Materiality in Energy & Utilities: Guide 2024

Iñaki González-Rubio
October 4, 2024

Energy companies face big changes in 2024. Here's what you need to know about materiality:

  • Materiality helps companies focus on the most important ESG issues
  • New rules are coming, like the SEC's climate disclosure requirements
  • Key issues include climate change, worker safety, and community relations

Quick overview of materiality in energy:

What It Is Why It Matters Key Focus Areas
Identifying crucial ESG topics Guides strategy and reporting Climate change
Involves stakeholder input Helps manage risks Infrastructure
Shapes business decisions Attracts investors Cybersecurity

To get materiality right:

  1. Talk to all stakeholders
  2. Use data to rank issues
  3. Link ESG to financial performance
  4. Update your assessment regularly

Remember: Good materiality practices help energy companies stay competitive and meet new regulations.

What is Materiality in Energy & Utilities?

Materiality in energy and utilities is about focusing on the ESG issues that really matter. It's not just box-ticking - it's figuring out what can make or break a company's success and impact its stakeholders.

Materiality assessments help companies cut through the noise. They look at:

  1. How ESG issues affect the bottom line
  2. How the company's actions impact the world

This two-way approach is called "double materiality", and it's gaining traction.

Here are some real-world examples:

Material Topic Why It Matters Example
Climate Change Affects operations and regulations EGCO Group's top concern in 2023
Worker Safety Critical for operations and reputation Key issue for energy companies
Community Relations Impacts project approvals EGCO Group surveys 12 stakeholder groups

Why is this so important now?

  • 92% of S&P 500 companies publish ESG reports
  • Investors are zeroing in on ESG risks
  • New regulations are coming

Take the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in Europe. It's pushing companies to report on both financial risks from sustainability issues and their impact on people and the planet.

What's new?

  • The shift to double materiality
  • More stakeholder engagement
  • Growing focus on climate-related disclosures

Pro tip: Reassess every 3-5 years to stay current.

Materiality isn't just about compliance. It's about:

  • Shaping business strategy
  • Informing sustainability reporting
  • Meeting stakeholder expectations

As Danielle Pucherelli from Antea Group says:

"A materiality assessment is an exercise in stakeholder engagement, it's designed to gather insight on the relative importance of specific environmental, social, and governance issues."

For energy and utilities, getting materiality right is crucial. It helps navigate ESG complexities, stay ahead of regulations, and build trust with stakeholders.

Rules and Laws

The energy and utilities sector faces a maze of regulations for materiality assessments. Here's what's happening now and what's coming in 2024.

Current Rules

Companies are juggling a mix of regulations:

Regulation Scope Key Requirements
NFRD Large EU companies Report on ESG matters
SEC Climate Disclosure Rules US public companies Disclose climate risks and emissions
SB253 $1B+ revenue companies in CA Report Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions

These rules aim to boost transparency and help investors gauge ESG risks. But there's more on the horizon.

2024: A New Era

2024 is set to shake things up:

1. CSRD

This EU rule kicks in January 1, 2024. It's a big deal:

  • Covers 50,000 companies (5x more than NFRD)
  • Requires "double materiality" assessments
  • Demands detailed ESG reporting

Wim Bartels from Deloitte says:

"CSRD compliance will drive broader changes to strategy, governance, operations and data."

2. SEC Climate Disclosure Rules

Coming in April 2024, these rules will demand:

  • Standard climate risk disclosures
  • Emissions reporting
  • Climate data in financial reports

3. CSDDD

This EU directive will hit about 5,300 companies, requiring:

  • Human rights and environmental risk due diligence
  • Action on adverse impacts

To get ready:

  • Start collecting data now
  • Review your reporting practices
  • Build teams for materiality assessments
  • Think about how these rules will impact your business

Environmental Issues

The energy and utilities sector faces big environmental challenges. Here's what's going on:

Climate Change and Emissions

Climate change is a huge problem for energy companies:

  • Hot weather = stressed power plants
  • Droughts = less hydropower
  • Storms = damaged infrastructure

Remember Hurricane Sandy in 2012? It left 8.7 million customers without power. Yikes.

