These projects are needed to comply with the requirements of New York City Local Laws 88 (LL88) and 97 (LL97). In response to LL88, our Facilities group completed lighting upgrades at our key New York City locations, yielding energy savings of approximately 34% since 2020.

In response to LL97, we are taking steps to go beyond compliance. Working with a consultant, we identified measures we can take to drastically reduce energy use at our office and service center facilities, including: 1) installing building automation systems; 2) upgrading electric motors to models with variable frequency drives; 3) fortifying building envelopes; and 4) replacing HVAC equipment with all-electric heat pump technology.

In early 2024, a burst water pipe flooded 2,000 square feet of office space at our headquarters. Rather than replace damaged items with new ones, our Facilities Design Team used refurbished furnishings. They also made enhancements to the HVAC system and glazed the windows to reduce the energy consumption of the office. Their actions prevented nearly 60,000 pounds of waste from being landfilled and avoided the release of nearly 152,000 pounds of CO₂ e.

New Projects in Design

We will honor our Clean Energy Commitment to use only electric energy in all new buildings, including two Service Centers and one Operations center scheduled to begin construction by 2026. The following locations boast additional resource-conserving features, including:

• Sherman Creek Service Center, which will include a green roof and a solar parking canopy.
• Worth Street Service Center, which will repurpose the existing 1920s-era facility located on the site of a former manufactured gas plant.
• Spring Valley Operation Center addition’s design, which includes solar panels.

Solid Waste Recycling

Our solid waste recycling programs are supported by corporate policies aimed at reducing the amount of non-hazardous waste that we produce. Most of our solid waste is recycled by source including cable, paper, wood, plastic, and metals.

We also reuse material we excavate in accordance with New York State-authorized beneficial reuse allowances. We use our approved third-party treatment, storage, and disposal Facilities to process material we excavate in accordance with New York State requirements and then reuse it as backfill and underlayment within our service territory. This prevents over 90% of our excavated material from being sent to landfills. We are also exploring how to process excavated material on location at a project site, thus streamlining our soil reuse process.

Hazardous Waste  

We are committed to continuously reducing our hazardous waste. Our New York State Department of Environmental Conservation-approved lead waste stabilization process, now in place for more than twenty years, reduced our hazardous waste stream by more than 37,478 tons in 2024. In 2025, we plan to work with regulators to gain approval to expand this program. In addition to lead, we are taking steps to eliminate remaining polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from our system, which have historically been associated with certain electrical equipment. These steps include mapping the location of and removing remaining PCB-containing equipment in our electric network.  

We also monitor our system for the presence of hazardous contaminants other than lead and PCBs. Our chemical labs identify and characterize any such substances so we can properly manage them, thereby minimizing risks to humans and the environment. We will continue our hazardous waste minimization efforts in 2025 by reviewing our other hazardous waste streams and convening internal committees to explore means of reduction.  

E-waste

We recognize the significant adverse impacts e-waste has on our environment and human health. We are thus committed to minimizing and recycling our e-waste. Our e-waste program tracks items using multiple audit checkpoints to help all personnel follow defined standards developed by our EH&S and IT departments. We aim to select recycling facilities that comply with all applicable environmental standards and regulatory requirements. This program helped us recycle over 68,558 pounds of e-waste in 2024.

In 2024, we contracted with a new e-waste recycling vendor that aims to reuse electronics they collect from us when possible. We are also exploring opportunities to donate computing equipment we no longer need to organizations that can reuse these items. Over the next two to three years, we will analyze the lifecycle of our electronics to gain a better understanding of how we can make greater reductions in our e-waste.

Radioactive Waste

We recognize that the management and disposal of radioactive waste is a critical safety issue. While we do not generate radioactive waste, we have a Radioactive Safety Officer and radioactive waste material expert on staff that would address radioactive waste management and disposal matters if they were to arise.  

Emerging Waste Streams

Along with regulators and our utility industry peers, we are planning how to responsibly manage emerging waste streams associated with renewable technologies such as battery storage, solar panels, EV batteries, and wind turbines. We also monitor regulatory developments on the classification of solar panels as universal waste and how to handle materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS.

We adhere to a structured approach to site evaluation and reporting with clear managerial oversight and, as applicable, ongoing assessments. Our Site Investigation and Remediation Project Management Procedures define roles and responsibilities for our remediation, rehabilitation, and redevelopment efforts. We implement Site Management Plans and conduct Periodic Review Reports to maintain effective site closures and to help our remediation and rehabilitation measures continue to serve their intended purpose. Annual Site Investigation and Remediation Reports filed with the PSC detail the status of our sites, including investigation and remediation costs, scheduling, and regulatory compliance.

We investigate and, as applicable, remediate impacts from our former operations to restore properties responsibly and consistent with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation standards, including the Division of Environmental Remediation’s DER-31 “Green Remediation” Policy. For instance, to the extent feasible and appropriate, we use on-site treatment technologies and in-situ treatment remedies instead of excavation and disposal to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfills.

In support of our Clean Energy Commitment and the CLCPA and when feasible, we redevelop our properties for uses beneficial to both surrounding communities and New York State’s clean energy transition such as energy hubs and utility integrated storage.

To facilitate positive outcomes in the communities where our properties are located, we listen to and incorporate into our efforts input from residents, elected officials, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, as appropriate.

In connection with addressing residual contamination associated with CECONY’s former Pemart Avenue Manufactured Gas Plant site in Peekskill, New York, we dredged 10,000 cubic yards of impacted sediments and removed old piles and barge remnants. Our efforts resulted in an improved marine environment and a cleaner waterfront that supports future development and enhances river access for the community.

