Interaction with stakeholders
Based on high-impact issues, 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 Corporate & Social Affairs 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: suppliers, knowledge institutions, regulators and social sector organisations, etc.
Stakeholder touchpoints
We conduct the dialogue with stakeholders on both a regular and ad hoc 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 stakeholder touchpoints. One example from 2019 is the session we organised for members of the new Provincial Councils in our service areas to engage on the impact the energy transition is having on energy infrastructure.
Contact with policymakers
Alliander maintains contact with policymakers to ensure a future-proof legislative framework that facilitates the Dutch energy infrastructure. Such contact consists primarily in liaising with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy as the body responsible for the Netherlands’ energy supply policy. In addition, we promote Alliander’s interests through contacts with other government ministries, Dutch parliament, political organisations, and interest groups. For a complete list, please see the stakeholder table.
In these contacts, Alliander is represented by its Management Board and supported by the Corporate & Social Affairs department. In 2019, CEO Ingrid Thijssen represented Alliander or Netbeheer Nederland in the lower house of Dutch parliament on several occasions, including in sessions on increasing built environment sustainability and network capacity. To garner broader support for proposals, Alliander coordinates its efforts with industry peers through the Netbeheer Nederland industry organisation. Alliander does not engage public affairs firms to represent it, and neither does Alliander donate to political parties, politicians, or government bodies.
Sponsoring
Given that Alliander is publicly funded, we pursue a very cautious sponsoring policy, sponsoring only a very limited number of activities that are directly related to Alliander’s field and ambitions, and which are based in our service area. For us to consider sponsoring an activity, it must be sustainable, safe, and politically and religiously neutral.
Stakeholder table
Stakeholder | Organisation or platform | Items for discussion | Type of interaction | Reference material issues | ||||
Stakeholder Customers | Customer contact web panel | Collaboration, relationship management, | Digital panel | Reliability of supply, Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Satisfied customers, Future-proof network, Data security, privacy and cyber security, Access to affordable energy | ||||
Stakeholder Customers | Trade associations | Collaboration, dialogue, improved service | Dialogue and relationship management (e.g. VEMW, Uneto VNI, Bouwend Nederland, VNO NCW) | Reliability of supply, Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Satisfied customers, Future-proof network, Data security, privacy and cyber security, Access to affordable energy | ||||
Stakeholder Employees | Employee survey | Participation, | Quantitative research | Safe working practices and infrastructure, Attracting and developing talent, Company's adaptability, Workplace well-being | ||||
Stakeholder Shareholders and | Stakeholder Provinces and | Formal/informal consultations, knowledge and insight activities | General Meeting of Shareholders | All material issues | ||||
Financiers, investors, and credit rating agencies | Accountability and notes | Regular consultations and reporting on financial results | All material issues | |||||
Societal stakeholders | National government and European Union | Interest expression and active/proactive dialogue | Consultation, having a say, views | Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Future-proof network, Access to affordable energy | ||||
Provinces, Municipalities, and Regional Energy Strategies | Coordination of climate and energy plans and projects | Consultation, collaboration, projects (e.g. Association of Provincial Authorities [IPO] and Association of Netherlands Municipalities [VNG]) | Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Future-proof network, Access to affordable energy | |||||
Politicians | Lower and Upper House of Dutch Parliament, | Keeping them informed on a general level and on specific, topical issues | Relationship management, working visits, proactive and reactive updates | Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Future-proof network, Access to affordable energy | ||||
Industry regulators | Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets | Informing, information sharing, and explanation | Regular meetings on topical subjects and issues Standard and ad hoc information requests | Reliability of supply, Safe working practices and safe infrastructure, Data security, privacy and cyber security | ||||
Energy sector | Cedec, Cogen | Knowledge sharing, partnerships, promotion of interests, collaboration | Administrative participation | Reliability of supply, Safe working practices and infrastructure, Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Data-driven network management, Attracting and developing talent, Satisfied customers, Future-proof network, Corporate social responsibility in the supply chain, Data security, privacy and cyber security, Access to affordable energy | ||||
Suppliers | Contractors and manufacturing industry | Collaboration, | Contracting Day | Corporate social responsibility in the supply chain | ||||
Knowledge institutions | Education and knowledge institutions | Knowledge sharing and partnerships | Collaboration with Radboud University, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Regional Training Centres. Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Twente. | Attracting and developing talent | ||||
Media | National, regional media | Informing, positioning | Relationship management, proactive information, crisis communications, qualitative research. | All material issues | ||||
Social sector organisations | Nudge | Facilitating sustainable energy supply | Consultation and dialogue on construction projects | Promoting renewable energy generation | ||||
Stichting de Opkikker | Volunteering | Workplace well-being | ||||||
Housing corporations, project developers, business community | Participation, | Alignment, participation in associations and foundations | Reliability of supply, Safe working practices and safe infrastructure, Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Responsible investment policy, Future-proof network, Access to affordable energy | |||||
Partner relationships | Amsterdam Economic Board, | Collaboration with knowledge institutions, the business community and government bodies, promoting sustainability, new models for innovation and social development | Administrative participation, meetings, sponsoring, strategic collaboration | Reliability of supply, Promoting renewable energy generation, Working together on innovative solutions, Future-proof network, Corporate social responsibility in the supply chain, Corporate Governance and business ethics, Workplace well-being, Data security, privacy and cyber security, Access to affordable energy |
Alliander endorses | In 2019, we participated in the following Dutch social initiatives | ||
• | ILO Conventions | • | Sector-wide employment arrangement |
• | OESO guidelines | • | Draft Dutch Climate Agreement |
• | Circular Procurement Green Deal | ||
• | ‘Talent naar de Top’ charter, ‘Diversiteit in Bedrijf’ charter | ||
• | Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and LGBTi manifest | ||
• | Collective labour agreement for network companies | ||