Our Data
Emera’s Sustainability Performance Data 2016
We’ve developed a set of sustainability performance indicators that are relevant to Emera’s operations. They were selected based on the issues that we understand are important to our stakeholders and to our business strategy. We also reviewed sustainability materiality assessments for the electric utilities industry, which has helped us to focus our reporting on the issues that matter most.
Our sustainability performance indicators are informed by the GRI Standards (2016), GRI G4 Sector Disclosures Electric Utilities (2013), the Edison Electric Institute Sustainability Metrics (2017) and the SASB Electric Utilities Research Brief (2016), with the relevant indicator numbers listed in the table below. You can read more about our approach to reporting, including our report boundaries.
The following table provides relevant performance data and management information for Emera in FY2016 and links to where our data can be found:
Environment |
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| Sustainability indicators | 2016 performance data location | Additional 2016 performance data | Informed by indicators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions from thermal generation in tonnes CO2e | GRI 305-1EEI 5.1.2SASB IF0101-01 |
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| Long term and short term strategy and initiatives to manage Scope 1 emissions, emission reduction targets in place and analysis of performance | SASB IF0101-01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions from purchased electricity in tonnes CO2e | GRI 305-2EEI 5.2.2 |
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| GHG emissions intensity ratio (tCO2e per MWh of total sales) | GRI 305-4EEI 5.1.2.2 |
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| Allocation of GHG emission allowances or equivalent broken down by carbon trading framework | GRI EU5SASB IF0101-01 |
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| Total methane Emissions from Natural Gas Pipeline Operations in tonnes CO2e. Description of initiatives to manage and reduce methane emissions. |
Emera Total Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Pipeline Operations in 2016: 125,678 tCO2e Methane emissions from Peoples Gas and New Mexico Gas reduced by 16% between 2012 and 2016. Notes: Data includes methane emissions released during pipeline operations and maintenance at Peoples Gas and New Mexico Gas. These emissions are included in Emera’s Scope 1 emissions on p. 29 of Emera’s 2016 Sustainability Report. Methane emissions are also tracked for Brunswick Pipeline but are not considered material. |
EEI 5.4.2SASB IF101-04 |
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| Total fuel consumption by type |
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GRI 302-1 |
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| Significant air emissions from company-owned or operated generation for each of the following: i. nitrogen oxides (NOx) ii. sulfur dioxide (SO2) iii. particulate matter (PM) |
GRI 305-7EEI 6.2.1EEI 6.3.1SASB IF0101-04 |
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| Absolute Kilograms of Mercury (Hg) emissions from company-owned or operated generation |
GRI EN21 EEI SASB |
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| Number of significant environmental incidents including spills during the reporting period An environmental incident or spill is determined to be ‘significant’ if it is reported in financial statements due to resulting liabilities. |
Across Emera we had no significant environmental incidents, including significant spills, in 2016. | GRI 306-3 |
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| Fines and non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with environmental laws and/or regulations |
No fines were received for non- compliance with environmental laws and/or regulations in 2016. | GRI 307-1 |
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| Significant waste streams in total metric tonnes produced, beneficially reused and disposed of during the reporting period (fly ash and PCB waste) |
Emera companies produced a total of 1,223,656 tonnes of fly ash in 2016. Of that 66 per cent (811,256 tonnes) was repurposed for other industrial uses in 2016. Emera companies disposed of 90.52 tonnes of PCB contaminated solid waste, such as metal transformer casings, and 62,072 litres of PCB contaminated liquid waste in 2016, in line with regulatory requirements. | GRI 306-2EEI 9.1EEI 9.3SASB IF0101-08 |
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| Approach to disposal and transportation of hazardous waste | We track and report environmental incidents in accordance with our Environmental Management System. All waste, including hazardous waste, is disposed of according to regulatory and legal requirements. | GRI 306-4EEI 14.1 |
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| Approaches to managing watershed protection and long-term planning for securing water resources |
GRI G4-DMA |
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| Total volume of water withdrawn and total number of water sources significantly affected by withdrawal | GRI 303-1GRI 303-2EEI 8.1SASB IF0101-05 |
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| Approaches to managing water discharges | SASB IF0101-07 |
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| Water bodies and related habitats that are significantly affected by water discharges and/or runoff An environmental incident or spill is determined to be ‘significant’ if it is reported in financial statements due to resulting liabilities |
No water bodies were significantly affected by discharges from Emera’s facilities in 2016. All
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GRI 306-5SASB IF0101-07 |
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| Nature of significant direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity | GRI 304-2 |
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| Percentage of land owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value | GRI 304-1 |
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| Habitats protected or restored | GRI 304-3 |
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| Total number of species listed as protected, vulnerable, or endangered by various agencies with habitats in areas affected by Emera’s operations |
GRI 304-4 |
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Safety |
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| Sustainability indicators | 2016 performance data location | Additional 2016 performance data | Informed by indicators |
| The number of Emera affiliates that have established joint (management-worker) occupational health and safety committees |
All Emera affiliates have joint worker-management health and safety committees. | GRI 403-1 |