Now, everyone's trying to cut CO2. Many utilities want an 80% reduction by 2030. This changes EVERYTHING:

  • How they plan
  • What they build
  • How they operate

Resource Use

Water and land are big deals:

Resource Problem Result
Water Not enough Less power
Land People don't want projects nearby Delays and costs

In 2022, drought in the Western U.S. cut hydropower by 6%. Climate change in action, folks.

Wildlife Impact

Energy projects can hurt animals:

  • Wind farms vs. birds and bats
  • Oil drilling messes up habitats
  • Power lines = bird collisions

Companies are trying to fix this by:

  • Studying impacts
  • Creating wildlife corridors
  • Using new tech to reduce harm

The big question: How do we balance energy needs and nature? It's tricky, but it's shaping how energy companies make decisions.

Social Issues

Energy and utilities companies face major social challenges. Here's what you need to know:

Community Relations

Building good relationships with locals is crucial for energy projects. Why? People often resist these projects in their neighborhoods.

In 2024, the Columbia Law School found 378 contested renewable energy projects. That's a big increase from 2023.

What works:

  • Early and frequent communication
  • Transparency about project impacts
  • Sharing benefits with the community

Take Southern California Edison and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. They co-own the West of Devers Line, showing how partnerships can lead to success.

Worker Safety

Safety is top priority in energy. It's about keeping people alive and well, not just following rules.

Energy companies focus on:

  • Better worker training
  • Using tech to identify hazards
  • Creating a safety-first culture

Workplace Diversity

The energy sector struggles with diversity. A Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) study found:

Stat Percentage
Say industry lacks diversity 71%
Want more diversity efforts 92%

To address this, companies are:

  • Setting clear diversity goals
  • Partnering with diverse community groups
  • Building inclusive work cultures

Some firms are launching Employee Resource Groups to support different workers.

Bottom line? Social issues are critical in energy and utilities. Companies that handle them well will thrive long-term.

Company Management Issues

In energy and utilities, how companies run things really matters. Let's break it down:

Board Makeup and Oversight

Boards are getting more involved in ESG stuff. Here's what's going on:

  • The whole board often handles climate risks and workforce diversity
  • Most big companies give ESG oversight to their nominating and governance committee
  • 85% of Fortune 100 companies now talk about board oversight of environmental and social issues, up from 78% in 2020

Want better board oversight? Try this:

  1. Update your guidelines and charters
  2. Put ESG on meeting agendas
  3. Report ESG stuff to the board regularly

Ethical Business

Energy companies face tough ethical choices. They need to make money, but also be sustainable and socially responsible. It's tricky:

  • They have to think about their environmental impact
  • Energy projects can affect local communities
  • They need to balance new tech with changing rules

Here's what companies can do:

Action Benefit
Talk to stakeholders Be open about concerns
Use energy efficiently Save money and cut emissions
Use renewables Mix up energy sources

Clear Reporting

Being transparent builds trust. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) kicks in on January 1, 2024. It's a big deal:

  • Most U.S. companies and foreign ones doing business in the U.S. need to report
  • They'll have to share company details and info about who owns what
  • Not following the rules can cost up to $500 per day in fines, plus possible criminal charges

To keep up with these new rules:

  1. Make a CTA compliance policy
  2. Figure out how to handle personal info
  3. Be ready to report changes within 30 days

How to Do a Materiality Assessment

Materiality assessments are crucial for energy and utility companies. They help pinpoint key ESG issues. Here's a straightforward guide:

Talking to Stakeholders

  1. Identify stakeholder groups

List your internal and external stakeholders:

Internal External
Executives Customers
Directors Investors
Employees NGOs
Regional managers Trade associations
  1. Reach out early

Tell stakeholders why you're doing this. It'll make them more likely to help.

  1. Use different methods

Get insights through:

  • Surveys
  • Interviews
  • Focus groups
  • Workshops

"The best materiality assessments get insights from inside AND outside the company."

Gathering and Using Data

  1. Pick sustainability indicators

Choose what to measure based on stakeholder input and your data.

  1. Make a survey

Create a survey to get data on each indicator's importance and impact.

  1. Look at the responses

Find patterns in what different groups are saying.

