’s most precious resources along
with water, air and soil. The biodiversity of the earth as we know it has gradually developed over time.
Highly complex, diverse ecosystems have arisen inland, in the rivers and in the world’s oceans. Each
species has its role and its significance within each system. When a species dies out, there is nothing
to replace its functions. In many cases, it is impossible to know what the impact of this will be on an
ecosystem.
For us as humans, caring for and stabilising our ecosystems to protect all of our species to the fullest
extent, is a guiding principle. It is the very essence of protecting life as we know it. One example of the
need for biodiversity is the development of new pharmaceuticals via the systematic analysis of plant
remedies and the urgent search for new, natural antibiotics – even in an age where it seems that we
operate independently of nature. To put it bluntly, with every species that becomes extinct, our own
species has a lower chance of surviving or maintaining our quality of life.
Above and beyond the useful aspect, the diversity of nature has great intrinsic value. Every living thing,
every species is the result of the same evolutionary process that has created higher animals and humans.
If they disappear – regardless of the impact on humans – it is an irreversible loss.
2010 – INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity denotes the variety of living organisms from all origins, including land, sea and other
aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes they form. This includes diversity of species, the
diversity within the species themselves and the diversity of ecosystems. In other words, it covers all
aspects of diversity in living things.
At the UNCED (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development) in Rio de Janeiro in
1992, the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) was negotiated as an international environmental
agreement. Today, the CBD has 191 parties and has been signed by 168 nations and the EU.
UNESCO has declared 2010 the “international year of biodiversity”. This is meant to underscore
the significance of biodiversity while fostering the promotion of measures at regional, national and
international level.
Austria signed the European agreement on biodiversity in 1992, pledging its commitment to reducing
losses in the realm of biodiversity and diversity. A national biodiversity strategy was drafted in 1998
(www.biologischevielfalt.at > Nationale Aktivitäten).
Rivers are complex ecosystems that offer all types of fish a suitable habitat. In order to spawn and find
new homes, fish can travel many hundreds of kilometres. Even if they lose their course due to strong
flood currents, they attempt to find their way back to their original habitat.
Although hydropower is, in many ways, among the cleanest and most sustainable forms of energy
production, every power plant has an impact on nature. Barrages can impede the travels of fish and separate

populations. It took a relatively long time to realise the impact: while in the first half of the 20th century, the
focus during the construction of power plants was the impacts on fishery, since the 1980s and 90s, attention
has shifted to the ecological functionality of water bodies. The importance of diverse species and stable
ecosystems is now widely known.
The effects of hydropower utilisation can be minimised with sophisticated measures. By building functional
fish passes, for instance, the fish are given the opportunity to navigate the barriers and continue
their travels as usual. At the same time, humans can still benefit from the use of water in power
generation.
“Networked river systems” is of critical importance with regard to repopulating revitalised areas, genetic
exchange and balancing out the population flow. Apart from fish migration, it also facilitates the migration
of other species.
While fish passes were built for some older hydropower plants, they were designed with the interests
of fishery in mind. Over the last 20 years, fish passes have been created with the assistance of environmental
experts. Today, it is known that some of the measures taken years ago do not comply with
the latest findings of research. Thus, numerous projects have been launched to improve fish passes in
cooperation with scientists. The findings will be implemented in new and existing power plants.
Fish passes require a great deal of time and expenditure: they need sufficient space and generate higher
maintenance costs due to their need for regular care and adjustments to the channels.
Our brochure on fish passes (published May 2008) is available on our web site www.verbund.at >
Company > Structure > Hydropower > Portrait.
Further measures to minimise the effects of hydropower plants include the design of the power plants’
surroundings based on ecological factors, such as building shallow-water areas and additional bypass
channels. The near-nature fish passes also provide a habitat for other fauna and flora.
CURRENT VERBUND PROJECTS
The estuary of the Traisen will be scaled back to about 12.5 kilometres in length so that it rejoins the
Tullnerfelder Au. This will regenerate typical Au biotopes while ensuring fish can migrate. This EU
project is being sponsored by the state of Lower Austria and via-donau from 2009 to 2014. For more
information, please see www.life-traisen.at
In cooperation with the state of Lower Austria, the EU-LIFE project “Donau-Ybbs Network” aims to link the
section of the Danube in the Wachau region with the upper end of the reservoir of the Melk power plant and
the estuary of the Ybbs.
In the Melk reservoir, Verbund added on a fish pass – a near-nature creek, two kilometres long and an
average of 12 metres wide. The walls are made of clay; the river bed was created with stones, wood and
gravel. Construction work concluded by planting a select mix of plants and about 5,000 willows. In 2009,
40 species were already identified by monitors from the University for Natural Resources and Applied
Life Sciences.
The reconstruction of the Ybbs estuary to the Danube is Lower Austria’s contribution to the project,
helping to restore the area as far as possible to its original condition before the regulation. The new side
channels and shallow water areas means the area can reclaim its role as a “nursery” for many types of
fish. For more information, please see www.life-donau-ybbs.at
2010 – THE YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 25
INTERCONNECTING RIVER
SYSTEMS AND CREATING
HABITATS
EU LIFE + PROJECT "HABITAT –
ESTUARY OF THE TRAISEN RIVER
FISH PASS AT MELK POWER
PLANT ON THE DANUBE

26 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 2010 – THE YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY
FISH PASS AT WERFEN-
PFARRWERFEN POWER
PLANT
FISH PASS AT VILLACH POWER
PLANT WINS 2009 NEPTUN
WASSERPREIS
COOPERATION ON FLUTMULDE
PROJECT FOR WALLSEE-
MITTERKIRCHEN POWER
PLANT ON THE DANUBE
FISH ECOLOGY MEASURES IN
THE ALTENWÖRTH RESERVOIR
RECULTIVATED RESERVOIRS AS
NATURE PRESERVES
PRIZE-WINNING BIOTOPE
PROJECT FÖDERLACH AT
ROSEGG-ST. JAKOB POWER
PLANT
More than € 2.3 million were invested for the planning and implementation of ecological measures
in the impoundment and underwater areas of the Werfen-Pfarrwerfen power plant. Of this, some
€ 1.1 million were invested in a state-of-the-art fish lift, partly as a natural creek but mostly as a vertical
slot. Despite varying water levels in the reservoir, a flow of 400 litres water per second is guaranteed. If
the water level rises, the water is drained and if the level drops, water is added from the reservoir. An
attraction flow ensures that fish can find and follow a current.
Villach’s fish pass features innovative solutions that improve the efficiency of fish lifts. The pass was
constructed for the first time from pre-fabricated concrete parts; their modular system allows them to
be used in any type of water. New energy-efficient attraction flow pumps provide the fish with better
orientation.
As part of the “Machland North” flood protection project, a networking project to bypass the Wallsee-
Mitterkirchen power plant on the Danube in the north hinterland is slated for 2007–2010. Verbund has
participated in this project with considerable amounts of water – and losses in production.
In 2010, a number of projects are being organised for large fish passes around the Altenwörth power
plant through the hinterland. For instance, there is a fish pass in the overcurrent areas or adapting the
fish lift in the threshold to the Altenwörth oxbow lake.
For years, Verbund has successfully taken action to recultivate the reservoirs of its hydropower plants.
Many of these areas flourish and are declared nature preserves.
The government of Carinthia declared the Guntschacher Au in the reservoir of the Annabrücke power
plant on the Drau as a nature preserve in 2005. The area, some 52.86 hectares in size, was created in
1980/81 when the Drau was dammed and primarily consists of a bay made from oxbow lakes, ponds,
swamplands, reeds and large, diverse alluvial forest areas.
Also in 2005, the “Neudenstein shallow water biotope” nature preserve was declared a European
conservation area. Some 18 hectares in size, the shallow water biotope in the reservoir of the Edling
power plant was artificially constructed in 1990/91. In 2005, beavers returned there – the first seen in
Carinthia in over 100 years. Being named a European conservation area, the “Neudenstein shallow water
biotope”, was an international honour.
Parts of the reservoirs of Danube power plants Abwinden-Asten, Wallsee-Mitterkirchen, Ybbs-Persen-
beug, Melk, Altenwörth and Greifenstein are also considered “Natura 2000” areas.
In the hydropower area, there are 2,331 hectares (30.2 % of the facility space) and in the thermal power
area there are 1,059 hectares (5.2 % of the facility space) – a total of 3,390 hectares – in or near nature
preserves. Nearly all of this space has been declared in the last 20 years as national parks, Natura 2000
areas, nature parks, scenic or nature preserves after Verbund installed a line or power plant. We are
delighted with this honour, as it confirms that our environmental programmes like re-naturation of
harbours, establishing wetland biotopes and other measures are truly effective.
EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMMES FOR SPECIAL SPECIES
At the end of 2008, the 10 hectare shallow water biotope in the reservoir of the Rosegg-St. Jakob power
plant on the Drau was completed. It received the 99th “Wasser-Lebens-Zeichen” (‘water signs of life’)
of the state of Carinthia. The Föderlach biotope was declared a nature preserve in 2006. Following its
expansion and restricted access, the area became particularly attractive for birds. To date, some 120
varieties of birds have been spotted (breeding and migratory birds), including rare limacolas like the
greenshank, and migrant birds like the heron and lesser black-backed gull.

Due to lively construction by migrant beavers, the fish migration in the bypass channel of the Freudenau
power plant has been repeatedly and severely disrupted. To ensure that the fish passes are functional, in
2008 certain types of beavers were removed manually as a compensatory measure. A beaver dam near
the bypass channel that did not disturb the fish migration was left in place. Fish passes can be accessed
in full during prime spawning season, as these measures do not disturb the beavers and have not driven
them from the area.
BIODIVERSITY FOR THERMAL GENERATION AND
TRANSMISSION GRIDS
Projects are also being implemented to maintain biodiversity in thermal generation and transmission
grids. The primary focus is on avoiding negative effects on certain species of animals and on creating and
managing ecologically sound habitats.
The European bee eater is a migrant bird. Its striking blue-yellow-red feathers make it one of Carinthia’s
most impressive migratory birds. It is on the “red list”, considered highly endangered under Carinthia’s
natural conservation laws. It needs diverse cultural landscapes with a high level of lush greenlands and a
sufficient number of bush groups, single trees, wires, etc. to use as a perch. In the late 1990s, the bee eater
had optimal breeding conditions in the steep slopes of the St. Andrä power plant’s ash heap. A nearby
pond offered enough food and the European bee eater reached its highest population density at about
40 adult and 60 fledgling birds.
Because the ashes were continually removed and used as a cement substitute, a solution had to be found
to maintain the nesting area, which had become a limited resource. Because the European bee eaters
carve new breeding holes into the slopes every year, one level of ashes is removed each breeding season.
In early spring, the steep walls are straightened to create the optimal breeding conditions.
In 2009, a species protection project by Arge NATURSCHUTZ, sponsored by Verbund, was launched
for the European bee eaters and the kingfisher. This makes it possible to collect precise data on the
population count and lifestyle of these rare species of birds while helping to protect this unique bird
community.
Maintaining power line routes poses ecological, economic and social demands. For this reason, Verbund
laid down key guidelines for sustainable route management back in 1997. It includes measures to
maintain the routes, to improve the habitat for flora and fauna, to expand and care for the biotopes and
special promotion of sociocultural projects in the surrounding areas of the grid systems. The purpose
of ecological route maintenance is to minimise or completely avoid interfering with the landscape and
with the balance of nature. Additionally it aims to use the potential for nature and species protection.
The research project “sustainable route management” has defined guidelines for route maintenance for
the entire transmission grid – some 3,500 kilometres in length that includes around 6,700 kilometres of
lines. The development options defined provide a basis for negotiations with regard to maintaining the
line routes and for decisions regarding measures to be taken in cooperation with the landowners. Firstly,
the guidelines provide a general depiction of natural protection and forestry priorities (habitats, species,
biotope mixes, etc.) along the routes. Secondly, they outline ecologically precious biotopes crossed by
the route and that need special care or attention as part of route maintenance. Thirdly, they estimate the
potential for route maintenance for select nature conservation goals (i.e. designing the forest borders,
ecological mast base design for the open landscape).
In Austria, the great bustard is currently the most heavily threatened by collisions with conductors for
medium and high voltage lines. Following a dramatic decline in both the Austrian and the general west
Pannonian great bustard population, extensive measures in recent years have improved the habitat.
From 2005 to 2007, a LIFE Nature project was implemented for the protection of the great bustard.
2010 – THE YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 27
ANNUAL BEAVER MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMME AT FREUDENAU
POWER PLANT
EUROPEAN BEE EATERS
AT ST. ANDRÄ
SUSTAINABLE ROUTE
MANAGEMENT
CROSS-BORDER PROTECTION
OF THE GREAT BUSTARD IN
AUSTRIA

28 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 2010 – THE YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY
PROTECTING ENDANGERED
FALCONS NEAR THE DÜRN-
ROHR-SLAVETICE LINE
Measures included improved markings for the approximately 125 kilometres high voltage lines, area
management, GIS processing of bustard observations and bustard conservation areas, developing and
installing bustard warning signs, etc. This project supplemented concurrent bustard protection projects
in Hungary and Slovakia.
As part of Verbund’s “sustainable route management” project, a programme to protect endangered
falcon species was launched in 2008 in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna’s
Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology. When the second system was installed on the 380 kV Dürnrohr-
Slavetice line, nesting aids were placed on 18 masts near the upper extensions. The goal of this project
is to increase the population of Eurasian hobbies and saker falcons. The saker falcon, which is on the
“red list” of endangered species and is at risk of extinction in Austria, needs particular protection. An
additional positive effect is that the original biological balance between the falcon and European starling
populations has been restored.
All of these projects described as examples spotlight the high value of biodiversity for Verbund while
documenting our efforts to provide top quality power generation while working in the best possible
harmony with our natural habitat. For more information about our numerous measures to maintain
biodiversity, please see the Verbund publications (www.verbund.at > Company > Commitment >
Sustainability).

ANOTHER
VIEW

THE
NEXT
GENERATION
Five reports on current issues by students from htl donaustadt
In the creation of our sustainability report, we wanted to include external points of view. We have
gathered them from sustainability colleagues of other companies, from our readers, from experts
that offer their views on current topics and from our auditors that have drawn our attention to some
aspects we had never before considered.
For this report, we invited students of htl donaustadt to take a look at five Verbund projects and report
on them. We wanted to get the viewpoint of future generations, as our projects have a long-term
focus. They will be a part of these students’ lives when they are adults.
For a number of years, htl donaustadt has published its own sustainability report, which has won the
Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award (ASRA) a number of times.
Thanks to some very committed teachers, this school is among the forerunners in Austria when it
comes to forward thinking and actions.
The goal of the project was not only to give students a look at our corporate activities, but also to
help them explore the content. For that reason, at the start of the project, the budding young authors
attended a writing workshop with experts to learn the “right” way to prepare a report – including
professional layouts of text and images.
Just like real journalists and writers, the students were under great pressure to meet looming
deadlines. They always come up so quickly, and if they’d only had more time, well … but in the end,
nearly all the reports made it just in time. Under the watchful eyes of the professional writers, the
students put the finishing touches on their masterpieces. They had plenty of opportunity to dig deep
in the writers’ toolboxes and take a few pointers.
The response of all involved – students, teachers, Verbund staff, writers and photographers – was
overwhelmingly positive. Their unanimous opinion? We want more!