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| Percentage of employees that are represented by joint (management-worker) occupational health and safety committees | 100% of workers are covered by formal joint management-worker health safety committees. | GRI 403-1 |
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| Lost Time Frequency Rate (LTF) and All Injury Frequency Rate (AIF) | GRI 403-2EEI 7.6SASB IF0101-12 |
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| Work-related fatalities | GRI 403-2EEI 7.6.4SASB IF0101-12 |
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| Whether there are employees who are at risk of developing occupational health diseases directly related to their work activities |
Emera does have employees who are at risk of occupational health diseases including Noise Induced Hearing Loss, Asbestosis and Lyme Disease. Emera provides education and training to employees and appropriate personal protective equipment to mitigate these exposures. |
GRI 403-3 |
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| Formal agreements (either local or global) with trade unions that cover health and safety |
For those affiliates with formal agreements in place with trade unions, these include safety and health requirements. | GRI 403-4 |
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| Percentage of employees of contractors and subcontractors that have undergone relevant health and safety training |
Our affiliates require employees of contractors and subcontractors to undergo health and safety orientation training before commencing work at Emera’s facilities. | GRI EU18 |
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| Policies and requirements regarding health and safety of employees, contractors and subcontractors | Emera’s employees and employees of contractors and subcontractors (who operate under their own safety policies and programs) operate under affiliate-level health and safety policies and programs that are implemented at the affiliate level. | GRI EU16G4-DMA |
Human Resources |
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| Sustainability indicators | 2016 performance data location | Additional 2016 performance data | Informed by indicators |
| Total number of employees by location | EEI 7.1 GRI 102-8 |
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Percentage of employees by gender and by age group |
GRI 405-1EEI 7.2 |
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| Board composition by gender and by age group |
GRI 405-1 EEI 7.3 |
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| Total rate of new employee hires and turnover rate | GRI 401-1 |
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| Percentage of total employees covered by collective bargaining agreements | GRI 102-41 |
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| Benefits which are standard for all employees | GRI 401-2 |
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| Percentage of employees eligible to retire in the next 5 and10 years | EU15 | ||
| The type and scope of learning and development programs provided to employees | GRI 404-2GRI EU14 |
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| Employee engagement score | |||
| Approach to freedom of association and collective bargaining | G4-DMA | ||
Community and Stakeholders |
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| Sustainability indicators | 2016 performance data location | Additional 2016 performance data | Informed by indicators | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments in the Community | GRI 201-1 |
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| Direct economic value generated and distributed (EVG&D) |
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GRI 201-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Infrastructure investments and services supported | GRI 203-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant indirect economic impacts | GRI 203-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Process to engage communities and other stakeholders on project environmental, social and economic impacts | SASB IF0101-11GRI 413-1 |
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| Total number of legal cases involving the rights of indigenous people | In 2016 there were no legal cases brought against Emera involving the rights of indigenous peoples. | GRI 411-1 |
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| Discussion of positions on the regulatory and political environment related to environmental and social factors anddescription of efforts to manage risks and opportunities presented |
SASB IF0101-21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Policy on political contributions | GRI 415-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total number of fines issued for non-compliance with public safety codes | Across Emera companies there were no fines issued for non-compliance with public safety codes from auditing that occurred in 2016. | GRI 416-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Process for assessing public health and safety risks | GRI 416-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Process for Emergency Planning & Management | GRI DMA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Business Operations |
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| Sustainability indicators | 2016 performance data location | Additional 2016 performance data | Informed by indicators |
| Number of natural gas and electric energy customers by customer type (residential, commercial, industrial, other) and per regulated utility |
GRI EU3EEI 4 |
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| Total natural gas (Therms) and electric energy sales (GWh) per customer type (residential, commercial, industrial, other) |
GRI EU3 |
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| Total Available Nameplate Generation Capacity at end of year (MW) broken down by energy type | GRI EU1EEI 1 |
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| Net Generation for the data year (GWh) broken down by energy type (summation of total generation and purchases less electrical energy losses and internal use) | GRI EU2EEI 2 |
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Km of transmission lines Km of distribution lines Km of Gas mains Km of Gas service lines |
GRI EU4EEI 3.1 |
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| Number of Electric Customers with Smart Meters | EEI 3.4 |
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| Energy efficiency programs and total investment (including funding that is rate-recoverable) |
GRI EU DMAEEI 3.3 |
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| Programs, including those in partnership with government, to improve or maintain access to electricity and customer support services | GRI G4-DMA |
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| Percentage of population unserved in licensed distribution or service areas | Emera’s regulated utilities serve 100% of the population in their service areas as determined by each regulatory jurisdiction. | GRI-EU26 | |