Similarly, on a smaller scale, we incorporated approximately 1 acre of a pollinator garden into the post-remedial restoration of O&R’s former Haverstraw Manufactured Gas Plant site in 2024. It is anticipated that this new area of natural habitat will support population growth of native flora and fauna, thereby increasing biodiversity, improving the appearance of the site and reducing the post-remedial site maintenance costs (such as for mowing).

“We are dedicated to safeguarding and enriching the biodiversity of our service territories by embedding sustainability into our operations. Our EH&S organization collaborates internally to implement procedures that not only promote biodiversity in future projects but also deliver lasting benefits to our communities and customers.” – Venetia Lannon, Vice President of EH&S

We routinely conduct biodiversity assessments on major construction projects to identify potential risks our activities may pose to biodiversity, as well as the impacts of invasive species inhabiting the project area. Our biodiversity experts use this information to develop and implement a plan that seeks to conserve or improve biodiversity on the project site.

Rewilding

Portions of urban and right-of-way (ROW) areas on which we operate may lack biodiversity and contain invasive species. Our rewilding initiative helps restore these areas using native seed mixes to promote pollinators. In 2024, our St. Casimir Avenue, Fern Terrace ROW, and the Y50 rewilding projects set over 3.5 acres of land on course to restore native habitat and biodiversity, thereby exceeding our 2024 goal of 3 acres. Our achievements also keep us on track for rewilding 6 acres by 2026 and 10 acres by 2030. Three additional highlights of our habitat restoration work in 2024 include:

• Enrolled in a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances to help conserve habitats for monarch butterflies, a species in decline.
• State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) completing year two of their Baseline Biodiversity Assessment of our ROWs. SUNY ESF’s assessment will enable us to optimize the seed mixes we use to accommodate microhabitats in our ROW.
• Commencing construction of Dover Station, a new phase angle regulator substation project made possible through Con Edison Transmission’s investment in New York Transco. The project site plan maximizes the use of existing vegetation and allows for the planting of over 250 mature trees during restoration. The plan also includes Education and Encounter Plans for the Bog Turtle and Timber Rattlesnake, which are protected species in the area.

Over the coming five years, we plan to:

• Assign internal working groups to create a mitigation hierarchy to help project designers prioritize avoidance, mitigation, and enhancement activities at project sites — for instance, determining whether our construction projects can include bioswales, bioretention ponds, green roofs, and other means of environmental preservation.
• Incorporate living shorelines into projects commencing construction along Newtown Creek and Hellgate Wharf in Brooklyn and the Bronx, New York, respectively.
• Establish more native habitat enhancements to our ROWs, incorporating areas of new construction sites as green infrastructure enhancements, and determine the feasibility of rewilding unit substation sites.

Please visit CECONY and O&R for more details on their individual biodiversity efforts.

Advancing Sustainability with Our Vendors

Our approach to sustainability focuses on minimizing waste, reusing materials, and exploring innovative recycling opportunities. By collaborating with key suppliers, we address environmental impacts related to energy use, waste management, water conservation, and transportation emissions. We actively engage with industry experts to foster shared learning, aiming for continuous improvement in our sustainability programs.

Upstream Impact: Sustainable Sourcing and Supplier Assessments

In 2024, we began developing a Sustainable Sourcing Policy to integrate environmental and social sustainability into procurement decisions. This policy sets standards for water conservation, waste reduction, climate risk mitigation, energy efficiency, and GHG emissions reductions, reinforcing our commitment to a circular economy. We also continued tracking 53 key suppliers through an annual assessment covering ESG factors, including climate action, human rights policies, and net-zero commitments. In 2025, we aim to enhance these assessments and deepen supplier collaboration for improved sustainability performance.

Downstream Impact: Investment Recovery and Circular Economy

Through our Investment Recovery Program, we effectively manage the sale and recycling of surplus, scrap, and end-of-life materials. In 2024, we recycled nearly 5,000 tons of mixed metals and cable and repurposed 115 tons of excess construction materials in partnership with suppliers. These initiatives reduce landfill waste, optimize resource efficiency, and contribute to a more circular economy.

Industry Collaboration and Sustainable Procurement

We continue to play an active role in industry groups such as the Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance (SSCA) and the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC). These partnerships enable us to apply best practices in supply chain sustainability and contribute to a net-zero economy.

Our sustainability efforts also align with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing our commitment to addressing global challenges such as decent work and economic growth, climate action, and responsible consumption.

Supplier Diversity: Strengthening Communities and Economic Growth

For over 56 years, we have cultivated a strong network of local suppliers and small businesses, enhancing economic resilience throughout our service territory. We broadened our vendor pool and grew small business spending to over $780 million.

Supplier Sourcing Expenditures MWBE / Small Business Spend ($millions)

$800.0

$600.0

$400.0

$200.0

2020

$509.0

2021

$582.0

2022

$616.0

2023

$702.0

2024

$781.0

• Small Business Spend

Figure 20

Our efforts included roundtables that connect local and small businesses with internal teams and establish community. Additionally, our Clean Energy Academy provides job training for subcontractors and low-income residents, supporting New York’s clean energy transition.

Ethical and Responsible Supply Chain Practices

We uphold strict ethical standards for our suppliers, requiring adherence to our Vendor Standards of Business Conduct (VSBC) and Statement on Human Rights. In 2024, 772 vendors completed our Sustainability Due Diligence Questionnaire (DDQ), helping ensure alignment with our values on human rights, fair labor practices, and environmental responsibility. Through responsible sourcing, supplier accountability, and continuous innovation, we remain committed to driving a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient supply chain.

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