We would like to express our thanks to htl
donaustadt, especially principal Dipl.-Ing.
Christine Moravec, Mag. Gabriele Stelzmüller,
teacher and environmental manager, Dipl. Ing.
Lothar Kerbl, head of the electrical engineering
department, and Dipl.-Ing. Erich Pils, teacher
and deputy environmental manager.
Our extra special thanks go to the student teams
who worked on this project:
“Back to nature”: Anna Huber, Natalie Strohmeier
and Rahul Sharaf
“A green future for green hearts”: Sebastian
Brunner, Bernhard Iber and Florian Nebenführ
“Sustainability is in the air”: Florian Chlan,
Thomas Lewisch and Robin Nicolas Stowasser
“There is no energy problem”: Otto Matthias,
Florian Mayer and Thomas Weingartshofer
“Three millimetres and no more!”: Dominik
Kukacka, Markus Noestler and Sandra Schweitzer

WITHOUT A
TRACE.
There’s nothing unusual at first glance. It almost looks
like a slope with natural vegetation. “We use our natural
environment to generate energy, and when we no longer
need it, we give it back to nature!”, says Günther Töpfer
of his re-naturation project for the penstocks in Kaprun.
By Anna Huber, Rahul Sharaf and Natalie Strohmeier

The slope until 2006:
the above-ground penstocks
that brought water to the
main stage in Kaprun.
There’s nothing unusual at
first glance. It almost
looks like a slope
with natural vegetation.
We’re standing in the middle of a line route at
1,200 metres above sea level. We see nothing.
Nothing unusual. Trees, shrubs and little saplings
all around. Our first question is, “Where’s the
penstock?” The four old above-ground penstocks
were dismantled in 2005 before the renaturation
project began. “The goal of renaturation is to
restore the ecosystem, so that in 10–15 years no
one would ever know”, says Günther Töpfer of the
project’s future course.
TAKING IT ALL IN
The power plants, main and upper stage, are an
integral part of Kaprun’s storage power plants.
The initial idea was to generate electricity with
water from the mountains of Kaprun. In 1938,
construction began on the power plant. After 14
years, the main stage and then the upper stage
were ceremoniously opened. The water has to
travel 800 metres down from the valve chamber
at Maiskogel before it reaches the power station
STUDENTS REPORT: RE-NATURATION OF PENSTOKES IN KAPRUN | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 33
in the valley. There were four above-ground
penstocks that were placed on concrete blocks
at regular intervals. During routine inspections,
technical defects were found in the penstocks and
their welded seams. The reason for the technical
problem was that the steel production and the
seams had been done during and shortly after the
war, so the quality was less than optimal. For that
reason, the remaining operational time of these
penstocks was set for 2003. As a replacement, an
underground inclined shaft was built in 2004.
The advantage of a pressure shaft is that the
water pressure is handled by the mountain, so
thinner pipes can be used. After completion of the
inclined shaft in 2004, work immediately began on
dismantling the above-ground penstocks and renaturation
of the route.
AT A GLANCE AND IN DETAIL
As we look up at the sky, the sun takes a quick
peek out from the clouds, blinding us. We search

34 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | STUDENTS REPORT: RE-NATURATION OF PENSTOKES IN KAPRUN
for the route along the concrete blocks, but
we see nothing. First, the steel was dismantled
and recycled. The shotcrete under the lines was
removed from the rocks so that precipitation can
find its natural way through the rocks’ crevices.
The concrete blocks were left on the slope to
help stabilise it and covered with scree and soil
The entire re-naturation area was covered with
geotextiles so that heavy rains do not cause erosion
and plants have a solid foundation. On a space of
3 hectares, some 12,000 plants – up to 30 varieties
– were planted. The difficulty lay in the location
of the renaturation area, as it was on a steep
45-degree slope. Pegs help to stabilise the seedlings
in the topsoil, and a 20-centimetre thick layer of
substrate with humus offers the perfect foundation.
The results are impressive! Some plants began to
flourish the following year.
However, the re-naturation is far from complete.
The plants require intensive maintenance. Regular
inspection of the slope and the seedlings are
a critical part of the work. It is also important
to ensure that weeds do not get out of hand, as
otherwise the seedlings would not get enough
sunlight. The weeds have to be mowed – a risky
venture on such a steep slope.
“We have spared no time or expense in making
this project a reality. The work has been done
with painstaking attention to detail and great
dedication”, explains Otto Simon, environmental
officer of the Verbund hydropower subsidiary and
our point of contact. We’re standing in the middle
of a route at 1,200 metres above sea level. We still
see nothing. Only upon closer examination do
we see a small bump that points to the concrete
block in the earth. We can barely see a small piece
of geotextile among the dense plants. It’s hard to
imagine that there were once 4 penstocks here.
left to right: Helmut Goldbach (Verbund),
Gabriele Stelzmüller, Christine Moravec,
Rahul Sharaf (htl donaustadt),
Otto Simon (Verbund), Anna Huber,
Natalie Strohmeier (htl donaustadt)

Plants are taking over
the geotextiles.
KAPRUN POWER PLANT GROUP:
Planning the Kaprun power plant after WWI
1938: Construction begun by Alpen-Elektro-
Werke AG (AEW)
1944: First part of main stage in operations
1952: Main stage finished, with above-ground
penstock from the Wasserfallboden reservoir
to the main stage in Kaprun
STUDENTS REPORT: RE-NATURATION OF PENSTOKES IN KAPRUN | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 35
PROJECT “PENSTOCK RE-NATURATION”:
2004: Construction of the underground
penstock
2005: Dismantling and recycling of the four
above-ground pipelines
2006–2007: Re-naturation of the slope lines
2008: Remaining work and planting complete
2009–2011: Monitoring and care programme
Professional support from the Institute for
Ecology, Salzburg

A GREEN
FUTURE FOR
THE GREEN
HEART OF
AUSTRIA.
“Plant a new tree for every one that you chop down”, so they say. The
independent Verbund grid subsidiary had to clear forest space to build
the 380 kV Styria line. The construction of this line was the last project
to complete the ring of lines in central and eastern Austria. This area
was reforested as part of a re-naturation project in collaboration with
experts. Verbund and htl donaustadt gave us the chance to see the
project up close and personal.
By Sebastian Brunner, Bernhard Iber and und Florian Florian Nebenführ
Nebenführ

The next generation
of trees grows beneath
the masts.
VERBUND: THE TIE THAT BINDS
It’s the kind of day you’d like to stay indoors – cold,
wet and windy. We haven’t had an October like
this in a long time. We arrive at the reforestation
area in Oberwart, Burgenland – and off we go. Left
and right we see a thick forest, separated by an
approximately 60 metre wide path in the middle.
Electrical masts tower over a light fog. “We have
three different research areas here; the first is fenced
in, the second has individual tree protection and
the third uses a spray to protect from wild animals”,
says Herbert Forstner, project manager for forestry
matters. But the fenced-in area he shows us has
no trees – just tall grass. It looks like only weeds
are growing here. We enter the first research area,
and now we know why there are no tall trees:
the seedlings are still very young. Upon closer
examination, we see small hornbeams, alders
and oaks.
GONE WILD
Attempts are being made here to determine the
best type of wildlife protection: the first with
fencing, the second with individual tree protection
via plastic covers and the third with painting or
spraying trees with special substances that keep
wildlife away but are not harmful to plants. This
is necessary for the reforestation research areas.
“Wildlife likes young trees – they are apparently
delicious”, says Reinhard Barbl, head of forest
ecology construction supervision for the Styria
line. This is why the first area is fenced in. It takes
two people to get the big gate open. Bright dots
appear in the second research area. No, it’s not
autumn leaves, it's the substances sprayed on the
plants to keep wild animals away. The trees in the
third research area look like they’re encased in a
grid. These are starch-based plastic covers that
protect against wild animals and biodegrade in
ten years.
Apart from large wild animals, the young trees
are threatened by rodents like mice and rabbits.
This gives rise to another problem: foxes or other
natural enemies of the small rodents can’t enter the
fenced area. An innovative solution was developed
to prevent overpopulation. Three metre stilts have
been placed around the grounds. They seem to say
STUDENTS REPORT: ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE STYRIA LINE | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 37
“room for rent, all you can eat” – a type of neon
sign for buzzards and falcons.
ONE TO ONE
Replacement planting is a simple idea. For every
space cleared, we have to offer nature an acceptable
substitute. Forestry law demands it. During the
construction of the Styria line, every hectare of
forest cleared had to be balanced out with the same
size space, planted with a minimum of 2,500 trees.
It’s a one-to-one ratio, though it depends on the
state's percentage of the forest. This ensures that
in Austria, forests – as a habitat and a commercial
resource – will not decrease.
ALL PLANTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
“Common spruce trees grow like crazy because of
dissemination – we haven’t planted a single one!”
says Mr. Barbl. “They weren’t originally here – this
is not their original habitat”, he adds. They also
bring pests like bark beetles. But they’ll be left in
peace, because “Everything that comes from nature
is good”. This area won’t be recognisable in 50 years.
When the forest gets free space and light, it will
grow all on its own – “natural rejuvenation”, our
expert tells us.
It’s useful and intentional, but in the case of the
spruces, it's not so desirable. “They’re not really suited
for this regional climate. We’ll see that in 25 years
when they begin to rot”, the forestry expert says. Now,
time itself will have to re-create an intact ecosystem.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
The educational trail at the forest in Unterwart is
like a time warp. Here we see all the young plants
from the planting areas in an advanced stage of
development. The educational trail is part of a
reforestation project implemented with multiple
partners. Each tree has a sign that explains exactly
what type it is. There is plenty of reading to do on
the 48 different plants. Birch, sweet chestnut, Scots
pine, Norway maple, hazelnut, blackthorn bushes ...
the array of species seems infinite. Corn rustles in
the adjacent field. Nature can be so beautiful, but we
humans aren’t always the best custodians.

38 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | STUDENTS REPORT: ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE STYRIA LINE
THE ARTERIES OF THE GREEN HEART
Looking out the window while driving through
Styria, the masts follow you quietly. Highways and
power lines run along the landscape, hand in hand.
That’s how it was meant to be: “Wherever we can,
we follow the course of the highways and run the
lines in tandem”, says one of our guides.
These are the main arteries of modern life. Wind
and hydropower are among the most efficient
sources of energy available in Austria. Stable
power lines are needed to fully use the potential of
alternative energy. The old power grids could still
transport, but with high energy losses, and were
very instable because they were overburdened.
The new energy supply system is not only more
efficient, it also allows for power to be transported
reliably from the producer to the consumer.
TO THE BEAT OF OUR GREEN HEART
On the way home, the green heart on the highway
that says “Styria” has taken on a new meaning.
Hot on the heels of sustainability, side by side
with the experts. This experience has made us
aware of how important sustainability is, and the
great responsibility it brings. That morning, our
trip to Styria was dotted with snow, but now the
clouds have lifted and the red evening light shines
upon us. More and more, the blood in our veins is
turning from red to green.
Herbs or weeds? Hard to tell without
a closer look!

FACTS AND FIGURES:
STUDENTS REPORT: ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE STYRIA LINE | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 39
1982: Initial route plans
December 2003: Submission of environmental impact declaration (EID)
March 2005: Approval by the state authorities
March 2007: Approval by the environmental senate
October 2007: Start of construction
June 2009: Commissioning
Project duration: 27 years
Duration of Environmental Impact
Assessment (EID) process: ~ 3.5 years
Length of line: 97.8 km
Carriage of 110 kV line: 54.5 km
Dismantling 110 kV line: 41 km
Expenditure: EUR 181 million
USE OF 380 KV STYRIA LINE:
• Closing the gap in the 380 kV high voltage ring
• Ensuring south Austrian power supply
• Two-sided power supply for the Graz metropolitan area
• Reduction of energy loss in transmission
• Regional value creation and creation of jobs
EXAMPLES OF MEASURES TO SECURE AND IMPROVE THE DIVERSITY OF DOMESTIC
SPECIES AND HABITATS:
• Facility of 115 hectares compensatory area (conversion from fields to meadows, securing
mature stands of trees)
• Conversion of stands of trees in route area by planting suitable trees for the location
• Construction restrictions during avian breeding periods
• Building substitute eyries for black storks
• Bird protection markings on the conductors
• Securing roosting trees for bats
• Amphibian guidance systems and substitute biotopes
• Control via ecological construction supervisors, continuative monitoring
left to right: Reinhard Barbl
(Steinwender & Partner), Regina
Scholtze (Verbund), Bernhard
Iber, Sebastian Brunner, Gabriele
Stelzmüller, Florian Nebenführ
(htl donaustadt), Herbert Forstner
(Verbund), Jürgen Renner (Pöyry)

SUSTAIN-
ABILITY
IS
IN THE
AIR.
By Florian Chlan, Thomas Lewisch and Robin Nicolas Stowasser

STUDENTS REPORT: VERBUND WIND FARM | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 41
One of the six windmills in the world with
a viewing platform can be found in Bruck
an der Leitha. Each year, visitors wishing
to “chase the wind” stand at a dizzying
height of 60 metres. But the most notable
thing about wind power facilities is not the
tourism appeal but the positive effect
on our climate.
A sheet of paper on the wall announces “Just ten
steps to go”. We’ve already managed 269 steps.
A few seconds later, we arrive breathlessly at the
viewing platform and dare to take our first peek
at the glassed-in platform. We are astounded at
the giant rotor blades, some 70 metres in diameter.
Every two seconds, one of the three blades
whooshes past us like a giant windscreen wiper.
CLIMBING TOWARD THE WIND
Many times, we’ve driven past Verbund’s wind
farms and each time, we were amazed that wind
can produce energy. In October 2009, we were
given the chance to take a look at the technical
details behind it. Our trip began at the Verbund
building in downtown Vienna, where we met
our guides Philipp Wieltschnig, Verbund project
manager, and Stefan Schindler, the works manager
in charge of the Bruck an der Leitha wind farm.
On our way to Bruck, Stefan Schindler explains
that Verbund has owned and operated the facility
since January 2009. Unlike the conventional
methods of generating power, wind power has
only been used for industrial power production
for about 15 years. It is not until we are directly in
front of the wind power facility that we realise its
sheer dimensions. We are given helmets and fire
protection masks for our safety. After hearing the
safety guidelines from the Verbund staff, we begin
the steep climb of some 300 steps. It takes about
10 minutes to reach the top of the narrow spiral
stairs inside the tower.
From the viewing platform, we see the surroun-
ding fields and other windpower plants. We can
see Bruck an der Leitha in the background. As
a special “extra” during our tour, we get a look
at the gondola – the moving part at the tower’s
top, reachable only by a skinny metal ladder. The
gondola is the heart of the facility – that’s where
the electricity-producing generator and the rotor
are located. That’s why it’s nice and warm here, in
contrast to outdoors. This is also where the four
motors are located that guide the gondola, so that
the rotor blades of the power plant always face the
direction of the wind. “The gondola can move a
maximum of three times in one direction”, Philipp
Wieltschnig explains.
Stefan Schindler adds, “Depending on the wind
conditions, it’s automatically wound back two or
three times a month so that the electricity cables
aren’t damaged. It takes 40 to 50 minutes to make
a complete turn”.
FROM THE MEADOWS TO THE COMPLETE
WIND FARM
Wind farms aren’t built overnight. It takes years
of careful planning to be sure that wind energy is
optimally used. The first key question is location.
Where is there enough space and wind to manage

42 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | STUDENTS REPORT: VERBUND WIND FARM
the facility economically? With the help of special
measurement devices, high wind masts indicate
where the facility operates most efficiently. These
measurements take at least one year. The second
step is coordination with the landowners. This
is normally done via lease or sale. The third key
part of the planning phase is the cooperation with
the residents and the population of the region.
Residents cannot be disturbed by noise pollution
or shadows. Bird migration is also carefully
studied with ornithological reports.
Planning and preparations are lengthy, but con-
struction of the eco-friendly power plants is quick.
Apart from a longer period of laying the foundation,
a facility can be built in three days. A windmill
is a simple construction. It consists of three prefabricated
towers made from concrete or steel.
These are connected with giant nuts and bolts.
PURE WIND – A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
The special thing about farms is their energy
source: wind. It is a renewable, inexhaustible
source of energy. Wind farms do not emit CO2 in
electricity production and they create new jobs.
Wind power is a key part of an overall energy
concept. In Austria, Verbund owns a total of
25 wind turbines, with a total capacity of 49 MW
and generate an amazing 100 GWh per year,
enough for some 29,000 households.
After seeing all the critical components, we began
our descent. Once we were back on the ground,
we looked at the control centre of the power plant.
While normally located in the power plant itself,
this would have left no room for the stairs, so the
equipment is located in an adjacent building.
left to right: Thomas Lewisch, Robin
Nicolas Stowasser, Erich Pils,
Florian Chlan (htl donaustadt),
Katarina Prekic, Stefan Schindler,
Philipp Wieltschnig (Verbund)

279 steps inside the tower lead to
the glassed-in viewing platform.
Above this is a gondola, where
electricity is generated.
STUDENTS REPORT: VERBUND WIND FARM | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 43
In 2009, Verbund underscored its commitment to clean, sustainable energy production and
expanded its production capacity in the field of renewable energy. Thereafter, plans were
underway for wind power activities in Austria. Since January 2009, the company has owned and
operated three wind farms in eastern Lower Austria. The wind farms in Bruck an der Leitha,
Hollern and Petronell-Carnuntum have a total capacity of 49 MW and cover about five percent of
the wind capacity in Austria. About 29,000 Austrian households are powered with climate-friendly
energy, thanks to this wind power.
KEY FIGURES OF THE THREE WIND FARMS:
• 25 wind power plants
• Total capacity: 49 MW
• Feed-in per year: some 100 GWh
• CO ² saved per year: some 67,000 tonnes

THERE IS NO
ENERGY PROBLEM
“In 40 minutes, the sun radiates the annual energy requirements of the
entire world – there’s no energy problem”, says Rudolf Raymann,
managing director of a company that installs photovoltaic
systems. These secure a sustainable, decentralised
energy supply.
By Otto Matthias, Florian Mayer and
Thomas Weingartshofer

Hard to see, but just as important
as the photovoltaics panes for the
“power plant on the roof”:
an inverter.
Our journey begins at Verbund’s main building in
Vienna. Stefan Scharner, Verbund employee and
our guide, arrives to take us in a blue company car
to Deutsch-Wagram. Our first impression of the
building is very friendly and light. There, we are given
a warm welcome by Heinz Bogner, managing director
of Solarverbund (solar association) and Rudolf
Raymann, managing director of raymann – kraft der
sonne photovoltaikanlagen GmbH.
PHOTOVOLTAICS CREATES JOBS
“The photovoltaics industry is booming”, begins
Rudolf Raymann. To date, nine of Verbund's
partners have built 40 plants around Austria.
These partners are coordinated here in Deutsch-
Wagram. Raymann discusses the sharp rise in
headcount following lively demand. “The state
grants also help, though in many states the
amounts are pretty minimal and how they work is
hard to understand”, says Raymann. The states of
Vienna and North Austria, he says, are ideal. For
years, they have offered consistent conditions and
provided a reliable foundation for investments, as
can be seen in the number of facilities built so far.
STUDENTS REPORT: VERBUND SOLAR ENERGY PACKAGE | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 45
EUR 11 MILLION IN GRANTS GONE IN
17 MINUTES
While there is also federal grant money, Raymann
says: “In Austria, the 2008 federal climate and energy
fund gave ‘only’ € 11 million in grants. This allocation
was used up in 17 minutes. In 2009, the allocation
was somewhat larger at € 18 million. Despite the
incredible demand (which was expected) and due to
a server malfunction in some states, the funding was
available for a couple of hours. There are hardly any
framework conditions for photovoltaic facilities in
Austria, so we just need clear rules“, explains Rudolf
Raymann, who is passionate about photovoltaics.
“Our current ‘energy problem’ could be solved just
with the sun, because for the long term, fossil fuels
cannot compete with the power of photovoltaics”.
The commitment of politics is not as great as it
should be, complains Mr. Raymann, whose primary
interest is to change all of that.
THE PHOTOVOLTAICS PRINCIPLE
Photovoltaic systems convert solar energy into
electrical energy.
All you need is
• a suitable solar surface
(optimally, 30 degree angle to the south)
• the right photovoltaic modules and
• an inverter
Photovoltaic systems can work as a separate
network, i.e. on a mountain cabin, or as a parallel
network. Parallel operations means that depending
on consumption, the energy from the photovoltaic
system is used in the house or is fed in to the
public grid. If it is fed in to the grid, the owner
will receive payment from the energy provider.
“Photovoltaics has the big advantage of decentral
energy supply and thus a more secure energy
supply”, says Heinz Bogner.
INVERTERS FROM AUSTRIA
Inverters convert solar modules’ direct current into
alternating current for the grid. They also act as an
information centre and protective system. They are
highly reliable and lose minimal energy.