| Planned capacity against projected electricity, broken down by energy source and regulatory regime |
GRI EU10 |
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| Transmission and distribution losses and internal use as a percentage of total electricity sold | GRI EU12 |
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| Management approach to ensure short and long-term electricity availability and reliability | GRI EU DMA |
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| Research and development activity and expenditure aimed at providing reliable electricity and promoting sustainable development | GRI EU DMA |
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Governance |
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| Sustainability indicators | 2016 performance data location | Additional 2016 performance data | Informed by indicators |
| A statement from the most senior decision-maker of the organization (such as CEO, chair, or equivalent senior position) about the relevance of sustainability to the organization and its strategy for addressing sustainability |
GRI 102-14 |
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| A description of the organization’s values, principles, standards, and norms of behavior |
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GRI 102-16 |
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| A description of internal and external mechanisms for seeking advice about ethical and lawful behaviour, and organizational integrity; and reporting concerns about unethical or unlawful behaviour, and organizational integrity |
GRI 102-17 |
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| Governance structure of the organization, including committees of the highest governance body | GRI 102-18 |
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| Committees responsible for decision-making on economic, environmental, and social topics | GRI 102-18 |
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| Process for delegating authority for economic, environmental, and social topics from the highest governance body to senior executives and other employees | GRI 102-19 |
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| Whether the organization has appointed an executive-level position or positions with responsibility for economic, environmental, and social topics. Whether post holders report directly to the highest governance body |
GRI 102-20 |
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| Processes for consultation between stakeholders and the highest governance body on economic, environmental, and social topics. If consultation is delegated, describe to whom it is delegated and how the resulting feedback is provided to the highest governance body |
GRI 102-21 |
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| Composition of the highest governance body and its committees | GRI 102-22 |
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| Whether members of the Board of Directors and its Chair are independent | GRI 102-23 |
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| Nomination and selection processes and criteria for the Board of Directors and its committees |
GRI 102-24 |
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| Processes for the Board of Directors to ensure conflicts of interest are avoided and managed, and disclosure process. | GRI 102-25 |
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| Highest governance body’s and senior executives’ roles in the development, approval, and updating of the organization’s purpose, value or mission statements, strategies, policies, and goals related to economic, environmental, and social topics |
GRI 102-26 |
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| Measures taken to develop and enhance the highest governance body’s collective knowledge of economic, environmental, and social topics | GRI 102-27 |
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| Processes for evaluating the Board of Director’s performance | GRI 102-28 |
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| Board of Directors’ role in identifying and managing economic, environmental, and social topics and their impacts, risks, and opportunities, and whether stakeholder interests are considered |
GRI 102-30 |
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| Frequency of the Board of Directors’ review of economic, environmental, and social topics and their impacts, risks, and opportunities |
GRI 102-31 |
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| The highest committee or position that formally reviews and approves the organization’s sustainability report and ensures that all material topics are covered |
GRI 102-32 |
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| Process for communicating critical concerns to Emera | GRI 102-33 |
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| Remuneration policies for the Board of Directors, senior executives and employees | GRI 102-35GRI 102-36 |
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| How performance criteria in the remuneration policies relate to senior executives’ objectives for economic, environmental, and social topics | GRI 102-35 |
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| How stakeholders’ views are sought and taken into account regarding remuneration | GRI 102-37 |
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| A list of all entities included Emera’s Annual Report | GRI 102-45 |
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Reporting Approach |
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| Sustainability indicators | 2016 performance data location | Additional 2016 performance data | Informed by indicators |
| Process for defining the report content and boundaries | GRI 102-46 |
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| A list of the material topics | GRI 102-47 |
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| The effect of any restatements of information given in previous reports, and the reasons for such restatements | This is Emera’s first sustainability report. | GRI 102-48 |
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| Significant changes from previous reporting periods in the list of material topics and topic boundaries | This is Emera’s first sustainability report. | GRI 102-49 |
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| Reporting period for the data provided in this report | 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 | GRI 102-50 |
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| The date of the most recent previous report | This is Emera’s first sustainability report. | GRI 102-51 |
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| Reporting cycle | Annual | GRI 102-52 |
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| The contact point for questions regarding the report or its contents | investors@emera.com | GRI 102-51 |
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