  1. Use tools to make it easier

Try Survey Monkey, Typeform, or Google Forms to collect and report data.

  1. Do it regularly

Cisco does a full assessment every two years, with updates in between.

In 2023, Cisco found 18 ESG topics. Eight were top priorities, including climate change, diversity, and data security.

  1. Create a matrix

Show which issues matter most to stakeholders and impact your company the most.

  1. Check yearly

ESG changes fast. Look at your assessment every year to stay on top of new risks and priorities.

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Main Materiality Issues for 2024

The energy and utilities sector is in for a shake-up in 2024. Here's what's coming:

  1. Climate disclosure gets real

    • Tougher rules on emissions and climate risk reporting
    • Companies need actual plans, not just goals
  2. Environmental justice matters

    • Biden's push for fair environmental impacts
    • Companies must consider effects on different communities
  3. Shareholders speak up

    • More proposals on pay, labor rights, and political spending
    • Get ready for extra scrutiny
  4. Tech takes over

    • AI for forecasting, grid management, and customer service
    • Digital twins predict grid issues

Energy Sector Focus Areas

Focus Area Key Points
Decarbonization Cut emissions, keep energy secure and affordable
Infrastructure Upgrade old systems, prepare for extreme weather
Cybersecurity Guard against grid threats
Clean Energy Expand renewables, manage supply chain

Decarbonization Spotlight

Energy companies are in a tight spot: cut emissions while keeping the lights on and bills low. Take Salesforce - they're aiming to halve emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels.

"Businesses must become climate advocates now. We're facing irreparable harm to our planet, so we need all businesses to use their influence, core competencies, and rapid innovation to create climate change solutions." - Patrick Flynn, Global Head of Sustainability, Salesforce

What Energy Companies Should Do:

  1. Build on-site renewable energy and storage
  2. Look into fuel switching and energy efficiency
  3. Join zero-carbon initiatives in your area
  4. Get ready for tougher emissions reporting, including Scope 3
  5. Create clear plans to hit net-zero targets

The energy world is changing fast. Companies that adapt to these new issues will come out on top in 2024 and beyond.

Using Materiality in Business Plans

Energy and utility companies can use materiality assessments to shape their business plans and boost their success. Here's how:

1. Link ESG to financial performance

Materiality helps companies focus on ESG issues that affect their bottom line. For example:

  • Cutting emissions can reduce costs and avoid fines
  • Better worker safety lowers accident rates and insurance premiums
  • Good governance attracts investors and lowers capital costs

A Harvard Business School study found companies aligning sustainability with core business goals saw up to 20% higher financial performance.

2. Manage risks effectively

Materiality assessments uncover potential threats. Energy companies should:

  • Add ESG risks to their risk management framework
  • Set up early warning systems for emerging issues
  • Create action plans for top risks

3. Find new opportunities

Materiality can point to growth areas:

Opportunity Example
New products Green energy offerings
Cost savings Energy efficiency programs
Brand building Community engagement

4. Improve stakeholder relations

The assessment process builds trust. Companies should:

  • Involve stakeholders in the process
  • Share results openly
  • Show how input shapes strategy

5. Set clear ESG targets

Use materiality findings to create specific goals:

Area Sample Target
Environment 50% emissions cut by 2030
Social Zero workplace fatalities
Governance 40% board diversity by 2025

6. Allocate resources wisely

Focus investments on key issues:

  • Upgrade infrastructure for climate resilience
  • Invest in renewable energy
  • Enhance cybersecurity

7. Enhance reporting

Use materiality to guide ESG disclosures:

  • Align with frameworks like GRI or SASB
  • Highlight progress on key issues
  • Explain ESG-business performance link

Michelle Winters, VP of Solutions at Goby, says:

"A materiality assessment empowers you to easily report on your current state and outline future initiatives while considering your business goals and risks."

8. Review and update regularly

The energy sector changes fast. Companies should:

  • Reassess material issues yearly
  • Adjust strategies as needed
  • Stay ahead of new regulations and expectations

Sharing Results

Sharing materiality findings is crucial for energy and utility companies. Here's how to do it effectively:

Reporting Guidelines

Three key reporting systems for materiality in the energy sector:

1. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

GRI offers a wide-ranging sustainability reporting framework. It covers:

  • Governance
  • Management systems
  • Stakeholder engagement

GRI lets companies zero in on their biggest impacts.

2. Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)

SASB focuses on financially material sustainability issues:

  • Industry-specific standards
  • Covers 77 industries across 11 sectors

3. Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

TCFD provides a framework for climate-related financial disclosures:

  • Governance
  • Strategy
  • Risk management
  • Metrics and targets

Many companies use multiple frameworks. For example:

Company Frameworks Result
General Motors GRI + SASB Complete performance view
Suncor Energy GRI + SASB Integrated sustainability and financial data
Diageo GRI + SASB Addressed key business issues

When sharing results:

  1. Pick the right framework(s) for your company and stakeholders
  2. Be open about wins and challenges
  3. Give context for your ESG data
  4. Use third-party verification
  5. Update often, not just yearly
  6. Get stakeholder feedback on your reporting

"Using both GRI and SASB can be simple... These frameworks help you check if you're tackling the right issues." - Harriet Howey, Global Non-Financial Reporting and ESG Lead, Diageo

Real-Life Examples

Let's see how energy and utility companies put materiality assessments to work:

Williams Companies: Laser Focus

Williams Companies

Williams Companies nailed down their key ESG topics in March 2023. How? They asked both insiders and outsiders to rank ESG issues.

The result? 11 top material topics. Here are three big ones:

Topic What It Means Who Cares
Energy Transition Moving to cleaner energy Everyone from bosses to customers
Stakeholder Relations Keeping the public on their side Regulators, customers, communities
GHG Emissions Cutting their carbon footprint Investors, regulators, industry peers

This helped Williams zero in on what really matters.

DC Water: Smashing Goals

DC Water

DC Water set the bar high and then jumped over it:

  • Wanted 42% renewable energy, hit 43%
  • Aimed for 75% local hiring from underserved areas, nailed 85%
  • Gave $12.8 million to families in need

Their leaders said:

"ESG has made us stronger. We're better set to meet today's needs and tomorrow's challenges."

Assurant: Double Vision

Assurant

Assurant, a big player with 13,600 people in 21 countries, looked at ESG from two angles: money and impact.

They:

  1. Listed sustainability topics
  2. Asked 45 stakeholders for input
  3. Ranked topics on value and effects

Michael Bellantis from Assurant said:

"Talking to stakeholders was key. It sparked real conversations with our leaders and clients about what matters in sustainability."

The Takeaway

What can we learn?

  1. Ask Everyone: Get input from inside and outside
  2. Set Goals: Make them clear, then beat them
  3. Look Both Ways: Consider cash and impact
  4. Walk the Talk: Use what you learn
  5. Show Your Work: Be open about results

Problems and Fixes

Energy and utility companies often hit roadblocks with materiality assessments. Here's a look at common issues and how to tackle them:

Data Quality and Consistency

Problem: Garbage in, garbage out. Many companies can't get good data from their teams and systems.

Fix: Get a solid data management system. Microsoft's Azure cloud platform collects and crunches ESG data with 95% accuracy.

Stakeholder Engagement

Problem: Leave someone out, and you'll miss something important.

Fix: Map out ALL your stakeholders and talk to them. Unilever's framework brings everyone to the table, slashing non-compliance by 90%.

Changing Regulations

Problem: Rules change fast. It's hard to keep up.

Fix: Stay on top of new rules. UK energy companies paid over £5.4 million in fines in 2023. To avoid this:

  1. Audit compliance regularly
  2. Update policies and train staff
  3. Use software to track compliance

Problem: Many companies don't see how climate change will hit their bottom line.

Fix: Do your homework on risks. Axa follows TCFD guidelines and cut high-risk asset exposure by 75%.

Lack of Standardization

Problem: Too many frameworks make it hard to compare apples to apples.

Fix: Pick frameworks that fit your goals. Stick with them and train your team.

Transparency Issues

Problem: If people don't know how you got your data, they won't trust it.

Fix: Show your work. Explain how you collect and analyze data in your reports.