46 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | STUDENTS REPORT: VERBUND SOLAR ENERGY PACKAGE
The inverters used by Solarverbund are made by
Fronius, the world’s second largest manufacturer
of inverters. So on the second day, we visit
the company headquarters in Wels. From the
main station in Wels, we go by company car to
the outskirts of the city. There we see Fronius’
looming, modern building, all in orange. First, we
hear a general presentation about the company.
The speaker explains, among other things, that
since 1992 the Austrian company Fronius has
been involved in solar electronics, and that it
obtained its knowledge about developing inverters
from welding technology. During our tour of the
production facilities later, we notice an unusually
large number of young trainees.
COORDINATION CENTRE IN THE
WEINVIERTEL
Verbund founded Solarverbund with a view
to expanding its range of renewable energies.
Solarverbund concentrates on photovoltaics only.
Customers make the initial contact with Verbund,
but the project is then managed by Solarverbund,
which handles all customer tasks, from inspections
to submitting the grant papers. The installation of
the photovoltaics system is then contracted out to
a partner of Solarverbund, such as Raymann.
PHOTOVOLTAICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Set for growth: Fronius not only
produces the inverters ...
Sustainability is photovoltaics’ constant
companion. Not only does not generate CO2
Eemissions in energy production, it is noiseless
and has made up for the CO2 in its production
within 3.5 years. “Every one of us must contribute
to fighting climate change; we must learn to
use the sun’s energy”, says managing director
Raymann. The costs for a complete photovoltaics
system are around € 3,500–5,000 per kW peak
of power rating without grant money. The life of
such systems is about 35–40 years. The use of a
photovoltaics system saves 0.53 kg CO2 per kW
hour generated.
… it also has a solar energy
system on the roof.

left to right: Matthias Otto, Lothar Kerbl,
Florian Mayer (htl donaustadt), Heinz
Bogner (Solarverbund), Thomas
Weingartshofer (htl donaustadt)
STUDENTS REPORT: VERBUND SOLAR ENERGY PACKAGE | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 47
Since June 2009, Verbund has given private households the option of using solar energy for
their own consumption. Using a photovoltaics system on the roof and the Verbund solar energy
package, energy supply becomes more affordable.
From submission of the grant papers to installation of the system, everything is arranged by a
single source – with powerful partners offering their support. The energy generated is fed in as
valuable peak energy, and the customer receives more payment than he or she pays for electricity
(energy price) from the grid. It also allows private citizens to invest in a pioneering form of energy
production. People have shown great interest in expanding their own energy efficiency: more than
2,000 households have inquired about Verbund’s solar energy package in early July.
PROJECT DATA (AS OF END OF 2009):
• Approximately 500 grant applications
• Some 40 photovoltaics systems in operation
• 35 additional photovoltaics systems applied for
• Production per system: max. 5 kW peak

THREE
MILLIMETRES
AND
NOT
MORE!
The discussion about the three millimetres has been going on for a
half hour now. Mr. Michelitsch and Mr. Grubmüller are hotly debating
a sander at the edge of the workshop. The plate is too far from the
bearing surface. Every millimetre counts – it doesn’t seem like a lot,
but safety is top priority at Verbund.
By Sandra Schweitzer, Dominik Kukacka and Markus Noestler

Practise is as realistic as possible:
tunnel rescue with “victims”
8:30 – ARRIVAL IN THE FOG.
As we stand at the railway station in Ybbs,
everything is gray and surreal. A man in a neon
orange jacket approaches. He introduces himself
as Mr. Grubmüller, our personal driver to the
Ybbs-Persenbeug power plant on the Danube.
We’re not yet sure what his position is at Verbund.
There is protective work clothing in the boot of
Mr. Grubmüller’s personal vehicle. We drive about
ten minutes through Ybbs. Once we arrive, there’s
no time to waste. The work committee meeting is
starting in 15 minutes. We quickly put our things
away and enter the sterile conference room. The
room is enormous – the wood panelling on the
wall isn’t good for the acoustics either. It’s cold and
not everyone has arrived yet. We're excited to see
what happens next. The meeting starts late, and
we already decide what to order for lunch from a
seemingly giant menu.
9:15 – MEETING.
We get a surprise right away. It turns out that
our driver is the head of safety. We look around
STUDENTS REPORT: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 49
the room. Many seats are empty – 13 employees,
including one woman, are in attendance. The list
of participants makes its way around the room and
Mr. Grubmüller introduces us to the committee.
Now for the agenda:
the number of accidents stayed about the same in
2009 as in 2008. Statistics show that most accidents
were minor, such as stumbles or slips. We are
awash in information materials, and are thrilled to
see such precise numbers.
Working safely on water is a leading priority.
During training sessions, the employees had to
jump into the water to see the difficulties in a
rescue operation. The Verbund employees are
excited and interested.
The control centres of the power plants need to
be more ergonomic and smaller, according to
recommendations of the AUVA.
Next comes a discussion about personal protective
gear, then the harmonisation of switching
technology terms, working in containers and
occupational medicine. These topics are just briefly
discussed (thankfully – hunger is getting the best
of us). We go for lunch while the fire protection

50 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | STUDENTS REPORT: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ordinance is discussed. One of the employees
brings us to the nearby canteen. After a big lunch,
we’re picked up by the second safety officer and
our tour begins!
1:00 - THE FOG IS LIFTING.
“Thanks to our nine Danube power plants alone,
one fourth of Austria’s energy needs are covered”,
says Mr. Grubmüller. There are numerous
computers and switchboards in the control centre.
We get a view of the wide Danube and the Ybbs
hydropower plant – very impressive. One floor
below, in the workshop halls, sparks are flying. The
metallic smell of a mechanical shop is in the air.
Because it’s loud, the workers have to wear special
hearing protection. In the turbine room, a shaft
mining operation is being practised. While we look
in awe at the equipment, the safety officers check
to be sure everything is in order. This is where the
three millimetre discussion begins. Facts, numbers
and paragraphs fly about, but it ends with three
significant defects. The two friendly safety officers
explain everything to us in detail. Now and then,
Mr. Grubmüller writes something in his notebook.
We feel kind of lost among the giant turbines,
transformers and generators. It's a world all its own.
A long, narrow hallway brings us back to freedom.
Time and again, we ask questions to try and keep
up. We see the Ybbs landscape. Of course, there's
a giant dam in front. The fire safety engineer tells
us a little about the city. The mood is light and
we’re enjoying ourselves, even if the wind is cold.
A railing has been incorrectly installed – the defect
must be repaired immediately. Back at the power
plant, the last instructions of the day are issued.
4:15 - TYPING TIME.
The recommendation report is being composed.
We want to be involved, but Mr. Grubmüller is
typing so fast on his laptop, we’ve lost him.
A brief goodbye and a handshake. We would love
to stay, just for another 15 minutes. But hurry up,
coats on, into the car and off to the railway station.
One after the other shakes Mr. Grubmüller’s hand.
We just make our train. On our way back, we begin
to relax again. We can compare this day with our
training at school. In real life, three millimetres are
more interesting than in theory.

left to right: Markus Noestler,
Dominik Kukacka, Gabriele
Stelzmüller (htl donaustadt), Franz
Schärfinger (Verbund), Sandra
Schweitzer (htl donaustadt),
Wolf-Dietrich Grubmüller, Franz
Michelitsch (Verbund)
In 1997, Verbund founded its occupational
protection committees pursuant to Austria’s
Occupational Health and Safety Act (AschG).
Verbund’s hydropower segment has five
occupational protection committees with
a central committee; the individual Group
companies also have their own occupational
protection committees. Additionally, a Group
safety committee was launched to coordinate
all of the committees. The tasks of this main
committee and their responsibilities are
outlined in an executive order.
The eight safety officers of the Verbund
hydropower subsidiary are charged not only
with implementing the preventive measures
stipulated by law, but also to take all other
necessary actions required for occupational
health and safety. They must be able to identify
STUDENTS REPORT: ARBEITSSICHERHEIT | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 51
these and implement them independently or in
cooperation with the responsible employees.
Safety officers handle the operational
implementation of the employer’s duties,
harnessing synergies to optimally ensure that
all companies are in compliance.
The annual safety inspection is a measure
stipulated by AschG. It is organised by the
safety officers and staged in cooperation with
the occupational medical services and other
staff members of the company.

52 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ECONOMIC INDICATORS
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
KEY FIGURE UNIT 2007 2008 2009 NOTES
SALES MILLION 1 3,038.3 3,744.7 3,483.1 THE DECLINE IN SALES IN 2009 IS PRIMARILY
DUE TO WEAK PRICES ON THE ELECTRICITY
MARKET AND LOWER SALES VOLUME.
OPERATING RESULT MILLION 1 916.1 1,138.6 1,042.3 VERBUND RETURNED TO GOOD RESULTS WITH ITS
(EBIT) RISK-AVERSE PRICING STRATEGY AND RIGOROUS
COST MANAGEMENT; HOWEVER, THIS IS STILL
BELOW THE RECORD HIGH OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
GROUP RESULT MILLION 1 579.2 686.6 644.4 NET EARNINGS IN THE OPERATING RESULT WERE
(EXCLUDING MINO- DOWN, WHILE THE FINANCIAL RESULT IMPROVED
RITY INTERESTS) BY € 53 MILLION.
GEARING % 69.9 80.2 138.3 INTEREST-BEARING NET LIABILITIES WERE UP
FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR DUE TO VERBUND’S
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
ECONOMIC VALUE MILLION 1 435.8 468.2 351.3 THE DECLINE IN EVA IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE
ADDED (EVA)¹ DECLINE IN NOPAT² AND THE RISE IN COST OF
CAPITAL.
EARNINGS PER SHARE 1 1.88 2.23 2.09 COMPARED WITH 2008, EARNINGS PER SHARE
DROPPED BY 6 %.
CARRYING AMOUNT 1 8.68 10.15 11.06 EQUITY ROSE BY 9 %.
PER SHARE
CASHFLOW PER SHARE 1 2.62 3.03 3.14 THE INCREASE IN CASH FLOW IS PROOF OF
VERBUND’S FINANCIAL STRENGTH.
DIVIDEND PER SHARE 1 0.90 1.05 1.00 THE DIVIDEND (WITHOUT THE SPECIAL DIVIDEND)
IS 1 1.
SPECIAL DIVIDEND 1 – – 0.25 FOR 2009, A ONE-TIME SPECIAL DIVIDEND IS BEING
PAID OUT.
PAY-OUT RATIO % 47.89 47.13 59.79 THE PLANNED PAY-OUT RATIO IS INCREASING DUE
TO THE ONE-TIME SPECIAL DIVIDEND.
DIVIDEND YIELD % 1.88 3.22 4.21 THE HIGHER DIVIDEND AND THE LOWER PRICE
HAVE LED TO A HIGHER DIVIDEND YIELD.
FINAL PRICE OF 1 47.88 32.56 29.71 THE FINAL PRICE OF THE VERBUND SHARE IS
VERBUND SHARE AT LOWER THAN THAT OF THE PRIOR YEAR. THIS IS
31 DECEMBER DUE TO LOWER ELECTRICITY WHOLESALE PRICES
AND THE STOCK MARKET ENVIRONMENT.
ELECTRICITY SALES GWh 102,191 92,525 111,962 BEFORE NETTING FOR EXTERNAL ELECTRICITY
TRADING (AFTER NETTING: 2009: 51,289 GWH,
2008: 56,057 GWH, 2007: 57,038 GWH)
¹ FIGURE HAS BEEN REVISED; THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED.
² NET OPERATING PROFIT AFTER TAXES

Verbund is able to report good results for fiscal 2009, albeit at a lower level than the record figures
generated in 2008. Sales revenue fell from € 3,744.7 million to € 3,483.1 million (–7.0 %). The operating
result fell by 8.5 % from €1,138.6 million to € 1,042.3 million and consolidated net profit was down 6.2 %
to € 644.4 million.
EARNINGS DEVELOPMENT
Earnings development in the operating result was primarily influenced by three factors: low European
wholesale prices for electricity, an above-average water supply and one-off accounting measures.
In the year under review, wholesale prices for electricity, in particular short-term forward and spot
market prices, declined significantly compared with the previous year, remaining at an extremely low
level throughout. This came as a result of a significant reduction in prices for primary energy sources,
lower demand for electricity and the fall in the price of CO2 certificates. However, a good portion was
sold one year in advance at considerably higher prices in accordance with our hedging strategy. This
cushioned the negative impact of the weak electricity prices in the short term.
The strong water supply from Austrian rivers increased electricity generation from Austrian hydropower
and had a positive impact on earnings. The hydro coefficient for 2009 was 1.06, 6 % higher than the longterm
average and up 5 % on the figure recorded in the previous year.
However, the operating result was adversely affected by negative non-recurring accounting effects
totalling around € 60 million, due primarily to unscheduled maintenance, the impact of the System
Utilisation Tariff Directive and a value adjustment of the existing stocks of coal.
COMMENTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL KEY FIGURES
IN THE ECONOMIC AREA
Expenses contained in the operating result for active and former employees in the amount of € 304.0
million improved slightly. Ongoing payments for active and retired employees rose over the previous
year just slightly by € 22.0 million from € 307.0 million to € 329.0 million. Some 17 % of these payments
were made for employees in part-time retirement or full retirement, or their surviving family members.
Economic value added (EVA), the relevant figure for Verbund Group management, dropped from
€ 468.2 million to € 351.3 million. The capital structure was 138.3 % after 80.2 % in the previous
year, measured by gearing. Interest-bearing net liabilities rose primarily due to the acquisition of
Innkraftwerke GmbH by € 2,206.4 million to € 4,714.8 million. Equity rose to € 3,409.7 million
(previous year: € 3,128.1 million). Operating cash flow rose from € 934.2 million to € 968.0 million.
Verbund feels an obligation to its employees even after they leave the company, and provides them with
pension payments. This is partly done pursuant to company agreements and individual contracts under
a benefits-based system. There is a contribution-based pension system for other employees.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 53

54 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ECONOMIC INDICATORS
COVERAGE OF PENSION OBLIGATIONS MILLION 1
PENSION OBLIGATIONS 2008 2009
CASH VALUE OF OBLIGATIONS COVERED BY FUND ASSETS 173.8 175.6
FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS –132.6 –162.1
NET VALUE (DBO) OF OBLIGATIONS COVERED BY FUND ASSETS 41.1 13.4
CASH VALUE OF OBLIGATIONS NOT COVERED BY FUND ASSETS 231.9 226.7
OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
273.0 240.1
CASH VALUE OF OBLIGATIONS NOT COVERED BY FUND ASSETS 114.5 115.7
OBLIGATIONS NOT COVERED BY FUND ASSETS 387.5 355.8
Benefit-based obligations of Verbund are partly covered by pension fund assets set aside for this purpose.
Verbund holds securities for the majority of obligations not covered by fund assets. To the extent that
these obligations must be met by the pension fund, the employer is obligated to make contributions in
case there are insufficient fund assets. Additionally, the employees benefit from a supplemental health
insurance for which the employer and employee pays premiums. The employer contributions to the
premiums to be paid after retirement are posted by Verbund as pensions and similar obligations.
SALES BY CUSTOMER SEGMENT GWh GWh IN %
2008 2009 CHANGE
END CUSTOMERS 8,921 10,288 +15.3
DISTRIBUTORS 24,480 23,154 –5.4
TRADERS 20,816 16,128 –22.5
OWN CONSUMPTION 1,840 1,720 –6.5
GROUP SALES 56,057 51,289 –8.5
FORWARD CONTRACTS 36,468 60,673 +66.4
SALES BY COUNTRY GWh GWh IN %
2008 2009 CHANGE
AUSTRIA 25.098 25.245 +0.6
GERMANY 22.696 19.718 –13.1
FRANCE 7.255 5.488 –24.4
ITALY 238 396 +66.4
OTHER 770 442 –42.6
GROUP SALES 56.057 51.289 –8.5

ORIGIN OF FUNDS
ELECTRICITY SALES
GRID SALES
OTHER
USE OF FUNDS BY EXPENSE ITEM
ELECTRICITY AND GRID PURCHASES
FUELS
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
PAYROLL EXPENSES
INTEREST AND SIMILAR EXPENSES
DIVIDEND AND DISTRIBUTIONS
CHANGE IN EQUITY
TAXES ON INCOME
USE OF FUNDS BY STAKEHOLDER GROUP
SUPPLIERS
COMPANY
CAPITAL PROVIDER¹
EMPLOYEES
SHARE
MILLION €
3,164.9
268.5
49.7
MILLION €
1,608.3
118.9
253.1
304.0
254.7
402.8
312.5
228.9
MILLION €
1,980.2
228.9
970.0
304.0
IN %
90.9 %
7.7 %
1.4 %
IN %
46 %
2009 was dominated by the consequences of the crisis on the financial markets, which evolved into a
global economic crisis in 2008. The economic downturn had already started in 2007 after the US real estate
speculation bubble burst. Negative economic data, poor economic forecasts and sustained problems in
the banking sector and particularly in the automotive industry dominated the headlines in early 2009 and
dampened investor sentiment. In early March 2009, share prices on many markets fell beyond the lows
recorded in 2008. A significant recovery began in mid-March and continued over long periods of the year.
The major stock markets closed with significant price gains over the year as a whole. The US stock index
Dow Jones Industrial (DJI) rose by 18.8 % in 2009, while the Euro Stoxx 50 increased by 21.0 %. In Japan, the
Nikkei 225 recorded growth of 19,0 % over the course of the year.
Based on its market capitalisation, the Verbund Group was the largest company on the Vienna Stock
Exchange for large parts of 2009. The past year saw a number of ups and downs for shareholders: the
losses in the first quarter of 2009 were more than offset in the period from April to June, meaning that
Verbund’s share price after the first half of the year was 11.4 % higher than at year-end 2008. However,
the share price declined slightly in the third and fourth quarters. The Verbund share closed the year
at € 29.7, corresponding to negative performance of 8.8 %. This meant that the share significantly
underperformed the ATX (+42.5 %) and was weaker than the DJ STOXX Utilities index (+1.5 %).
3 %
7 %
9 %
7 %
12 %
9 %
7 %
IN %
57 %
7 %
28 %
9 %
ECONOMIC INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 55
%
%
%
¹ 51 % of profits generated by Verbund benefit
the company via dividend payment to the
primary shareholder, the Republic of Austria.

