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British electricity companies are to be given cash incentives by the
national electricity and gas regulator Ofgem for implementing corporate
responsibility programmes.
In an unusually clear-cut case of CSR making a direct contribution to a company's bottom line, Ofgem is asking regional electricity distribution network operators to submit examples of their corporate responsibility activities by early next year.
The decision follows a pilot Ofgem scheme in August, in which the 14 regional distributors were invited to apply for a pot of £1million ($1.9m). Among those to benefit was Bristol-based Western Power Distribution, which received £500,000 in recognition of community involvement activities that have included anti-bullying schemes in schools and a volunteering project for its new apprentices. EDF Energy received £300,000 in cash for its work with vulnerable customers who have difficulty paying bills.
The level of the payments and whom they should go to are decided by a panel that includes representatives from Ofgem, the Public Utilities Access Forum, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, and Age Concern.
'The idea of the scheme is not just to give companies free money, but to promote good practice,' said Ofgem. 'We want all the distribution networks to learn from these different examples.' It is to continue the reward scheme until 2010.
In an unusually clear-cut case of CSR making a direct contribution to a company's bottom line, Ofgem is asking regional electricity distribution network operators to submit examples of their corporate responsibility activities by early next year.
The decision follows a pilot Ofgem scheme in August, in which the 14 regional distributors were invited to apply for a pot of £1million ($1.9m). Among those to benefit was Bristol-based Western Power Distribution, which received £500,000 in recognition of community involvement activities that have included anti-bullying schemes in schools and a volunteering project for its new apprentices. EDF Energy received £300,000 in cash for its work with vulnerable customers who have difficulty paying bills.
The level of the payments and whom they should go to are decided by a panel that includes representatives from Ofgem, the Public Utilities Access Forum, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, and Age Concern.
'The idea of the scheme is not just to give companies free money, but to promote good practice,' said Ofgem. 'We want all the distribution networks to learn from these different examples.' It is to continue the reward scheme until 2010.
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