What's Next for Materiality

The energy and utilities sector is in for big changes when it comes to materiality. Here's what's coming:

Stricter Regulations

Get ready for tougher ESG disclosure rules. The EU's CSRD and upcoming SEC climate rules will shake things up.

What to expect:

  • More detailed emissions reporting
  • In-depth climate risk assessments
  • Broader sustainability metrics

Double Materiality Takes Over

Double materiality is the new big thing. Companies will need to think about their financial impacts AND how they affect society and the environment.

A 2024 Verdantix survey found:

Metric Percentage
Organizations using double materiality assessments 69%

This is a game-changer for how companies approach sustainability.

AI and Tech Integration

New tech tools will revolutionize ESG data handling:

  • Faster data collection
  • More accurate analysis
  • Better governance

Climate Adaptation Investments

Physical climate risks will force companies to spend big on adaptation and resilience. They'll need to:

  • Assess vulnerabilities
  • Develop solid strategies
  • Allocate funds for climate-proofing

Supply Chain Scrutiny

Companies will dig deeper into their supply chains' ESG performance:

  • Stricter supplier standards
  • More transparency
  • Better risk management

The climate-health connection is becoming a hot topic. Energy companies will need to:

  • Assess health impacts of operations
  • Protect vulnerable communities

Biodiversity Focus

Natural capital management is the next big thing in ESG. Companies should:

  • Measure biodiversity impacts
  • Develop conservation plans
  • Report on nature-related risks

Dynamic Materiality

ESG issues can change in importance over time. Brendan Seale, former director of corporate sustainability at Scotiabank, puts it this way:

"As we began our materiality assessment in the fall of 2020—in the throes of the pandemic and the swelling consciousness of systemic injustice—it was obvious that many issues had become more important for Scotiabank than they were six or twelve months earlier."

Companies need to stay on their toes and reassess regularly.

Litigation Risks

ESG-related lawsuits, especially about greenwashing, are on the rise. To stay safe, companies should:

  • Implement strong ESG frameworks
  • Back up all sustainability claims with solid data

The energy sector needs to stay sharp and adaptable to navigate these changes in materiality assessments.

Wrap-Up

Materiality assessments are crucial for energy and utilities companies navigating the ESG landscape. They help:

  • Pinpoint key ESG issues
  • Connect with stakeholders
  • Shape smart ESG strategies

The energy sector faces some tough challenges:

Challenge Impact
Cyber threats Possible outages and money loss
Regulation Adapting to stricter green rules
Green energy demand Big investments and changes needed

To tackle these, companies should:

1. Do regular materiality checks

These keep you ahead of risks and new ESG trends. Remember the Colonial Pipeline hack in 2021? It showed why strong cybersecurity matters.

2. Use double materiality

Look at both money impacts and how you affect the world. The CSRD now asks for both in reports.

3. Zero in on what matters

Focus on the big ESG issues. It's about making your efforts count and building trust.

4. Blend ESG with business plans

When sustainability fits your goals, you're set for long-term success. It helps spot risks and chances in the changing energy world.

5. Step up ESG reporting

Good ESG info is a big deal now. Check out these numbers:

What Companies Are Doing How Many
Have managers handle ESG risks 90%
Get some ESG data checked 57%
Aim for net-zero 55%

As energy and utilities change, materiality assessments will be key to building sustainable plans and meeting expectations.

FAQs

What does ESG stand for in utilities?

ESG means Environmental, Social, and Governance. For utilities, it's a way to:

  1. Check how well they're doing
  2. Handle risks
  3. Make their business more sustainable

Why is ESG a big deal for utilities now?

Area What it covers
Environmental Pollution, energy use
Social How they treat people and communities
Governance Playing by the rules, having diverse leadership

ESG is changing the game:

  • Most big companies now share sustainability reports
  • Credit rating agencies look at ESG scores
  • Investors use ESG to guess which companies will do well long-term

John Marchisin from AArete says: "2024 will be 'The Year of Compliance'. Companies will HAVE to report on sustainability, not just choose to."

Here's a real example: Summit, a utility company, is walking the ESG talk:

They've tested new tech to capture methane, won awards for their efforts, and started projects to make cleaner energy. They've also fixed old pipes to stop methane leaks.

This shows how utilities are trying to be greener while still running their business.

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