56 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ECONOMIC INDICATORS
RELATIVE PRICE DEVELOPMENT
CROSS-BORDER LEASING
TRANSACTIONS
PURCHASE OF POWER PLANTS
ON THE INN RIVER, BAVARIA
However, it should be noted that the Verbund share price had declined to a far lesser extent than that
of many other stocks, particularly in the difficult stock market year of 2008. In the previous years it also
gained more than the ATX.
Stock exchange turnover in Verbund shares reached € 3,245.1 million. On average, 416,640 shares were
traded every day in 2009. On 31 December 2009, the total value of the company based on its market
capitalisation was € 9,156.6 million, while its weighting in the ATX was 6,2 %.
RELATIVE PRICE DEVELOPMENT (1 year, 1.1.2009 – 100%)
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
Jan 09
Apr 09
Jul 09
Oct 09
DJ STOXX Utilities
Verbund
With the outbreak of the financial market crisis during the 2008 reporting period, the risk profile for
cross-border leasing transactions changed.
Owing to the increased liquidity requirements of some American cross-border leasing investors,
individual investors also became more willing to terminate cross-border leasing transactions
prematurely.
The Verbund Group took advantage of this opportunity and entered into negotiations with individual
investors back in September 2008. The aim here was to terminate cross-border leasing transactions
prematurely.
A total volume of approximately € 4.7 billion – equivalent to around 77 % of the total original transaction
volume – was terminated within the space of one year. As a result, the risk profile of the Verbund
Group improved considerably. A net present value of some € 67.0 million was retained. After deduction
of all associated costs, this left approximately € 19.6 million as a positive other financial result. For more
information, see page 115 of the annual report.
SELECTED PROJECTS FOCUSING ON THE ECONOMY
Verbund acquired 13 run-of-river power plants on the Inn river in Bavaria with a total capacity of
312 MW in a bidding process conducted on the basis of a commitment to sell by the E.ON Group.
The annual generation of the plants is around 1,850 GWh or approximately 9 % of Verbund’s total
hydropower generation. All employees were integrated in the Verbund Group.
The purchase agreement was executed on 31 August 2009. The power plants are operated by an inde-
pendent company, VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH.
Jän 10
ATX

The 16 MW power plant at Werfen-Pfarrwerfen began operations July 2009 and with 76.5 GWh annually,
delivers clean energy to a total of 22,000 households.
The Kaprun/Salzach power plant group is being expanded by the 480 MW pumped storage hydro
power plant Limberg II, which takes advantage of the difference in altitude between the Mooserboden
and Wasserfallboden annual storage reservoirs. The underground construction method means that the
landscape and sensitive high-altitude flora of the Alps will be only slightly disturbed during construction
and operation, if at all. Both high mountain reservoirs, which are a popular tourist destination, can be
accessed with no problem even during construction in the summer. As construction has progressed very
well, the Limberg II power plant is scheduled to open in mid-2011. The cavern power plant will increase
the capacity of the Kaprun facility in the valuable peak and regular current sector to 833 MW.
The Hieflau power plant that opened back in 1956 was expanded by a second underground pressure
tunnel and a residual water turbine. After the additional facilities were commissioned in the fourth
quarter of 2009, the annual generation of the total facility increased by 108 GWh.
By 2013, all machine units, hydraulic steel equipment and the intake canal of the Pernegg diversion
power plant, which is a historically protected site, will be updated to meet the state of the art. Due to
the higher efficiency of the three new Kaplan turbines, the capacity will be increased by 2.5 MW and
the standard capacity will be increased by 12 GWh without requiring additional land. Once all work is
completed, the Pernegg power plant will delivery clean energy to 35,000 households.
In 2006, an extensive overhaul began of the four main engines at the Aschach power plant on
the Danube. The main engine overhaul is primarily designed to exchange the four old rollers and
components from the current generators. All main components meant for further use will be reviewed
and repaired with regard to enhanced efficiency. Once the overhaul is complete in spring 2010, the
annual generation of the power plant will increase by 2.8 %, or 45 GWh.
The Gratkorn power plant project on the middle Mur is downriver from the Sappi power plant, north of
Graz. The 11 MW run-of-river plant is a joint venture with Energie Styria and at 54 GWh from renewable
energy sources, provides about 13,500 households with clean energy. Special infrastructure measures,
such as the installation of a new pedestrian and bike path bridge under the planned power plant, the
current bike paths will be linked or a new link will be made from Graz to Gratkorn. Access to the river
area near Judendorf-Strassengel, Gratkorn and Gratwein enhance the appeal of the recreational space. In
September 2009, the documents for the EIA process were submitted to the Styrian state government.
The new pumped storage hydro power plant Reisseck II has an additional 430 MW of capacity, a
significant expansion in the Carinthian power plant group Reisseck/Kreuzeck and Malta. A five
kilometre connection tunnel is being built between the Reisseck annual storage reservoir and the
main stage of the Malta power plant. The existing reservoir, “Großer Mühldorfer See” at the Reisseck
lake platform is used in pumping operations as an upper basin; the Malta Group's reservoirs Goesskar
and Galgenbichl are used as a lower basin. The expansion to the facilities is primarily underground
construction, in best possible harmony with fauna and flora. The start of the Environmental Impact
Assessment was in 2008; the approval decision came in early November 2009.
The pumped storage power plant will go live in 2014 and will secure the energy supply during peak
times.
Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn is a hydropower plant project that will be sponsored with Tiroler
Wasserkraft AG and Engadiner Kraftwerke AG in the upper Inn valley in Tyrol. The cross-border
project will place a special emphasis on people and the environment while using the Inn for eco-friendly
electricity production from renewable hydropower. Extensive compensation measures and a dynamic
ECONOMIC INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 57
PUMPED STORAGE POWER
PLANT LIMBERG II
STORAGE POWER PLANT
HIEFLAU
ADVANCEMENTS IN HIGHER
EFFICIENCY IN THE PERNEGG
POWER PLANT
ADVANCEMENTS IN HIGHER
EFFICIENCY IN THE ASCHACH
POWER PLANT ON THE DANUBE
GRATKORN POWER PLANT ON
THE MUR
PRE-PROJECT FOR THE INN
POWER PLANT JOINT VENTURE

58 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ECONOMIC INDICATORS
EIA FOR THE COMBINED GAS-
STEAM TURBINE POWER PLANT
IN KLAGENFURT
COMBINED GAS-STEAM POWER
PLANT IN MELLACH
COMMISSIONING OF THE NEW
POWER GRID CONTROL CENTRE
380 KV STYRIA LINE
380 KV SALZBURG LINE
transfer of the wastewater drainage on the 23 km open section of the river significantly improve current
conditions. For the power plant with 89 MW capacity, the Austrian authorities are currently producing
the EIA report; a final decision is expected to come in summer 2011. The planned commissioning in 2014
will allow the power plant to deliver energy to 90,000 households with a capacity of 414 GWh (Verbund
share: 207 GWh).
In oral negotiations regarding the EIA with CCGT Klagenfurt of 6–11 July 2009, 25 experts from various
technical areas submitted their report sections, totalling 2,300 pages, on the entire project. It was ultimately
found to be environmentally friendly.
Over the long term, the project will secure the energy supply while making a positive contribution to toward
reducing air pollution and fine particle pollution in the Klagenfurt region by replacing the old district
heating plant, the permit for which is expiring. Through the use of gas it has the lowest emissions, meets
EU requirements in terms of energy efficiency and climate protection, enhances the appeal of Carinthia as
a business centre, and creates jobs through construction, operations and maintenance. In the second half
of 2009, the agency obtained a great deal of information, additions and further opinions. A further official
investigation is planned for April 2010; an initial decision is expected no sooner than mid-2010.
The CCGT Mellach project has been hotly debated in public circles. For this reason, in early 2009 we
founded a construction forum when construction work began, consisting of regular stakeholder meetings.
Gas, as an eco-friendly and low CO2 fuel, is a green alternative to older, more environmentally harmful
power plants that would be taken off the grid. The environmental impact assessments on this project have
confirmed this fact, and in March 2010 the EU recognised the innovative combination of power and heat as
worthy of a subsidy due to the fact that it saves on primary energy sources.
The deregulation of the electricity market and the new challenges it brings have necessitated the
construction of the new main control centre “Power Grid Control”. After an architecture contest, in
July 2007 the ground was broken and after 24 months of construction and assembly time, it went into
operation on 26 September 2009. The total cost was € 19.2 million.
The new main power control station performs the core tasks of operational planning, schedule manage-
ment, control and monitoring of the entire transmission grid. Its second function, as safety and security
centre, covers facility monitoring for all of Verbund’s 57 substations, facility and fire protection for the
power control station and strict access control. A sophisticated information and communication area
was built for visitors, from the general public to international experts.
The new energy centre is state of the art in terms of technology and ecology, meeting the demands of the
decades to come. The power grid control’s contemporary facility management includes an HVAC system
that matches the highest requirements of safety and ecology.
For instance, the energy required for heating or cooling is covered by 28 deep drilled holes, each 120
metres deep (solar heat pump) and more than 2,700 meters of buried air conduction vents. For the
transition periods, additional heating requirements are met by a heat exchanger, i.e., an air-to-air heat
pump. A photovoltaic system is installed on the building’s roof. Its electrical energy is stored in batteries,
an ecological contribution to uninterrupted electricity supply.
The construction of the Styria line proceeded according to plan. The nearly 100 km section of the future
380 kV high voltage ring in Austria went into operation in June 2009. The cost of this line was some
€ 200 million; transmission loss will be significantly reduced.
In mid-2009, Verbund’s independent grid subsidiary began to build the Salzburg line. The first section,
from Salzach neu (Salzburg) to St. Peter am Hart (Upper Austria) is part of the 380 kV Austrian ring. It

will be commissioned at the end of 2010/beginning of 2011 and represents an investment of € 96 million.
The second section, Tauern-Salzach neu, is currently being discussed with various stakeholder groups to
find a practical solution. Verbund will live up to its responsibility, helping to close the gap in the Austrian
ultra high voltage ring and making sure it is quickly implemented with the use of tried-and-tested
overhead cable technology.
The guideline for fair business practises, particularly against corruption and bribery, which was
implemented in 2008, was revised after the Corruption Criminal Justice Amendment Act (KorrStrÄG)
took effect in September 2009. Under the new law, Verbund’s employees are no longer officials,
which means that the anti-corruption regulations for the private sector now apply to all of Verbund.
Notwithstanding, we have largely retained our strict guidelines because we uphold our obligation to
our values and principles. The guideline has been communicated throughout the Group as part of an
extensive training programme.
A compliance system has been developed as a supplement to the internal fair business practice
guidelines. It helps employees comply with the laws and other external standards and internal
regulations. The main focus is on complying with, and implementing, the fair business practice
guidelines, financial market compliance, and the Austrian Corporate Governance Code. Moreover, it
aims to harmonise corporate actions with the company’s values, as set forth in the company’s principles
and particularly in the Code of Conduct, as well as the ethical and moral principles. A Group-wide
compliance team is responsible for handling any questions that arise and for devising solutions for
specific compliance-related events.
We have devised criteria to review potential partners and projects that support our selections, also with
a view to environmental and social issues. This is our way of ensuring that even going forward, we work
with partners in Austria and around the world who are as concerned about sustainability as we are.
CONTACT
Mag. Andreas Wollein, Tel. +43 (0)503 13–52604, e-mail: andreas.wollein@verbund.at
ECONOMIC INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 59
ANTI-CORRUPTION GUIDELINES
IMPLEMENTED
COMPLIANCE SYSTEM
LAUNCHED
DUE DILIGENCE FOR
SUSTAINABLE PARTNERS

60 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
KEY FIGURE UNIT 2007 2008 2009 NOTES
POWER GENERATED GWh 28,307 28,660 29,918
THEREOF: WATER GWh 24,321 25,308 27,099
THEREOF: HEAT GWh 3,986 3,352 2,714
THEREOF: PROCURE-
MENT RIGHTS HEAT GWh 0 0 363 CCGT PONT-SUR-SAMBRE
THEREOF: WIND AND
PHOTOVOLTAICS GWh 0 0 106
TOTAL GENERATION
FROM RENEWABLE
ENERGY SOURCES GWh 24,321 25,308 27,205 HYDRO + WIND + SOLAR
SHARE OF GENERATION
FROM RENEWABLE
ENERGY SOURCES % 86 88 91
GENERATION OF
DISTRICT HEAT GWh 763 819 818
TRANSPORTED AMOUNT OF GWh 36,977 35,707 37,569
POWER IN THE GRID
GRID LOSS GWh 493 454 480
SHARE OF GRID LOSS % 1,3 1,3 1,3 SHARE OF NET LOSS IN TOTAL VOLUME
OF ENERGY TRANSPORTED
USE OF FUEL – THERMAL
POWER PLANTS¹
HARD COAL t 1,190,889 1,022,090 734,434
BROWN COAL t 0 0 0 POWER PLANTS SOLD
OIL t 83,973 70,029 46,353 HEAVY HEATING OIL
NATURAL GAS 1,000 m³ 25,156 13,532 9,481
BIOMASS t 19,186 21,184 13,877 SEWAGE SLUDGE – CO-FIRED
EMISSIONS IN THE AIR
SO0 2 t 661 575 492
NO0 X t 1,811 1,716 1,299
DUST t 154 115 82
CO0 2 FOSSIL (OWN POWER
PLANTS NOT INCLUDING PRELIMINARY VALUE PRIOR TO AUDIT PURSUANT
PROCUREMENT RIGHTS) kt 3,407 2,885 2,093 TO EMISSIONS RIGHTS ACT
CO0 2 FOSSIL
(PROCUREMENT RIGHTS) kt 0 0 127 SHARE PURSUANT TO ELECTRICITY PURCHASES
CO0 2 FOSSIL (TOTAL) kt 3,407 2,885 2,221
SPECIFIC CO0 2 EMISSIONS g/kWh 120 101 74 BASED ON TOTAL GENERATION
SPECIFIC CO0 2 EMISSIONS BASED ON THERMAL GENERATION
g/kWh 855 861 818 INCLUDING PROCUREMENT RIGHTS
ALLOTMENT OF CO0 2
EMISSION RIGHTS kt 3,343 2,124 2,124 ONLY EU-ETS, OWN POWER PLANTS
EMISSIONS AVOIDED BY
RENEWABLE GENERATION²
SO0 2 t 4,135 4,302 4,625 0.17 g/kWh
¹ VOLUMES PERTAIN TO THE AS-IS CONDITION, I.E., DAMP BIOMASS.
² CALCULATION OF THE EMISSIONS AVOIDED IS PERFORMED BASED ON THE EMISSION VALUES OF A MODERN HARD COAL POWER
PLANT (LIKE DÜRNROHR). THE SPECIFIC EMISSION VALUES (FACTORS) ARE LISTED IN THE TABLE.

ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS – CONTINUED
KEY FIGURE UNIT 2007 2008 2009 NOTES
NO0 X t 10,944 11,389 12,242 0.45 g/kWh
DUST t 1,216 1,265 1,360 0.05 g/kWh
CO0 2 kt 19,700 20,499 22,036 810 g/kWh
WASTE AND RESIDUAL MATERIALS
HAZARDOUS WASTE t 1,979 901 1,100
THEREOF FROM
ONGOING OPERATIONS t 715 696 458
THEREOF FROM LARGE- THEREOF FROM THE TRANSFORMER EXCHANGE
SCALE MEASURES³ PROGRAMME, ACCUMULATOR EXCHANGE IN
t 1,264 205 642 THE KAPRUN POWER PLANT
NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE t 10,239 16,005 6,841
THEREOF FROM
ONGOING OPERATIONS t 3,621 4,542 4,951
THEREOF FROM LARGE-
SCALE MEASURES0 4 t 6,618 11,463 1,890
RESIDUES FROM THERMAL BOTTOM AND FLY ASH,
POWER PLANTS t 188,086 147,606 99,685 DESULFURISATION PRODUCTS
WATER CONSUMPTION
WATER, INPUT AND OUTPUT
FOR HYDROPOWER PLANTS
AND HEAD OFFICES 1.000 m³ 479 505 467 DRINKING WATER
1.000 m³ 14,506 14,653 14,943 WATER FOR INDUSTRIAL USE (INCL. COOLING WATER)
1.000 m³ 96 110 91 WASTEWATER
WATER, INPUT AND OUTPUT
FOR THERMAL POWER PLANTS 1.000 m³ 24 37 38 DRINKING WATER
1.000 m³ 570,000 471,442 343,826 RIVER WATER (COOLING WATER)
1.000 m³ 180 212 168 WELL WATER
WATER, INPUT AND OUTPUT
AT GRID FACILITIES 1.000 m³ 5 9 10 DRINKING WATER
BIODIVERSITY
1.000 m³ 1 1 1 WATER FOR INDUSTRIAL USE
1.000 m³ 6 10 11 WASTEWATER
LOCATIONS IN/BESIDE GENERALLY DETERMINED AFTER
NATURE RESERVES ha 3,390 3,365 3,365 FACILITY HAS BEEN BUILT
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
ENVIRONMENTAL FINES T € 4.2 0 0
TOTAL ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS MILLION € 51.0 66.1 64.7
THEREOF ENVIRONMENTAL
COSTS/HYDROPOWER MILLION € 39.3 53.7 50.6
THEREOF ENVIRONMENTAL
COSTS/THERMAL POWER MILLION € 8.7 7.7 9.6
THEREOF ENVIRONMENTAL
COSTS/GRID MILLION € 3.0 4.7 4.5
³ HYDROPOWER: ENERGY DERIVATION STANING POWER PLANT, GRID: CONVERTER EXCHANGE, CONVERTER DAMAGE, TRANSFORMER
EXCHANGE, TRANSFORMER DISPOSAL, CORROSION PROTECTION
4 HYDROPOWER: VARIOUS RENOVATION AND RENEWAL MEASURES AS WELL AS MEASURES TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY; GRID RENEWAL
AND RENOVATION MEASURES, TRANSFORMER EXCHANGE, VALVE EXCHANGE, CONSTRUCTION OF STYRIA LINE
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 61

62 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
AUDITS AND CERTIFICATIONS
For decades, Verbund has lived up to its responsibility as a clean, eco-friendly electricity company.
Efficiency-enhancing measures and the expansion of electricity generation from renewable energy
sources, along with the integration of comprehensive environmental management systems (EMS) are
primary examples.
Verbund has been developing integrated environmental protection since the 1970s. Since 1995, environmental
management systems have been assessed externally and implemented at facilities pursuant to
the Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and ISO 14001. Our long-term experience has shown
that employees are far more aware of their environment and resources as a result of the certification of
their work places. Each certification therefore makes an important contribution towards developing
awareness.
Since the end of 2009, more than 80 % of Verbund’s Austrian hydropower plants have had an
environmental management system. In 2009, the plants at the Lower Danube, Drau, Kaprun-Salzach,
Malta/Reisseck and Styria have been ISO 14001 certified. With the exception of the 31 power plants in the
Styrian group, the plants are also EMAS audited. In addition, three power plants in the Upper Danube
group – the power plants at Wallsee-Mitterkirchen, Abwinden-Asten and Ottensheim-Wilhering – were
audited and certified under EMAS and ISO 14001. With the certification of the Aschach power plant,
slated for 2010, the entire group for the Upper Danube will have an EMS that is EMAS and ISO 14001
certified.
All three thermal power plants of Verbund in operation have been certified under EMAS and ISO 14001.
Of the 110 Austrian and 13 German hydropower plants, the three thermal power plants in operation and
the five sites for wind and solar energy, 44 are currently EMAS certified (36.5 % of the power plant sites)
and 89 are ISO 14001 certified (70.6 % of the power plant sites).
The share of certified and/or audited power plant sites has dropped over the previous year due to the
purchase of the 13 power plants on the Inn in Germany and the five new locations for wind and solar
energy. Auditing and certification of the new power plants is pending.
Since 2008, all 57 grid control facilities, some 3,500 of line route and the main administration office for
the grid system have also been ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, OHSAS 18001 and EMAS certified. As part
of the ongoing improvement process, measures are continually being taken in the areas of environmental
protection and quality improvement, reviewed for technical and economical feasibility and subject to
effectiveness control upon implementation.
Verbund’s energy is also certified: Verbund household customers receive energy that originates 100%
from domestic hydropower. The inspections conducted by TÜV-SÜD of all Verbund power plant
sites since 1999 – and recently also begun in Germany – and the volume generated guarantee this
quality. Verbund places high emphasis on documenting that the “clean” energy is 100 % derived from
hydropower. The TÜV-SÜD quality seal guarantees consumers that the product meets strict ecological
criteria. Verbund power plants are certified by TÜV-SÜD using the criteria indexes EE, EE+ or EE02.
The generation process (EE) and the entire process chain (EE+, EE02) is monitored very closely.
Since 2009, all hydropower plants of Verbund, including the former Styrian SSG power plants and the
Inn power plants purchased in Bavaria in 2009 have been certified. In total, Verbund had 22,060 GWh of
TÜV-SÜD certified hydropower in 2009.
As one of the European Union’s largest hydropower groups, Verbund is a founding member of the
Renewable Energy Certificate System (RECS). As the first European association for green certificates,
RECS wants to enhance transparency in electricity labelling using uniform, objective criteria.

Since 2003, the EU has also had a legal framework for green certificates based on the RECS: certificates
of origin.
VERBUND’S LOCATION AND PRODUCT-SPECIFIC CERTIFICATIONS
2007 2008 2009
SHARE OF POWER PLANTS 23.131.5 % 41.4 % 36.5 % WITHOUT THERMAL POWER
WITH EMAS CERTIFICATION PLANTS HELD IN RESERVE,
INCLUDING THE INN POWER
PLANTS PURCHASED IN MID-2009
AND FROM 2009 ON INCLUDING
THE WIND AND SOLAR FACILITIES
SHARE OF POWER PLANTS WITH ISO-14001 23.159.5 % 80.2 % 70.6 % WITHOUT THERMAL POWER
CERTIFICATION PLANTS HELD IN RESERVE,
INCLUDING THE INN POWER
PLANTS PURCHASED IN MID-2009
AND FROM 2009 ON INCLUDING
THE WIND AND SOLAR FACILITIES
SHARE OF GRID WITH EMAS 75 % 100 % 100 %
AND ISO 14001 CERTIFICATION
SHARE OF GRID WITH ISO-9001 – 100 % 100 % 2007 ONLY MAIN CONTROL
CERTIFICATION CENTRE (1 LOCATION)
SHARE OF GRID WITH OHSAS- 75 % 100 % 100 %
18001 CERTIFICATION
SHARE OF GRID WITH ISO-27001 75 % 100 % 100 %
CERTIFICATION (INFORMATION SECURITY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)
VERBUND’S LOCATION AND PRODUCT-SPECIFIC CERTIFICATIONS
CERTIFICATION TYPE OF FACILITY NUMBER OF CERT. EPL CERT. RAV GENERATION AVAILABLE FOR
FACILITIES IN MW IN GWh/a MARKETING IN 2009 IN GWh
EMAS POWER PLANTS 46 4,641 15,205
SUBSTATIONS / GRID CONTROL CENTRES 57
LINE ROUTE LENGTH in km 3,471
VIENNA HEADQUARTERS 1
ISO 14001 POWER PLANTS 89 5,527 19,082
SUBSTATIONS / GRID CONTROL CENTRES 57
LINE ROUTE LENGTH in km 3,471
VIENNA HEADQUARTERS 1
ISO 9001 SUBSTATIONS / GRID CONTROL CENTRES 57
LINE ROUTE LENGTH in km 3,471
VIENNA HEADQUARTERS 1
ISO 27001 SUBSTATIONS / GRID CONTROL CENTRES 57
LINE ROUTE LENGTH in km 3,471
VIENNA HEADQUARTERS 1
OHSAS 18001 SUBSTATIONS / GRID CONTROL CENTRES 57
LINE ROUTE LENGTH in km 3,471
VIENNA HEADQUARTERS 1
TÜV SÜD 100 % POWER PLANTS 123 22,060
HYDROPOWER
TÜV SÜD 100 % POWER PLANTS 3 815
THERMAL POWER
RENEWABLE POWER PLANTS 8 2,563.1
ENERGY
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 63

64 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
EFFICIENCY OF THE THERMAL
POWER PLANT
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
CO 2 EMISSION RIGHTS
COMMENTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL KEY FIGURES
IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AREA
Verbund’s electricity generation includes increasing amounts of renewable energy (2007: 86 %; 2008: 88 %;
2009: 91 %). With this share, Verbund is among Europe’s leaders of companies having a comparable
size; only Norway’s national supplier has a higher share. The increase in renewable energy sources
is due firstly to the expansion and acquisition of generation capacity in hydropower, wind and solar
energy (Bruck wind farm, photovoltaics in Spain, hydropower plants on the Inn), and secondly, thermal
generation has been reduced in Verbund’s power plants because the demand for electricity was lower
than in previous years due to the global economic crisis.
For the first time in 2009, procurement rights were calculated for thermal generation. This pertains to
energy production from power plants that are not under Verbund's operational management and are not
consolidated, but part of the energy is directly marketed by Verbund. Specifically, since autumn 2009,
Verbund has had access to 40 % of the generation from the highly efficient gas and steam power plant
(combined cycle gas turbines, CCGT) at Pont-sur-Sambre in France. Generation from procurement
rights is also reported in hydropower, as there is direct access to the volume generated.
Verbund operates three thermal power plants in Dürnrohr, Werndorf and Mellach. Additional locations
are offline or have been leased. Due to the changes in the power plant line-up in the last years – from the
closure of the last brown coal power plant in Voitsberg, 2006 to the commissioning of Pont-sur-Sambre
in 2009, along with the construction of additional high efficiency CCGT power plants – the energy
efficiency of thermal power is also changing. While the existing facilities have energy efficiency rates of
40 % (district heating plants Mellach, Werndorf) to 41.5 % (steam power plant Dürnrohr), the efficiency
of CCGT power plants is higher: Verbund’s plant under construction in Mellach will have a much higher
efficiency rate, 59 %.
In terms of Verbund’s greenhouse gas emissions, CO2 emissions from thermal power plants are dominant,
which is why we are focusing on this area. These direct CO2 emissions were reduced in 2009 to a
record low of some 2.2 million t CO2. Verbund’s specific emissions, relative to total generation, were thus
74 g CO2/kWh in 2009. This makes Verbund a forerunner among companies of comparable size
in Europe.
Verbund’s specific CO2 emissions were reduced in 2009 due not only to higher volume of renewable
energy sources and the lower generation of thermal heat following the economic crisis, but also due
to the enhanced efficiency in the thermal power plants and the change to low CO2 fuels. The specific
emissions from thermal generation (including procurement rights) were just 818 g/kWh in 2009, due
to the commissioning of the CCGT power plant in Pont-sur-Sambre.
The goal is firstly to maintain the top levels achieved with regard to total generation and secondly to
reduce the specific emissions of thermal generation. The goals and measures of Verbund are published
every year as part of the Carbon Disclosure Project (www.cdproject.net).
The environmental key figures table depicts CO2 emissions from Verbund’s own plants (2,093 million t)
and the electricity volume from procurement rights (0.127 million t).
As part of the national allocation plan, Verbund’s three thermal power plants in operation received a
total of 2,124 emission rights in 2009. These allocations only pertain to the emissions from Verbund’s
own power plants, and do not include Pont-sur-Sambre.

SELECTED PROJECTS FOCUSING ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Since 2006, Verbund has regularly participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and is one of
more than 2,200 companies around the world to disclose its CO2 emissions, possible climate risks and
reduction targets. Beyond the requirements of the EU regulations, emissions values are also reported
under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, a global standard for calculating emission data. Investors, companies,
political decision makers, scientists and the media can obtain information about climate data and corpo-
rate strategies. Verbund sets store by transparency in the realm of climate and environmental issues,
serving as a role model in Austria with its comprehensive reporting.
Verbund actively supports the international energy and climate policies of Austria and the EU. Together with
numerous European top executives in the energy sector, Verbund’s CEO Wolfgang Anzengruber signed a
declaration in February 2009 in which the Austrian electricity industry acknowledged its responsibility and
central role in combating climate change and agreed to aim to achieve neutral CO2 provision by 2050.
One constant goal in power generation is to increase the efficiency of plants with new technologies and
modified behaviour. In 2009, Verbund's own requirements for energy were reduced due to construction and
electrical engineering measures. The hydropower plants' efficiency also improved further upon its already
impressive rate of 90 %.
In April 2008, the Association of Austrian Electricity Companies, its members, the Federal Ministry
of Economics and Labour and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water
Management signed a voluntary agreement to reduce the annual level of NOx emissions. After the “trial
year” of 2009, these values must be adhered to from 2010 and will be controlled as part of the annual
emission declarations.
For Verbund, this primarily means optimising the emissions of ammonia, used to reduce NOx, and
optimising NOx itself. This will be done by controlling the incineration parameters of temperature and
oxygen content in the vessels and by making adjustments to the connected denitrification plant. Efforts
have also increased in regenerating the catalytic converters and switching to new catalytic converter
systems. In 2011, Block 1 of the district heating power plant Neudorf/Werndorf (currently offline) will be
taken out of commission, once the CCGT facility in Mellach is complete and launches its operations. The
steam power plant St. Andrä (currently also offline) will also soon be taken out of commission.
At the end of August 2009, we acquired 13 hydropower plants on the Inn River in Bavaria from E.ON
and founded VERBUND-Innkraftwerke GmbH, headquartered in Töging, to manage the plants. The
hydropower plants have a total capacity of 312 MW; Verbund's annual production from renewable
energies thus rose by 1,800 GWh.
We are continually optimising our wind power portfolio in Austria and select European countries. Since
January 2009, we have owned and operated three wind farms in Lower Austria. These generate 100 GWh
per year; thus, they can supply around 29,000 average households in Austria with electricity. This means a
saving in CO2 emissions of 67,000 tonnes each year. We have also been doing business in Bulgaria since May
2009. A wind farm project with an output of 16 MW on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is under construction.
Electricity will be fed in from early 2010. With an annual power generation of 50 GWh, 14,000 households
will have access to clean energy.
Since July 2009, we have offered private households in Austria the option of putting a photovoltaics
system on the roof to generate their own power, thereby reducing their electricity bills. From submission
of the grant papers to installation of the system, everything is arranged by a single source – with powerful
partners offering their support. The energy generated is fed in as valuable peak energy, and the
customer receives more payment than he or she pays for electricity (relative to the energy price only)
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 65
EU ENERGY PACKAGE
VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT ON
NITROUS OXIDE AGREEMENT
PURCHASE OF HYDROPOWER
PLANTS ON THE INN
WIND FARMS
SOLAR HOME PACKAGE

66 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
AUSTRIA’S CLIMATE
PROTECTION REGIONS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT HOME
from the grid. Private households can lower their energy costs while investing in a pioneering form of
energy production. For more, see the student report “There is no energy problem”.
In 2009, “Austria’s Climate Protection Municipalities” were chosen again. Out of the approximately
100 participating communities, Strem (Burgenland), Virgen (East Tyrol) and Gleisdorf (Styria) were
voted as winners in different categories.
This initiative was launched in 2008 by Verbund in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry, Environment and Water Management and the Austrian Association of Municipalities.
Innovative projects by municipalities in the areas of climate protection, renewable energies and energy
efficiency were assessed. The goal is for more and more communities as “little pioneers in climate
protection”. The sum total of all these initiatives and ideas – from the technical to the consciousnessraising
– hold a great deal of potentia.
As part of “Save energy – save money”, a joint campaign of Verbund, bauMax, Wüstenrot and the
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, a thermal image
campaign offers consumers measures to make their homes more energy efficient. Thermography can
identify thermal leaks so consumers can make the right repairs to save money and power. Using energy
efficiently is becoming more and more important: More than 4,000 persons have participated in the
campaign.
CONTACT
Mag. Jan Cupal, Tel. +43 (0)503 13–53923, e-mail: jan.cupal@verbund.at

RESEARCH INDICATORS
RESEARCH INDICATORS
KEY FIGURE 2007 2008 2009
NUMBER OF COMPLETED 19 19 24
PROJECTS
NUMBER OF CURRENT 39 41 38
PROJECTS
TOTAL PROJECT VOLUME IN 29.1 31.3 57.9
EUR MILLION ¹
THEREOF EU PROJECTS IN 8.8 14.2 13.1
EUR MILLION ¹
TOTAL VERBUND SHARE IN 20.4 16.1 17.2
EUR MILLION ¹
ANNUAL VERBUND 9.0 4.6 4.3
EXPENDITURE IN
EUR MILLION
¹ OVER THE TOTAL DURATION OF THE PROJECTS
Rising demands on energy supply call for a technological shift in the energy sector. And ultimately, the
energy and climate package of the EU is creating a new research and innovation focus. Future trends that
affect Verbund in particular are electromobility, energy management and applied research in the field of
production facilities and grids.
Therefore, as an innovative company, Verbund is stepping up its activities and focusing on R&D for new
energy applications. In 2009, it founded a new department for innovation, research and development.
We are demonstrating early involvement in trends such as electromobility; we worked with expert
partners in summer 2009 to launch the Austrian Mobile Power platform and submitted a flagship project
for electromobility called “emporA”.
In 2009, Verbund managed a total of 62 research projects. The project volume (measured over the total
term and including the research portion of the project partners) was € 57.9 million; Verbund’s share was
€ 17.2 million. Of this share, € 4.3 million were for 2009 alone.
SELECT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Over the medium term, electric motors powered by renewable energy will replace fossil fuels in transportation
with a view to energy efficiency, emissions prevention and supply security. In terms of technological
development, a breakthrough is being seen with the production of high-energy, high-performance batteries.
These offer acceptable distance ranges for customers. Energy suppliers must help shape the mobility systems
of the future and get ready for the market. For this reason, in summer 2009 Verbund launched an open
platform, “Austrian Mobile Power”, with Siemens Austria, research institute AIT Austrian Institute
of Technology and MAGNA, KTM and AVL List from the automotive industry. It is an organisation
RESEARCH INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 67
NEW AREA: INNOVATION,
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

