Interaction with our environment

Being 'in touch with our environment' is an increasingly important part of our task and our day-to-day work. At all levels. Listening and engaging in dialogue with our stakeholders is an indispensable step towards 'doing the right things right', having a shared understanding of the challenges we face in the energy transition and being and remaining in touch with what the environment asks and demands of us. Our mission is 'Working together to create an environment filled with new energy'. We do this actively on our three strategic spearheads and on the material topics prioritised by us and our stakeholders.

The importance of these material topics is also reflected in the ancillary positions held by members of our Board of Management. See Biographical details of members of the Board of Management of Stedin Group.

Our stakeholders

Our stakeholders are the people, groups or authorities that have an influence on Stedin Group and vice versa. Contacts with our stakeholders partly take place in a structured form, but they can also take place on an ad hoc basis, depending on the topic. The public and regulated nature of Stedin Group to a large extent determines the categorisation below into stakeholder groups.

• internal: employees;
• external: private and business customers, shareholders, investors and rating agencies, government, politics, regulators, energy supply chain, public organisations, local environment, NGOs and civil-society organisations, suppliers, media, memberships, interest groups and industry organisations, knowledge institutions and partners.

Policymakers and policy frameworks

Stedin Group aims to play a linking role in the transition to a new energy system to ensure that this remains safe, sustainable, reliable and affordable. Our core tasks as grid manager are impacted by the transition, and existing policy frameworks must be adapted to make the necessary changes possible. Owing to our public function, Stedin Group's interests in this regard are social interests. We engage in constructive dialogue with the stakeholders in the societal arena, and we contribute our experience and expertise. We mostly do this in cooperation with Netbeheer Nederland. These talks are always conducted by employees of Stedin Group. We do not engage a Public Affairs consultancy firm on a permanent basis. Nor does Stedin Group donate funds to politicians, political parties or government institutions.

Environment management

The energy transition will require numerous and sometimes major adjustments that also necessitate spatial adjustments. Strategic environment management is necessary to ensure this is supported by society. In order to create a shared position and support, we involve other organisations and stakeholders as early as possible to ensure effective coordination of plans. We do so in several ways – for example, by making data on our grids publicly accessible and by concluding covenants as well as agreements for long-term cooperation with municipalities and other parties. In 2022, the new Environmental and Planning Act (Omgevingswet) will come into force, under which participation will be required, whereas at present it is voluntary.

Corporate social responsibility

Given our societal role, we are reticent in engaging in sponsorship activities. Accordingly, we base our choice for sponsoring or a financial contribution on initiatives in which we foreground our primary core tasks in the energy transition and get energy users on board in the changing energy world. Our most important initiative in 2021 concerned supporting the 'Energiebank' in Rotterdam and The Hague.

The purpose of the 'Energiebank' is to ensure energy remains available as a primary necessity of life for households that do not have enough money to pay their energy bill. Stedin's assistance is provided through people as well as funds. Two Stedin employees provide advice as energy coaches to reduce energy costs. In addition, we donate €8,000 annually. In 2021, the 'Energiebank', together with the Hartekind foundation, was again one of the two charitable causes as part of the annual end-of-year gift. Stedin employees were able to opt for a personal gift or a financial contribution to one of the two charitable causes. As a result, we were able to hand over an amount of €1,700 to the 'Energiebank' in Rotterdam and The Hague. The goal for 2021 was to support 200 households and to deploy 80 active coaches in that connection. That is also the goal for 2022. The outcome for 2021 was that we deployed 65 coaches and visited 80 households. The goal was not achieved due to the restrictions relating to COVID-19.

In addition, Stedin engaged in sports sponsorship by sponsoring cycling activities. This is aimed at positioning Stedin in the province of Zeeland. A small part was also used for community initiatives and good causes in which individual Stedin employees played an active role. In 2021, Stedin's total budget for sponsorship and financial contributions was €30,750 (2020: €36,000).

We also undertake active and broad-based efforts to promote an inclusive society.

In the table below, we provide insight into the numerous contacts we have with our principal stakeholders.