Our Approach to Sustainability

Our mission guides us as we face new challenges operating in a dense, urban service territory increasingly susceptible to more frequent increases in climate-driven weather extremes while laying the groundwork for the clean energy transition. For more than 200 years, we have provided energy services that have helped power New York’s economic growth. Driven by our Clean Energy Commitment (CEC), we will continue to provide a reliable and resilient grid while enabling a clean energy transition through our various infrastructure investments, incentives, energy affordability programs, and operational excellence. Our approach to sustainability is fundamental to achieving these ends.

Our focus is on advancing the achievement of societal climate goals and creating sustainable value for our shareholders. We prioritize the safety of our employees and strive to deliver operational excellence. We are committed to actively engaging with our partners and stakeholders and having our workforce reflect the communities we serve. Our approach to sustainability has three major components:

I. Fulfilling our Clean Energy Commitment will help usher in a clean energy future wherein every New Yorker will share in the benefits of a more sustainable grid. Our commitment consists of five pillars:

1. Build a resilient grid that can deliver 100% clean energy by 2040.
2. Empower customers to meet their energy efficiency, building electrification, and electric vehicle goals.
3. Reimagine the gas system to reduce fossil fuel dependency.
4. Reduce our carbon footprint with a goal of net-zero Scope 1 emissions from our operations by 2050, in support of New York State’s CLCPA.
5. Foster community partnerships with emphasis on disadvantaged communities.

Figure 11

II. Cultivating a strong and qualified workforce with diverse experiences – we are committed to continuous employee learning and career development as well as a leadership-driven culture where all employees feel that they belong, their voices are heard, and they can realize their full potential. We will cultivate a workforce, contractors, and vendors reflective of the communities in which we operate.

III. Adhering to our oversight structure wherein our Board distributes its sustainability responsibilities across specialized committees. Separately, our Sustainability Committee, led by the Vice President of Strategic Planning, guides integration of sustainability with our business strategy and across all corporate operations, from Safety to Facilities to Ethics and Compliance to Corporate Affairs to Supply Chain.

Our 2023 sustainability assessment identified 29 sustainability priority areas that impact our company, including their financial implications on our business. We will continue to make use of the results of our 2023 sustainability assessment and input from our stakeholders to refine our approach to sustainability as we make progress on our Clean Energy Commitment.

Our commitment to transparency and engaging with stakeholders regarding the aforementioned matters is demonstrated in greater detail through our sustainability disclosures.

Beyond these disclosures, we mapped our initiatives to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We found that our work supports the achievement of nine SDGs, spanning the energy transition, inclusive economic development, and resource management. Knowing that our dedication to enabling a clean energy future our customers can rely on likewise contributes to global well-being, provides us additional strength and encouragement to forge ahead.

Download Report