68 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | RESEARCH INDICATORS
HYDROPOWER: ENHANCING
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
GRID: EFFICIENT
TRANSMISSION
with twelve members including Wien Energie and Energie Steiermark as well as REWE, Infineon, The
Mobility House and Raiffeisen. Additional key players like Salzburg AG and EVN are already part of the
open platform with current projects.
This project is the first step in getting series-produced electric vehicles on the streets and creating the
necessary infrastructure. This not only demands the inclusion of all relevant interest groups; customer
interests must be taken into account in order to gain broad acceptance. Technical, organisational, logistic
and in particular financial conditions must be in place to create a uniform, reliable, practical and customerfriendly
system. The aim of the project is to include the most expert companies with capacity to implement
the electromobility plan in Austria. The entire value chain must be included here:
• starting with development and construction of components / vehicles,
• power generation from renewable sources,
• modification of the grid for the intelligent use of control technology to the end customer (smart grid),
• design of energy measurement to uniform billing systems for end customers and
• mobility concepts.
For hydropower, efficiency enhancements are at the top of the list of priorities, to be achieved by new
turbines and generators, such as at the Aschach power plant. Automation at the Danube power plant
also allows for the power plants to be optimally coordinated.
Research work in the field of thermal power focuses on research for future demands and operational
improvements. The focus is primarily on anticipated CO2 levels and their effects on the power plant use
as well as options for district heat storage.
One key requirement for reliable energy supply is a high voltage transmission grid with sufficient
capacity that can transport energy at high voltage and low current. This reduces transmission loss and
makes a direct, significant contribution to greater efficiency in the energy sector.
The grid research projects are generally managed with European partners, such as the development
of new allocation procedures in allocating grid capacity or upgrading methods to determine grid
conditions more easily and quickly. Among other things, a special procedure was developed that deter-
mines loads and maximum values of critical lines when assigning transmission rights. Additionally,
Verbund’s independent grid subsidiary is involved in other activities, such as the EU-sponsored LIFE-
Nature project that provides cross-border protection for the rare great bustard.
CONTACT
Dipl.-Ing. Mag. Wolfgang Pell, Tel. +43 (0)503 13–53920, e-mail: wolfgang.pell@verbund.at

SOCIAL INDICATORS
SOCIAL INDICATORS
KEY FIGURE UNIT 2007 2008 2009 NOTES
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES PERSONS 2,537 2,638 3,070 THE PURCHASE OF THE INN POWER PLANTS, THE
FULL CONSOLIDATION OF SUBSIDIARIES AND GROWTH
STRATEGY, REJUVENATION OF THE WORK FORCE
AND TIMELY ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE
IN CRITICAL POSITIONS ARE REFLECTED IN HIGHER
EMPLOYEE FIGURES (NO. OF EMPLOYEES PURSUANT
TO LABOUR LAWS AS AT 31 DECEMBER, EXCLUDING
MANAGING BOARDS AND EMPLOYEES IN EARLY
RETIREMENT).
THEREOF APPRENTICES PERSONS 98 102 142 TRAINING BEYOND OWN REQUIREMENT LEVEL
AND REJUVANATION OF THE WORK FORCE.
NEW HIRES PERSONS 165 211 232 INCREASE IN NEW HIRES TO SUPPORT GROWTH
STRATEGY, REJUVENATION OF THE WORK
FORCE AND TIMELY ACQUISITION OF
KNOWLEDGE IN CRITICAL POSITIONS.
THEREOF NEW PERSONS 27 31 47 OPENING A SECOND APPRENTICESHIP WORKSHOP
APPRENTICES
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN % 26.1 36.5 29.2 REJUVENATION OF THE WORK FORCE PRIMARILY IN
IN NEW HIRES THE TECHNICAL AREAS, COMBINED WITH MORE
PERSONNEL MARKETING MEASURES TO PROMOTE
WOMEN (E.G. WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP)
PERCENTAGE OF FEMALE % 16.4 18.0 18.6 OVERALL, ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE WOMEN
EMPLOYEES ARE SUCCESSFUL.
PERCENTAGE OF % 16.2 17.9 18.1 GROWTH STRATEGY DEMANDS TOP-QUALIFIED
GRADUATES EMPLOYEES
FURTHER TRAINING HOURS 48.5 48.0 38.0 TREND TOWARD SHORTER, MORE INTENSE
PER EMPLOYEE ¹ TRAINING SESSIONS; THIS NUMBER IS HIGH
COMPARED WITH OTHER COMPANIES
FURTHER TRAINING HOURS 116.5 95.1 79.2 TREND TOWARD SHORTER, MORE INTENSE PER
MANAGER ¹ TRAINING SESSIONS; HEAVIER USE OF
TARGETED INDIVIDUAL MEASURES
SEMINARS ATTENDED SEMINARS 3.7 3.6 4.4 MAINTAIN HIGH LEVEL
PER EMPLOYEE ¹
DIRECT EDUCATION 1 1,455 1,345 927 HIGHER COST EFFICIENCY THROUGH NEED-
EXPENDITURE PER BASED, PERSONALISED PROGRAMME, COST
EMPLOYEE REDUCTION THROUGH OWN TRAINING FACILITY
AVERAGE COST PER 1 240.0 233.7 197.8 HIGHER NUMBER OF TRAINING COURSES AT
TRAINING DAY POWER PLANT FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY
SAFETY/TECHNICAL TRAINING SESSIONS
NOTIFIABLE OCCU- NUMBER 39 41 34 ACCIDENT OCCURRENCE STABILISED AT A LOW
PATIONAL ACCIDENTS LEVEL.
TOTAL OF SICK DAYS NUMBER 841 946 829 REDUCTION IS WITHIN THE NORMAL FLUCTUATION
DUE TO NOTIFIABLE
OCCUPATIONAL
ACCIDENTS
ACCIDENT RATE (NUM- ‰ 15.4 16.0 12.1 DESPITE HIGH NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, THE
BER OF NOTIFIABLE ACCIDENT RATE IS BELOW THE AUVA STATISTIC
OCCUPATIONAL OF 17 % FOR COMPANIES WITH EMPLOYEES
ACCIDENTS PER ONLY
1,000 EMPLOYEES)
ACCIDENT SEVERITY DAYS 21.6 23.1 24.4 INCREASE THROUGH FEW ACCIDENTS WITH LENGTHY
(SICK DAYS PER PERIODS OF SICK LEAVE DUE TO “OVERSIGHT, UNFOR-
NOTIFIABLE OCCUPA- TUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES” OR “CARELESSNESS”
TIONAL ACCIDENT)
¹ INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COURSES
KENNZAHLEN SOCIALSOZIALES INDICATORS | NACHHALTIGKEITSBERICHT | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 69

70 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | SOCIAL INDICATORS
PROMOTING WOMEN
WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP AT
TU VIENNA
KEY FIGURES – SOCIAL INDICATORS – CONTINUED
KEY FIGURE UNIT 2007 2008 2009 NOTES
RATE OF FLUCTUATION % 1.8 1.5 0.8 LOW RATE OF FLUCTUATION DUE TO HIGH COMPANY
(WITHOUT RETIREES) LOYALTY OF EMPLOYEES AND SUCCESS OF THE
“BEST FIT” STRATEGY FOR RECRUITING
AVERAGE AGE OF YEARS 44.5 44.2 44.2 AVERAGE AGE REMAINS CONSTANT: REJUVENATION
EMPLOYEES OF THE WORK FORCE DUE TO NEW HIRES ALONG WITH
INTEGRATION OF IKW (HIGHER AVERAGE AGE)
LENGTH OF SERVICE YEARS 20.5 20.1 18.9 VERY LONG PERIOD OF SERVICE DUE TO
HIGH EMPLOYEE LOYALTY
EMPLOYEE REVIEW % 90.6 97.3 97.5 STABILISED AT HIGH LEVEL
RATE
Our employees are the central factor in our successful, sustainable development. Careful selection, fair
pay and individual promotion are critical factors in our HR management.
The company’s growth rate was further reinforced in 2009 with the hire of new, committed employees
and the retention of employee performance levels.
We create a healthy, positive workplace to ensure that Verbund remains an attractive employer. In 2009,
we completed the “Work and Family Audit” and continued our health management programme “Fit &
Gesund im Verbund”. Education and further training, and in particular management development, are
used to foster performance. As an incentive, Verbund has revised its performance-based salary system.
We have retained our high standard of occupational safety for many years now.
Equal treatment of employees pursuant to the equal treatment act is a natural part of our policy, as is fair
market pay pursuant to the collective employment agreement. All employees are eligible to join a union;
they also have access to numerous voluntary social benefits such as a pension fund, supplemental health
insurance, and a subsidised lunch.
The approximately 212 employees integrated after the acquisition of E.ON’s hydropower plants on
31 August 2009 are subject to the German collective agreement package, which is equivalent to Austria’s
collective employment agreement. They have comparable social benefits but not, for instance, the new
performance-based salary system.
As defined under Section 5 of Austria’s disability employment act (BeinstG), currently 192 employees are
part of the work process. Verbund therefore has exceeded the legal quota by 68 employees.
SELECTED PROJECTS FOCUSING ON SOCIAL INDICATORS
Verbund heavily emphasises the promotion of women. We are pleased to see a higher rate of applications
from skilled female technicians and scientists. Studies have shown that women improve teamwork
and results. For this reason, Verbund actively promotes women, for instance with a special women’s
scholarship at TU Vienna, which was awarded in collaboration with TU Vienna for the first time in
2009, and via apprentice training which currently includes eight young women.
As part of the TUday09 job fair on 2 April 2009, CEO Wolfgang Anzengruber awarded TU Vienna’s first
women’s scholarship to electrical engineering student Anna Haller, BSc, who prevailed over 40 qualified
competitors. The winner receives a € 6,500 grant for one academic year.

Verbund aims to raise the interest of girls and women in technical vocations early on. Each year it participates
in the “Girls Day”. The Girls Day is an initiative of Vienna’s City Councillor for Women’s Issues,
Sandra Frauenberger, and the Department for Women’s Issues of the City of Vienna in collaboration
with the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and the Vienna School Board. The goal is to help girls (aged 11
to 16) expand their career horizons and to motivate them to explore educational options not traditionally
popular with girls.
In 2009, 25 daughters of employees participated in the 6th “Girls Day”, visiting the IT department and
getting a look at the day-to-day responsibilities in a workshop.
The age structure, coupled with increasing demands on maintenance and repair of existing facilities, has
led to a higher need for personnel in the Verbund Group’s technical/industrial departments. Assuming
that employees will retire at age 60, in the next five years about 20 % (or in the next 10 years about 43 %)
of the work force will be retiring. To balance out the deficit, Verbund is recruiting professionals from the
labour market, but for many years it has also trained apprentices. Until 2007, each year 27 young people
began a vocational training as electrical and mechanical technicians with Verbund. In 2008, Verbund
welcomed 31 new apprentices and in autumn 2009, this number rose to 47.
Each year, Verbund invests around € 2.3 million in technical training for its apprentices. The level of quality
is indisputable: for decades, the rate of completion has been nearly 100 %: Nearly all those who finish the
Verbund apprentice programme pass the course with good marks; many even receive special honours.
Due to Verbund’s increasing level of international involvement, it is crucial to find and foster suitable
personnel. First, Verbund has piqued the interest of its current employees in working abroad and
second, it has established professional recruiting and personnel marketing for international locations.
Uniform employment contract standards are in place for the expatriates. In further support of Verbund’s
international growth strategy, numerous events are held for employees who work at or with international
subsidiaries or joint ventures. The primary focus is on intercultural training and on-site support,
orientation programmes and workshops on current topics like anti-corruption.
It is also essential that the expatriates be re-integrated upon their return home, which is ensured for
instance by corporate employment contracts.
The systematic implementation of corporate strategy and the success of our company are dependent on
the individual performance, commitment and motivation of our employees. In future, performance will
be recognised to a greater extent at an individual level using the new performance-based salary system.
This investment in our employees is intended to ensure the productivity and quality of the Group in the
long term.
For this reason, Verbund uses the new performance-based salary system throughout the Group. The new
model is based on the successful experience with the previous performance-based model that included
around 500 employees and has now been developed further to reflect more current requirements.
Under the new salary system, bonuses will be calculated on the basis of both individual performance and
the company’s overall success in accordance with fair and objective criteria. The performance of each
employee will therefore be reflected directly in his or her variable salary. Employee reviews now enjoy
new prestige and will become an important instrument for agreeing, tracking and assessing goals.
The model will become more transparent, as highlighted by permanent involvement of the employee
representatives and set forth in a company agreement.
Proceeding in stages, first all salaried employees and then all wage-earning employees will participate in
SOCIAL INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 71
BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO
WORK DAY
APPRENTICES
INTERNATIONALISATION
PERFORMANCE FOCUS

72 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | SOCIAL INDICATORS
EDUCATION AND FURTHER
TRAINING
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT MANAGER
ADVISOR CONCEPT
FURTHER QUALIFICATION
TO “MASTER”
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
HEALTH MANAGEMENT
the bonus system. This makes us one of the first companies in Austria to have a uniform model for all
employee groups.
We have also created a new pay scale structure for company management.
The coordination of models for employees and managers ensures commitment across the board, thus
safeguarding the quality and productivity of the Group.
Retaining key employees with specific expertise and an extremely high level of technical responsibility
is a key factor in the success of companies like Verbund. The creation of additional career opportunities
as an alternative to management careers plays a crucial part in this process. To this end, Verbund has
created new career paths for experts and project leaders for major construction activities.
Managers of major construction projects play a key role and have a heavy influence on the Group’s results.
The companies’ current, sophisticated level of project organisation is anchored in a career develop-
ment programme for major construction project managers. These managers are in charge of construction
projects in the implementation or preparation phase that have a volume of € 500 million or more.
Major construction project managers are nominated by the respective management and appointed by
the Group Executive Board member in charge. This multi-phase process ensures the consistent quality
and high value of the programm.
In addition to the existing, well-established professional career development programme pursuant to the
performance-based salary model, there are top expert positions (advisor, senior advisor and executive
advisor) that can take select employees to an expert career. This special programme is a tool that fosters
loyalty and motivation among top employees who have success-critical functions.
Candidates are evaluated by strategic personnel management, ensuring that this measure stays on track.
Advisors are also nominated by the respective management and appointed by the Group Executive
Board member in charge.
As the organisation of plants is being harmonised to form centrally managed units that are responsible
for the facilities, the operational management and overall maintenance, a shift is required from the
classic vocational descriptions of electricians and metalworkers to employees that can perform both
functions in the power plants. Those employees who were not trained as power plant technicians of this
type are offered the opportunity to at least acquire the fundamental skills of the other vocation. The
internal training course, which is held together with training partners, includes 20 master training days
and concludes with an external assessment.
As part of the Verbund training programme for members of the company crisis committees, training
courses are continually held to acquire, expand and intensify knowledge while reinforcing the
defined processes. To ensure practical knowledge, crisis scenarios are simulated. The findings from
these simulations are reviewed with the participants and crisis managers, and translated into specific
measures. Learning by doing is at the forefront of all training sessions (basic education, refreshers and
practice drills).
In 2008, a specialised, efficient project was launched on the topic of health management. The primary
goal is to counteract the problem of many employees aging out while keeping employees healthier
longer in the work process, ensuring a seamless generational transition, retaining knowledge critical to
operations and raising awareness among younger employees.
Verbund’s health management programme started with an extensive analysis that was concluded in

2008. From there, in 2009 a comprehensive and targeted health programme was launched. The project
began with a need-based health/education programme, in which more than 970 Group employees
participated in 2009. Various seminars, presentations and workshops on general topics were held,
such as motivational presentations about how to boost personal energy levels, along with special
workshops for those aged 50+, a reflux lecture, etc. Personalised wellness coaching was also offered on
such problematic issues like nutrition, exercise and stress. Due to the popularity of these offers and the
positive feedback received, it will be offered again in 2010.
Efforts are also underway to establish even more efficient structures for operational health management.
In-house health officers will be appointed within the Group and the individual companies, and a Groupwide
network of contact persons established. The aim here is to further improve awareness of health
issues within the corporate culture.
As part of OHSAS 18001 safety and health management, Verbund’s grid subsidiary appointed a health
officer back in 2007. The annual health programme motivates employees with complimentary fruit,
various sports and exercise classes and a variety of presentations on such issues as burnout, joints, “the
missing link”, pros and cons of vaccinations, etc. that promote a healthier lifestyle.
Helping employees find the work-life balance also entails business advantages: difficulties can be
mastered more quickly, employees can devote all of their energy to their work again sooner and they
feel acknowledged, accepted and supported on a personal level. This promotes identification with the
company, motivation and thus productivity.
As part of the “Work and Family Audit” sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and
Youth, all of the measures that have already been introduced to help employees reconcile their work and
private lives were reviewed. It has been shown that Verbund is already operating at a high level, reflected
in its flexible working hours and current projects like “Fit & Gesund im Verbund”. This also fosters
strong identification with the company and a positive working environment.
Additionally, Verbund’s energy trading subsidiary offers its employees a free, anonymous employee
assistance programme. “Employee” offers comprehensive consulting and coaching services for private
and personal issues, not only for the employees but also their family members living at home.
This high level of service will not only be maintained, it will be expanded. To achieve this, further
measures have been developed that will be implemented over the next three years. An intranet platform
will be established for employees on parental leave and managers will discuss their experiences in order
to raise awareness of the issue of work-family balance.
In November 2009, Verbund received the basic certificate for the “Work and Family Audit” by
Dr. Reinhold Mitterlehner, Federal Minister for Economy, Family and Youth.
Customer satisfaction is a high priority at Verbund. The Verbund Service Centre strives for professional
and friendly customer relations, coupled with continued improvements in service and consulting.
Customer satisfaction is reflected in higher recommendation rates of 69 %.
Market research conducted with electricity customers in November to measure the level of satisfaction
delivered pleasing results. Once again, the ratings were very good. Low electricity prices and product
quality, along with 100 % domestic hydropower, are the winning arguments for Verbund’s customers.
As a competent and customer-oriented company, we are committed to offering flexible solutions for late
bill payment. Late payments can happen to anyone, such as those who are in hospital for longer periods
of time. Verbund is there to assist with lenient instalment payments.
SOCIAL INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 73
WORK-LIFE-BALANCE
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: A
SUCCESS FACTOR

