Interaction with stakeholders
Based on high-impact themes, we regularly seek to identify suitable parties for Alliander’s dialogue. Engagement, size, willingness to enter into dialogue and expertise are crucial considerations in this respect. We aim to find a common approach to issues, create support for initiatives, build trust and devise solutions with added value. Both for the short and long term. We talk to customers about their energy requirements on a daily basis. Together with our shareholders we look at ways in which we can contribute to sustainable solutions. And together with our employees we look how we can be an employer that matters. Together with all our stakeholders, we are moving forward towards the energy supply of the future.
Anybody or any group that is affected by our actions or that has an influence on our organisation or services we consider to be stakeholders of ours. We keep a constant check on who our stakeholders are. Whether on projects or concerning certain topics, they may have a relevant contribution to make and we involve them.
The nature of a number of our relationships with stakeholders is governed by the statutory and regulatory environment (government ministries, politicians and industry regulators) and by cooperation in the supply chain (energy sector), but also by the public nature of our service (customers, municipal authorities, media and pressure groups). Responsibilities for stakeholder management are formalised and the CSA department coordinates the strategic stakeholder management and decides which organisations and stakeholder representatives we actively engage with.
The Alliander stakeholder model comprises three stakeholder groups. A distinction is made between:
key stakeholders: customers, employees and shareholders & investors;
other stakeholders such as: suppliers, knowledge institutions, regulators and civil society organisations.
Contacts
We conduct the dialogue with stakeholders on both an ad hoc and a structured basis. This includes the organisation of customer panels and shareholder consultations as well as meetings with the Works Council. Supplier days, knowledge and partner meetings and participation in network organisations are important forms of contact with stakeholders. We are in regular contact with politicians in the Netherlands and at the European institutions, and we also liaise with regulators. In 2018, the Executive Board attended masterclasses and a relationship evening that we organised in order to engage in the dialogue about the challenges for the energy supply of the future. We spoke with many local government representatives to discuss ambitions and choices in the light of climate objectives and the energy transition.
Interaction with stakeholders
Stakeholders | Organisation or platform | Type of interaction | Items for discussion | Reference | ||||
Stakeholder Customers | Customer contact web panelCustomer surveyCustomer ombudsmanCustomer panelsConsumer organisations | Digital panel Quantitative survery (4 times a year) Complaints and mediation (on a case-by-case basis) Qualitative survey (miscellaneous) Dialogue Consumer Association, Home Owners’ Association | Collaboration, relationship management, dialogue, improved service | Customers | ||||
Business customers | Sector organisationsEnergy cooperatives | Dialogue and relationship managment (including VEMW, Uneto VNI, Bouwend Nederland, VNO NCW) | Collaboration, dialogue, improved service | Customers | ||||
Stakeholder Employees | Employee surveyEmployee representationYoung employee network - TensionFemale employee network – LianneLGBT network - Pride Staff associationFoundationTrade unions | Quantitative survey (quarterly)Formal consultation (monthly)Dialogue/ workshops/ meetingsDittoDitto Employee associationEmployee voluntary workRegular consultation on employment terms and conditions | Participation, dialogue, employee involvement and initiatives, formal discussion on employment terms and conditions | Employees | ||||
Stakeholder Shareholders and Investors | Stakeholder Provinces and Municipalities | General Meeting of Shareholders (at least once a year)Majority shareholder meeting (3 times a year)Company visits, management consultation, individual contact. Two-yearly reputation survey Regular Newsletter | Formal, informal consultation, knowledge and insight activities | Shareholders and investors | ||||
Lenders, investors and credit rating agencies | Regular consultation and report on financial performance (regular) | Accountability and commentary | Financial | |||||
Social stakeholders | Central government and European Union | Consultation, discussions, exchange of views (projects, ad hoc) | Expression of interest and proactive dialogue | Shareholders and investors | ||||
Provinces and Municipalities | Consultation, collaboration, projects (including IPO and VNG) | Alignment of climate and environmental plans and projects | Shareholders and investors | |||||
Politics | Both houses of Dutch parliament, ministeries | Relationship management, working visits, pro-active and reactive provision of information. Two-yearly qualitative survey | Provision of information in general sense and on specific topics | All stakeholders | ||||
Regulators | Netherlands Authority for Consumers and MarketsNetherlands Authority for the Financial MarketsNetherlands Data Protection AuthorityEU Regulatory authorities | Regular meetings on current topics and issuesStandard and ad hoc information requests | Inform, exchange and explain | Customers | ||||
State Supervision of Mines Dutch Safety Board | Regular meetings on current topics and issuesStandard and ad hoc information requests | Inform, exchange and explain | Customers | |||||
Energy sector | Cedec, CogenEnergieNederland Energy producers/suppliers Energy Storage Netherlands European Distribution System Operators for electricity (Edso) Eurelectric, Eurogas, ENCS IGU, IEA Flexible power Alliance Network (FAN)Netbeheer Nederland Nedu TenneT WENb Employer Association | Board participation (monthly) Working groups (monthly) Stichting E-laad (continuous) | Exchange of know-how, partnerships, representation of interests, cooperation | Customers | ||||
Suppliers | Contractors and industry Suppliers of goods and services | Contractors’ daySuppliers’ daysTheme-based consultations Consultation on responsible purchasing | Cooperation, Relationship management, Dialogue | Financial | ||||
Knowledge institutions | Educational and knowledge organisationsSustainable Electrical Energy Center of Expertise | Cooperation with Radboud University, HAN, ROCs. Universities of Technology in Delft, Eindhoven and Twente. | Knowledge exchange and partnerships | Employees | ||||
Media | National and regional media | Relationship management, proactive provision of information, crisis communications. Qualitative survey (every two years). | Information, positioning | All stakeholders | ||||
Civil society organisations | Natuur en MilieuNudgeStichting de OpkikkerNederland Cares | Consultation and dialogue about project design, volunteer work (projects, ad hoc) | Facilitate renewable energy supply | Customers | ||||
Housing associations, property developers and businesses | Discussions, participation in associations and foundations (frequent) | Participation, Dialogue and relationship management | Customers | |||||
Partnerships | Amsterdam Economic Board, Economic Board Arnhem NijmegenEuropean Energy InformationSharing & Analysis CentreFoundation rural energy servicesGlobal Gas Network Initiative Global Intelligent Utility Network coalitionGlobal Smart City & Community Coalition Global Reporting Initiative Groene Zaak Kenniskring Amsterdam Hier Klimaatverbond Nederland Milieu Centraal MVO NederlandNederlandse vereniging duurzame energieOpen compliance and ethics groupSmart Energy Collective Stichting de EnergiebankStichting New Energy CoalitionStichting USEFThe Open Global Data Management CommunityUrgendaVereniging Eigen HuisVereniging Nederlandse GemeentenWoman CapitalWorld Economic Forum | Board membership, meetings, sponsoring, strategic partnerships | Collaboration with knowledge institutions, businesses and authorities, sustainability promotion, new models for innovation and societal development | Customers |
Externally developed economic, environmental and social charters, principles or initiatives that Alliander supports or endorses.
Alliander subscribes to | In 2018, we participated in the following Dutch social initiatives | ||
• | ILO Conventions | • | Sector-wide employment arrangement |
• | OECD guidelines | • | Draft climate agreement |
• | Circular Procurement Green Deal | ||
• | Charter Talent to the Top, Charter Diversity in business | ||
• | Manifest Sustainable Development Goals and LGBTi | ||
• | Collective labour agreement for network companies | ||