74 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | SOCIAL INDICATORS
SOCIAL COMMITMENT
STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE WITH
ECO-NGOS
EMPLOYEE PROTECTION AND
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
In addition to our long-term commitments with the SOS Children’s Village in Hinterbrühl and Hans Radl
School for children with physical disabilities in Vienna, we launched two more large initiatives in 2009.
“Verbund Stromhilfefonds der Caritas” supports persons in financial need with temporary assistance for
electricity bills. In order to qualify for the assistance, customers must participate in energy consultation
and possibly take efficiency measures. Certified energy consultants in all states evaluate 400 to 500
affected households each year to determine whether, and where, energy can be saved, for instance with
the use of energy-saving household appliances, new window seals, etc. The fund also helps customers
exchange energy-guzzling appliances for energy efficient models. The following year, the energy
consultant conducts a review to determine the level of efficiency reached. This measure not only helps
people but the climate too.
A further initiative is “Verbund Empowerment Fund der Diakonie” for persons with disabilities who
are particularly dependent on electrical communication devices. This includes the establishment and
expansion of Austria's consulting network for persons with disabilities and their families. Further, the
fund supports early education for children and emergency aid for the purchase of assistive technologies.
Lifetool gemeinnützige GmbH – a joint venture of the Diakonie and the Austrian Institute of Techno-
logy – develops assistive technologies and barrier-free learning programmes, consults with and trains
users and their environment. Verbund is helping to expand Diakonie's existing consulting network while
offering specific assistance.
During the “long night of sustainability” on 19 November 2009 with htl donaustadt, we held a photovoltaics
workshop to impart fundamental knowledge of solar energy and present Verbund’s solar energy package.
As in 2008, Verbund’s energy trading subsidiary did not send Christmas gifts to clients in 2009. In-
stead, it donated funds to “VinziWerke– Vinzenzgemeinschaft Eggenberg, Graz”, “VinziRast – Vinzenz-
gemeinschaft St. Stephan, Vienna” and “FranzHilf – Franziskaner for Central and Eastern Europe”.
In 2009, Verbund launched a number of round tables with national and international NGOs involved in
environmental and climate change. The aim of these discussions with leading representatives was a joint
understanding of opinions, fostered by an exploration, discussion and search for common solutions for
the issues of energy systems and climate/environmental protection at national and international levels.
The discussions will be continued in 2010.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Pursuant to legal regulations, we define accident prevention as preventive measures that can avoid
undesirable events like occupational accidents and their consequences. To some extent, Austrian laws
and ordinances on employee protection are just a framework, but in real life are difficult to implement,
as efficient protective measures bear a number of requirements. Risks must be reduced to an acceptable
minimum, protective measures must apply to all those affected; they must be accepted by the employer
and ultimately remain affordable.
Employee protection is a key goal of Verbund, which is why it has had a group of experienced safety
officers for many years. They advise employees and organise and monitor measures within the power
plants and grid systems. Additionally, they handle the operational implementation of the employer’s
duties, harnessing synergies to optimally ensure that all companies are in compliance.
Effective accident prevention demands a great deal of experience and planning. Accident prevention
means not only physical protection of employees, but also protection of management against neglecting
their duties of care and protection of the facilities themselves.

We also demand that our contractors comply with safety measures and regulations; we conduct reviews
to be sure they are in compliance. Each employee of a third-party company receives safety instructions
and is notified of the key points in prevention and safety within the company.
In 2009, prevention topics focused on training employees on “Working in and above water” and, in this
context, handling personal protective equipment.
Practical training was the central focus of this personal safety course. 210 employees experienced what it
is like to fall into the water with a life vest and how a rescue measure works. These training courses will
be held within all areas of the Group in the coming years.
The topic of working materials was also featured for employees to learn how to use and transport
hazardous materials.
Group-wide regulations for employee protection and safety, as well as for working materials, have been
revised or created. The standard forms and help documents needed have been organised and put on the
intranet. This ensures Group-wide procedures and coordinated processes for safety topics.
Legally stipulated prevention measures like employee and employer consulting, workplace inspection,
risk identification and evaluation, definition of risk prevention measures, occupational protection
meetings, further training for safety workers, etc. have been completed. Verbund’s safety officers are
also part of external committees like the standards committee, the VEÖ safety committee and the
VEÖ safety engineer working group for Austrian utilities.
GROUP ACCIDENT RATES
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES – SICK DAYS
2500
2000
1500
1000
1500
1500
2,537 2,638 2,709¹
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES – LABOUR LAW TOTAL SICK DAYS DUE TO NOTIFIABLE OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS
¹ NOT INCLUDING EMPLOYEES FROM POWER PLANTS ACQUIRED ON THE INN IN 2009
841 946 829
2007 2008 2009
The interpretation of the accident rate does not include the absolute number of accidents; it is set relative
to an index. For this purpose, the accident figures are based on the accident rate and severity of the
accident.
The accident rate reflects the accidents in a year relative to the number of employees; in terms of accident
severity, the average degree per accident based on the number of sick days is used.
SOCIAL INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 75

76 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | SOCIAL INDICATORS
OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS – ACCIDENT RATE – DEGREE OF SEVERITY
50
40
30
20
10
00
39
41
34
NUMBER OF NOTIFIABLE
OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS
The Group’s accident rate has been stabilised at a low level. 2009 saw the lowest number of accidents,
which resulted in the best key figures since accident reporting began in 2001.
• The Group’s accident rate is in the bottom third of the key figures for Austria’s energy utilities (source:
VEÖ accident statistics).
• Comparisons of accident rates in the metal and electrical industry (40), the chemicals and paper
industry (37) and occupational accident statistics for all of Austria (29) and Germany (27) show that
the accident rate in our Group is well below average with 12.6 accidents per 1,000 employees.
• Additional benchmarks are the statistics from Austria’s general accident insurance institute. The
reporting basis is approximately 170,000 accidents throughout Austria. AUVA’s accident statistics
show that the accident rate for hourly workers is 69 and for salaried employees is 17. Despite the high
number of operationally active employees in the Group, Verbund's accident rate is 12.6, lower than
AUVA’s statistics for salaried employees.
This is further evidence of the Group’s high occupational safety awareness.
21.6
23.1
It is pleasing to note that in the last two years, as a result of organisational and technical safety measures,
falls and electrical accidents have stayed at very low levels. One sign that the employee protection mea-
24.4
EVERITY OF ACCIDENT = SICK DAYS PER
OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT (> 3 DAYS)
15.4
16.0
12.6
ACCIDENT RATE – OCCUPATIONAL ACCI-
DENTS (> 3 DAYS) PER 1,000 WORKERS
2007 2008 2009
OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT BY CATEGORY NUMBER
40
30
20
10
00
6
5
SERIOUS ACCIDENTS
(MORE THAN 45 SICK DAYS)
5
5
10
MODERATE ACCIDENTS
(20 TO 45 SICK DAYS)
7
28 26 22 30 23 21
MINOR ACCIDENTS
(4 TO 19 SICK DAYS)
VERY MINOR ACCIDENTS
(0 TO 3 SICK DAYS)
2007 2008 2009

sures are being effectively implemented is the fact that no sick days were taken as a result of organisa-
tional deficits.
The five serious accidents in the Group accounted for about 50 % of all the sick days. These accidents
were caused by slipping, sliding, stumbling or tripping and can be attributed to “oversight” or “accident,
unfortunate circumstances”. The effects of these accidents were long-term illnesses, primarily due to torn
tendons or ligaments, up to 98 days.
The preventive measures taken and the safety measures practised at work are clearly working, but going
forward employees need to further develop their own understanding and awareness of these issues. The
safety group will hold programmes, training and information sessions with their safety officers to further
improve the accident rates.
CONTACT
Mag. Dr. Georg Westphal, Tel. +43 (0)503 13–54100, e-mail: georg.westphal@verbund.at
SOCIAL INDICATORS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 77

78 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | TARGETS
TARGETS: ECONOMICS
TARGET SUBTARGET PLANNED MEASURES 2009 TARGET VALUE FOR 2009
ACHIEVEMENT OF OPERATIONAL OPERATING RESULT
TARGETS
EARNINGS PER SHARE
ECONOMIC VALUE ADDED (EVA)
GEARING
INVESTMENT IN PROPERTY, PLANT
AND EQUIPMENT
USING GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN VALUE-GENERATING INVESTMENTS
THE EUROPEAN ELECTRICITY MARKET AND ACQUISITIONS
EXPANSION OF HYDROPOWER CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPED COMPLETE SHELL CONSTRUCTION SHELL CONSTRUCTION OF CAVERNS
GENERATION CAPACITY STORAGE PLANT LIMBERG II OF CAVERNS AND PRESSURE AND PRESSURE SHAFT ARMOUR
SHAFT ARMOUR, PAVE COMPLETE, SUPPLY CANALS
WATER SUPPLY CANALS PAVED
CONSTRUCTION OF RUN-OF-RIVER COMPLETE ASSEMBLY WORK, CONDUCT POWER PLANT IS IN OPERATION
POWER PLANT WERFEN/PFARRWERFEN TRIAL OPERATIONS OF POWER
PLANT
HIEFLAU POWER PLANT- CONNECT NEW WATER WATER SUPPLY CANAL
EXPANSION SUPPLY CANAL IS IN OPERATION
APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CONDUCT PLANS AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
NEW HYDROPOWER PLANTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR
IMPACT ASSESSMENT A PROJECT RECEIVED
INCREASING THERMAL GENERATION RENOVATION OF OLDER FACILITIES: BEGIN CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN
CAPACITY GAS AND STEAM BLOCK MELLACH
MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLY SECURITY CONSTRUCTION OF 380 KV LINE COMPLETE LINE LINE HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED
AND REDUCTION OF GRID LOSSES KAINACHTAL – SOUTHERN
BURGENLAND
TARGETS: ENVIRONMENT
CONSTRUCTION OF 380 KV LINE – BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN
SALZACH NEU – ST. PETER SECOND HALF OF 2009
CONSTRUCTION OF 380 KV LINE – FIND A SOLUTION UNDER THE FEASIBLE SOLUTION FOUND
SALZACH NEU – TAUERN LEAD OF AN EU COORDINATOR
TARGET SUBTARGET PLANNED MEASURES 2009 TARGET VALUE FOR 2009
OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS INCLUSION IN GROUP EXPAND ON TOPIC, INCLUDE FIRST MEASURES IMPLEMENTED
OF CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY IN GROUP STRATEGY
DEVELOPMENT OF
NEW BUSINESS AREAS
THG REPORTING PURSUANT
TO GAS PROTOCOL
(SCOPE 1–3)
REDUCTION OF SPECIFIC CO 2
EMISSIONS FROM THERMAL
GENERATION
STABILISATION OF SPECIFIC
CO 2 MEASURES RELATIVE TO
TOTAL GENERATION
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING REORGANISATION OF GROUP-WIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
PUBLICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA ONLINE

ACHIEVED TARGET 2009 STATUS PLANNED MEASURES 2010 TARGET 2010
1,042.3 TO BE CONTINUED
2.09 TO BE CONTINUED
351.3 TO BE CONTINUED
138.3 TO BE CONTINUED
471.9 TO BE CONTINUED
TARGET ACHIEVED: EXPANSION OF TO BE CONTINUED
POWER PLANT PARK VIA PURCHASE
OF 13 HYDROPOWER PLANTS ON THE INN
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED ASSEMBLE FIRST MAIN EXPANSION OF TRANSFORMER CAVERN,
MACHINERY UNIT ARMOUR ASSEMBLY AND SHAFT COMPLETED
TARGET ACHIEVED COMPLETED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION MEASURES, COMPLETE PROJECT COMPLETE, RECULTIVATION
RECULTIVATION OF CONSTRUCTION AREAS WORK DONE
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED MAKE CONSTRUCTION DECISION CONSTRUCTION DECISION FOR NEW
HYDROPOWER PLANT IS APPROVED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED CARRY OUT WORK CONCRETE WORK, ASSEMBLY OF
ACCORDING TO PLAN MAIN COMPONENTS, VESSELS,
CHIMNEY AND GAS TURBINES COMPLETED
TARGET ACHIEVED COMPLETED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS UNDERWAY AS
PER PLAN
TARGET PARTLY ACHIEVED: PROPOSAL TO BE CONTINUED HOLD FURTHER DISCUSSIONS FEASIBLE SOLUTION FOUND
OF EU COORDINATOR IS BEING REVIEWED WITH AFFECTED COMMUNITIES
BY STATE AND MUNICIPALITIES TO FIND A SOLUTION
ACHIEVED TARGET 2009 STATUS PLANNED MEASURES 2010 TARGET 2010
INCLUSION IN NEW GROUP TO BE CONTINUED INCLUSION IN GROUP STRATEGY EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION
STRATEGY
NEW R&D AND DEVELOP INITIAL OFFERS
FOR CUSTOMERS IN
ELECTROMOBILITY
NEW IMPLEMENT THG REPORTING DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION
PURSUANT TO GAS PROTOCOL HAS BEEN MADE
(SCOPE 1–3)
TARGETS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 79
NEW COMMISSION CCGT MELLACH; SPECIFIC EMISSIONS FROM THERMAL
CONTINUE TO MOVE GENERATION ARE REDUCED
PRODUCTION TO GAS
NEW EXPAND GENERATION FROM RENEWABLE SPECIFIC EMISSIONS RELATED TO
ENERGIES, FUEL SWITCH AND THE TOTAL GENERATION REMAINS
EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT WITH TOP AMONG EUROPEAN UTILITIES
THERMAL GENERATION
NEW IMPLEMENT REVISED, GROUP-WIDE SYSTEM IS IMPLEMENTED
SYSTEM FOR REPORTING
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
NEW IMPLEMENT SYSTEM TO PUBLISH SYSTEM IS IMPLEMENTED
ALL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
ONLINE

80 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | TARGETS
TARGETS: ENVIRONMENT – CONTINUED
TARGET SUBTARGET PLANNED MEASURES 2009 TARGET VALUE FOR 2009
AVOIDING NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCED ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASCHACH POWER PLANT: WORK ON 3RD MACHINE
INFLUENCES OF POWER PLANTS, IN POWER GENERATION CONTINUE WORK ON 3RD UNIT COMPLETED; WORK
GRIDS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINE UNIT ON 4TH MACHINE UNIT
LOCATIONS UNDERWAY
¹ ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS)
ENHANCEMENT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY CREATE ENERGY PASS FOR ENERGY PASS FOR BUILDINGS
AT ADMINISTRATIVE LOCATIONS BUILDINGS, DETERMINE TECHNICAL AND INDEX OF MEASURES FOR
AND ORGANISATIONAL INDEX OF “AM HOF” OFFICE COMPLETED
MEASURES
FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF EXPAND SUSTAINABILITY PROPOSALS FOR SPECIFIC
ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL CRITERIA CRITERIA FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS
FOR PURCHASES PURCHASE OF DEFINED FOR PURCHASING ARE AVAILABLE
PRODUCT GROUPS
REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ROTTAU FISH PASS AT PLAN AND SUBMIT PROJECT SUBMITTED
IMPACT FROM POWER MALTA POWER PLANT
PLANTS
UPSTREAM CHANNEL ROTTAU RENOVATE AND RE-NATURALISE PLANNING COMPLETED
AT MALTA POWER PLANT UPSTREAM CHANNEL AT ROTTAU
ST. MARTIN FISH PASS AT PLAN PROJECT PLANNING COMPLETED
ROSEGG POWER PLANT
FÖDERLACH BIOTOPE AT IMPLEMENT A MONITORING PROGRAMME BIOTOPE ACCEPTED BY
ROSEGG POWER PLANT FOR NATURAL SUCCESSION AT THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS
BIOTOPE EXPANDED IN 2008 AT
FÖDERLACH
UTILIZATION OF REALIT DESULFURI- REVIEW RECYCLING > 90 % OF THE ANNUAL
SATION PRODUCT FROM DÜRNROHR VOLUME IS UTILIZED AS
AS FILLER FOR A FORMER GYPSUM FILLER FOR A FORMER
MINE GYPSUM MINE
FISH PASS AT ABWINDEN-
ASTEN POWER PLANT
IMPROVE/SECURE EXPANSION OF SHALLOW WATER DECIDE IF AND WHEN EXPANSION DECISION ABOUT FURTHER
TERRESTRIAL AND ZONE BRENNDORF NEAR THE EDLING WILL TAKE PLACE PROCEDURE HAS BEEN MADE
AQUATIC HABITATS POWER PLANT
FEISTRIZ-LUDMANNSDORF POWER PLANT: KEEP WORKING ON SELKACH; DECISION MADE WITH REGARD
IMPLEMENTATION OF FLOOD WATER AND DECIDE ON DRAGOSITSCHACH TO DRAGOSITSCHACH
SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT BY 2010 SUBPROJECT
CERTIFICATION UNDER EMAS UPPER DANUBE PLANTS: EACH YEAR ONE AUDIT OTTENSHEIM-WILHERING AUDIT OTTENSHEIM-
AND ISO 14001 FURTHER POWER PLANT WITH EMS¹ WILHERING COMPLETED
TARGETS: SOCIAL ISSUES
CERTIFICATION OF AM HOF 6A, 1010 INTRODUCE EMS¹, LOCATION AM HOF 6A IS
VIENNA SITE UNDER ISO CARRY OUT AUDIT AUDITED UNDER EMAS AND
14001 AND EMAS ISO 14001
CERTIFICATION OF INN POWER PLANTS
UNDER EMAS AND ISO 14001
TARGET SUBTARGET PLANNED MEASURES 2009 TARGET VALUE FOR 2009
IMPROVEMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK IMPLEMENT AUDIT BASIC CERTIFICATE COMPLETED
WORK-LIFE-BALANCE AND FAMILY AUDIT
FIT & HEALTHY CAMPAIGN EXECUTE FURTHER MEASURES HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IN VERBUND IS IMPLEMENTED
INTRODUCTION OF SYSTEMATIC COMMITMENT INDEX, FIRST NONE NEXT EMPLOYEE SURVEY TO
EMPLOYEE SURVEYS EVALUATION BE DONE IN 2010

ACHIEVED TARGET 2009 STATUS PLANNED MEASURES 2010 TARGET 2010
TARGETS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 81
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED COMPLETE WORK ON 4TH MACHINE RENOVATION IN ASCHACH
MACHINE UNIT POWER PLANT COMPLETED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED CALCULATE ENERGY NEEDS CENTRAL HVAC HAS COUNTERS
FOR CLIMATE CONTROL
TARGET PARTLY ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS FOR UPDATE CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS FOR
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES WILL BE CONSTRUCTION; INDICATORS FOR
UPDATED FOR SUSTAINABILITY; SELECTED PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE
INDICATORS FOR CERTAIN PRODUCT
GROUPS WILL BE DEVELOPED
TARGET PARTLY ACHIEVED: SUBMIT PROJECT FOR APPROVAL PROJECT IS APPROVED
PLANNING COMPLETED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED SUBMIT PROJECT FOR APPROVAL PROJECT IS APPROVED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED SUBMIT PROJECT FOR APPROVAL PROJECT IS APPROVED
COMPLETED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED INCREASE AMOUNT RECYCLED MORE THAN 95 % OF REALIT IS
UTILIZED
TARGET ACHIEVED: COMPLETED
NO EXPANSION FOR NOW
NEW REVIEW OPTIONS FOR FISH PASS DECISION FOR VERSION TO BE
IMPLEMENTED IN PLACE
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED CARRY OUT MEASURES MEASURES ARE COMPLETED
AS PLANNED
TARGET ACHIEVED COMPLETED
TARGET PARTLY ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED PREPARE PROCESSES AND DOCUMENTS FOR 2011 AUDIT ARE
MEASURES SO THAT EXTERNAL READY
AUDIT CAN BE DONE IN SUMMER
2011
NEW PREPARE CERTIFICATION PREPARATION FOR CERTIFICATION
COMPLETED
ACHIEVED TARGET 2009 STATUS PLANNED MEASURES 2010 TARGET 2010
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED IMPLEMENT MEASURES PURSUANT AT LEAST ONE OF THREE MEASURES
TO WORK AND FAMILY AUDIT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED OFFER PERSONAL WELLNESS MEASURES FOR HEALTH MANAGEMENT
COACHING, HEALTH PROGRAMME, HAVE BEEN CONTINUED
UNIQA VITAL TRUCK
NO INTERIM TARGET FOR 2009, TO BE CONTINUED CONDUCT HEALTH SURVEY, HEALTH SURVEY DONE, PRE-
EMPLOYEE SURVEY PUT PREPARE EMPLOYEE SERVICE PARATIONS FOR EMPLOYEE
BACK TO 2011 FOR 2011 SERVICE FOR 2011 ARE DONE

82 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | TARGETS
TARGETS: SOCIAL ISSUES – CONTINUED
TARGET SUBTARGET PLANNED MEASURES 2009 TARGET VALUE FOR 2009
ACHIEVEMENT OF INCREASE SHARE OF WOMEN WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES 19 %
SOCIAL TARGETS AND MEDIA
REDUCTION OF ACCIDENT RATE SET TRAINING AEREAS BASED < 16 ‰
IN GROUP ON DETAILED ANALYSIS
REDUCTION OF FALLING AND CONDUCT TRAINING MEASURES NO FALLS OR ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED
FURTHER ENHANCEMENTS TO OCCU- CREATION OF A SAFETY GUIDE SAFETY GUIDE COMPLETED
PATIONAL SAFETY IN THE GROUP
VIA HEIGHTENED AWARENESS
NEW TRAINING FOCUS
FOR 2011
PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY ENHANCE CUSTOMER SAFETY DEVELOP CUSTOMER PLATFORM WITH CUSTOMER PLATFORM 90 %
WHEN HANDLING ELECTRICITY ADDITIONAL SERVICE OFFERS COMPLETE
EXPAND ONLINE SERVICE OFFER
SOCIAL COMMITMENT MORE TRAINING PLACES FOR TAKE ON 45 NEW APPRENTICES, BUILD 45 NEW APPRENTICES HIRED,
APPRENTICES CENTRAL AND TRAINING WORKSHOP CONSTRUCTION FOR THE CENTRAL
FOR 60 APPRENTICES IN ALL FOUR AND TRAINING WORKSHOP IS
TRAINING YEARS IN KAPRUN COMPLETE
GENERAL TARGETS
TARGET SUBTARGET PLANNED MEASURES 2009 TARGET VALUE FOR 2009
PRESENTATION OF QUANTITATIVE CREATION OF AN INDICATOR REVIEW ADDITIONAL KEY FIGURES ADDITIONAL KEY FIGURES FROM
SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS FOR SYSTEM THE GRI UTILITIES SUPPLEMENT
THE COMPANY ARE CONTAINED IN THE 2009
REPORT
FURTHER INTEGRATION OF CREATION OF A LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
IN COMPANY
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WAKE
OF IMPLEMENTING A NEW
BRAND PROFILE
REVIEW WATER DATA FOR QUALITY IMPROVE DATA QUALITY
AND RELEVANCE AND CREATE
UNIFORM DEFINITIONS
FOR RELEVANT WATER
CATEGORIES
ANCHOR SUSTAINABILITY MORE HOLD LECTURES AT TWO PRESENTATIONS ON SUSTAIN-
FIRMLY IN THE COMPANY POWER PLANT GROUPS ABILITY HELD AT TWO POWER
PLANT GROUPS
INFORM NEW EMPLOYEES INFORM ALL NEW EMPLOYEES ALL NEW EMPLOYEES ARE
ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN DIRECTLY INFORMED ABOUT
VERBUND SUSTAINABILITY IN VERBUND
OPERATIONALISATION OF ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE CONTINUE TRAINING, CREATE INTERNAL COMPLIANCE SYSTEM
VERBUND’S CORPORATE CONTENT OF THE CODE OF INTERNAL COMPLIANCE FOR BUSINESS ETHICS IS
PRINCIPLES CONDUCT SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED
IMPLEMENT INTERNAL
COMPLIANCE SYSTEM
OPTIMISATION OF A GROUP- REGULAR DIALOGUE WITH RELEVANT
WIDE COORDINATED STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE
IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABILITY CONDUCT PRACTICAL TEST FOR INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY
ASPECTS FOR INVESTMENT PLANS INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA CHECKED IN A PILOT
ABROAD CRITERIA PROJECT

ACHIEVED TARGET 2009 STATUS PLANNED MEASURES 2010 TARGET 2010
TARGET ALMOST ACHIEVED: 18.6 % TO BE CONTINUED ENHANCE COOPERATION WITH 19 %
UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS AND MEDIA
TARGET ACHIEVED: 12 ‰ TO BE CONTINUED CONTINUE TO OFFER INTENSIVE THE LOW LEVEL IS MAINTAINED
TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED FOCUS ON TRAINING FOR WORK THE LOW LEVEL IS MAINTAINED
IN/ABOVE WATER WITH
PRACTICAL EXERCISES
TARGET PARTLY ACHIEVED: WORK TO BE CONTINUED WORK GROUP CREATES COMPLETED SAFETY GUIDE PRESENTED
GROUP SET UP, BUDGET AND SAFETY GUIDE TO GROUP SAFETY COMMITTEE
PROGRAMME ARE IN PLACE
TARGET ACHIEVED: “MY POWER” COMPLETED
WENT ONLINE IN FEBRUARY 2010
NEW CREATE TRAINING FOCUS FOCUS AND TRAINING CONTENT
FOR 2011 PRESENTED TO GROUP SAFETY COMMITTEE
NEW CREATE BENCHMARK FOR INDIVIDUAL 10,000 USERS HAVE REGISTERED
CONSUMPTION (HIGHER / LOWER FOR “MY POWER”
THAN AVERAGE)
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED MAINTAIN LEVEL OF NEW 45 APPRENTICES WERE HIRED
APPRENTICES
ACHIEVED TARGET 2009 STATUS PLANNED MEASURES 2010 TARGET 2010
TARGETS | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | 83
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED REVIEW APPLICATION OF THE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2010 INCLUDES
GRI EUSS KEY FIGURES ¹ KEY FIGURES FROM GRI AND
SECTOR SUPPLEMENT
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED HARMONISE DATA COLLECTION THE HARMONISED COLLECTION OF
WATER DATA IS IMPLEMENTED IN THE
VERBUND HYDROPOWER SUBSIDIARY
NEW CREATE SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY NEW SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY IN PLACE
THAT CLARIFIES AND DISTINGUISHES
CORPORATE STRATEGY
NEW PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT PLAN IS IN PLACE, NEW
OF PROJECTS TO PROMOTE PROJECTS TO PROMOTE
ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY LAUNCHED
SUSTAINABILITY
TARGET PARTLY ACHIEVED: LECTURES TO BE CONTINUED HOLD LECTURES AT TWO PRESENTATIONS ON SUSTAINABILITY
IN INDUCTION WORKSHOP FOR POWER PLANT GROUPS HELD AT TWO POWER PLANT GROUPS
ALBANIA
TARGET ACHIEVED: LECTURES ABOUT TO BE CONTINUED INFORM ALL NEW EMPLOYEES ALL NEW EMPLOYEES ARE
SUSTAINABILITY IN VERBUND AT ALL ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTLY INFORMED ABOUT
NEW HIRE SEMINARS IN VERBUND SUSTAINABILITY IN VERBUND
TARGET ACHIEVED: INTERNAL COMPLETED
COMPLIANCE SYSTEM IS
IMPLEMENTED
NEW CREATE DOCUMENTS FOR THREE COMPLIANCE SESSIONS
COMPLIANCE TRAINING; HOLD COMPLETED
TRAINING SESSIONS
TARGET ACHIEVED TO BE CONTINUED CONDUCT PRACTICAL TEST FOR USE EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE
OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS SHARED WITH JV COMPANIES
IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ABROAD
¹ GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE – ELECTRIC UTILITY SECTOR SUPPLEMENT
NEW RECORD RELEVANT STAKEHOLDER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS RECORDED,
GROUPS AND FURTHER DEVELOP SUIT- DIALOGUE FORMS AND
ABLE DIALOGUE FORMS AND TOOLS TOOLS IMPLEMENTED

84 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2009 | AUDITOR’S CERTIFICATE
THIS SUSTAINABILITY
REPORT IS EQUIVALENT
TO THE GRI G3 APPLICATION
LEVEL OF A+
AUDIT ORGANISATION
ETA UMWELTMANAGEMENT GMBH
MOHSGASSE 32/40, A-1030 VIENNA
TEL. +43-1-5037208-0
OFFICE@ETA.AT / WWW.ETA.AT
REGISTER NUMBER: AT-V-0001
ETA UMWELTMANAGEMENT
GMBH IS THE ORGANISATIONAL
STAKEHOLDER (OS) OF THE
GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE
(GRI) AND SUPPORTS GRI’S
MISSION.
AUDITOR’S CERTIFICATE
ETA Umweltmanagement GmbH – Sustainability Auditors – was commissioned as independent
auditor
• to evaluate this 2009 Sustainability Report with regard to the underlying sustainability aspects, data,
systems and procedures,
• to critically examine the scope, balance and interpretation of the presentation,
• and to examine the compliance with the regulations of the Global Reporting Initiative (G3).
We have based our audit on the developing standards for sustainability report auditing. This includes the
criteria of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI G3 Application Levels http://www.globalreporting.org/
GRIReports/ApplicationLevels/) and the code of practice of the European Federation of Accountants,
FEE, “Providing Assurance on Sustainability Reports”.
Our audit encompassed
• an interview with those responsible for the Sustainability Report, as well as random testing of the
underlying management systems and procedures,
• an evaluation of the correct, balanced and consistent presentation of sustainability aspects and data
and
• an analysis of systems for data collection and evaluation of performance data in the economic, social
and environmental areas.
Pursuant to the above review methods, we did not find any facts that would lead us to believe that
the information and data published as referenced in the GRI Index 2009 could be incorrect. In our
assessment, the data and information presented are comprehensive, balanced and presented in an
appropriate manner with regard to ecological, social and economic aspects of sustainability and is
not in conflict with other information or evidence submitted by the company.
Detailed recommendations for the further development of the Sustainability Report were submitted to
management in an internal report.
This Sustainability Report is rated with the GRI G3 application level of A+.
Vienna, 15 March 2010
Dr. Christine Jasch Dr. Stefan Gara
Chief Auditor, Chartered Certified Accountant Chief Auditor, Manager

Slovenia
Podlog
Soverzene
Maribor
Italy
Pradella
Lienz
Switzerland
OBER-
SIELACH
Kainachtal
Malta
Steweag-Steg
Steweag-Steg
West Tyrol
Eastern Styria
Southern Burgenland
Bürs
Zell am
Ziller
TAUERN
Pongau
Hessenberg
Hungary
Energie AG
Weißenbach
Steweag-Steg
Steweag-Steg
Ternitz
Memmingen
Leupolz
Germany
Salzach
Salzach
Neu
Neusiedl
Substations / Switching stations
Hausruck
ERNSTHOFEN
Ranshofen
Ybbsfeld
Györ
Györ
VIENNA
SOUTH-EAST
Sarasdorf
110 kV line
St. Peter
220 kV line
Altheim
Simbach
Dürnrohr
380 kV Salzburg line 2 in the planning phase
Pleinting
Pirach
Bisamberg
Slovakia
380 kV Salzburg line 1 under construction
Western Region
Northern Region
Eastern Region
Southern Region
380 kV line
Facilities in VERBUND-Austrian Power Grid AG’s
high and extra-high voltage grid:
Integrated management system in accordance
with EMAS, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001
and OHSAS 18001
Slavetice Sokolnice
THE HIGH AND EXTRA-HIGH VOLTAGE GRID
Czech Republic
GRID PLAN OF CERTIFIED FACILITIES

* Plant certified with the Environmental
Management System as per
ISO 14001
** Plant certified with the Environmental
Management System as per
EMAS and ISO 14001
Wind farm
Thermal power plant
Thermal power plant in planning/under construction
Thermal power plant not in operation
Run-of-river power plant > 5 MW
Run-of-river power plant under construction
Joint power plant of VERBUND-Austrian Hydro
Power AG
Participating interest of Verbund
1 Roßhag
2 Bösdornau
3 Mayrhofen
4 Gerlos
5 Häusling
6 Funsingau
7 Kaprun Oberstufe **
8 Kaprun Hauptstufe **
9 Limberg 2
10 Schwarzach **
11 Reißeck-Kreuzeck **
12 Malta Hauptstufe **
13 Malta Oberstufe **
14 Mandling *
15 Bodendorf-Paal *
16 Sölk *
17 Salza *
18 Hieflau *
19 St. Martin *
20 Arnstein *
1 Oberaudorf-Ebbs
2 Nußdorf
3 Rosenheim
4 Feldkirchen
5 Wasserburg
6 TW Wasserburg
7 Teufelsbruck
8 Gars
9 Jettenbach 1
10 Jettenbach 2
11 Töging
12 Aubach
13 Neuötting
14 Perach
15 Stammham
16 Braunau-Simbach
17 Ering-Frauenstein
18 Egglfing-Obernberg
19 Schärding-Neuhaus
20 Passau-Ingling
1 Jochenstein
2 Aschach
3 Ottensheim-Wilhering **
4 Abwinden-Asten **
5 Wallsee-Mitterkirchen **
6 Ybbs-Persenbeug **
7 Melk **
8 Altenwörth **
9 Greifenstein **
10 Nußdorf **
11 Freudenau **
1 Bodendorf-Mur *
2 St. Georgen *
3 Fisching *
1 Malta Unterstufe **
2 Paternion **
3 Kellerberg **
4 Villach **
5 Rosegg-St. Jakob **
1 Bruck/Leitha
Wind farm
Run-of-river power plants on the Mur River
Run-of-river power plants on the Drau River
Run-of-river power plants on the Danube River
1 Wallnerau **
2 St. Veit **
3 St. Johann
4 Urreiting
5 Bischofshofen
6 Kreuzbergmaut
7 Werfen/Pfarrwerfen
1 Triebenbach *
2 Landl *
3 Krippau *
4 Altenmarkt *
5 Schönau *
6 Weyer *
7 Großraming *
8 Losenstein *
9 Klaus *
10 Ternberg *
11 Garsten-St. Ulrich *
12 Rosenau *
13 Staning *
14 Mühlrading *
15 St. Pantaleon *
4 Leoben *
5 Dionysen *
6 Pernegg *
7 Laufnitzdorf *
8 Rabenstein *
9 Peggau *
10 Friesach *
11 Weinzödl *
12 Mellach **
13 Lebring **
14 Gralla **
15 Gabersdorf **
16 Obervogau **
17 Spielfeld **
1 Zeltweg
2 St. Andrä
3 Neudorf-Werndorf 1
4 Neudorf-Werndorf 2 **
5 Mellach **
6 Mellach 2
7 Dürnrohr **
8 Korneuburg
Thermal power plants
6 Feistritz-Ludmannsdorf **
7 Ferlach-Maria Rain **
8 Annabrücke **
9 Edlich **
10 Schwabeck **
11 Lavamünd **
Storage power plant
Storage power plant under construction
Storage power plant Run-of-river power plants on the Inn River
Run-of-river power plants on the Salzach River
Run-of-river power plants on the Enns River
Slovenia
Italy
Drau River
Switzerland
Mur River
Hungary
Inn River
Enns River
Salzach River
Germany
Danube River
Slovakia
Danube River
CERTIFIED POWER PLANTS OF VERBUND
Czech Republic

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