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
Consumers

 

Customer contact web panel
Customer survey
Customer ombudsman
Customer panels
Consumer organisations

 

Collaboration, relationship management,
dialogue, improved service

 

Digital panel
Quantitative research
Complaints and mediation (per case)
Qualitative research (various)
Dialogue (e.g. Consumers’ Association [Consumentenbond], Association of Homeowners [Vereniging Eigen Huis])

 

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
Business Customers

 

Trade associations
Energy cooperatives

 

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
Employee participation
Tension young people’s network
Lianne women’s network
Pride GBLT network
Staff association
Foundation
Trade unions

 

Participation,
dialogue, employee engagement and initiatives, formal negotiations (on pay and employment conditions)

 

Quantitative research
Formal consultations
Dialogue, workshops, meetings
Employee association
Employee volunteering
Periodical negotiations on pay and employment conditions

 

Safe working practices and infrastructure, Attracting and developing talent, Company's adaptability, Workplace well-being

Stakeholder Shareholders and
Investors

 

Stakeholder Provinces and
Municipalities

 

Formal/informal consultations, knowledge and insight activities

 

General Meeting of Shareholders
Meeting of Major Shareholders
Company visits, consultative meetings, individual contact
Two-yearly reputation survey
Regular newsletter

 

All material issues

  

Financiers, investors, and credit rating agencies

 

Accountability and notes

 

Regular consultations and reporting on financial results

 

All material issues

Societal stakeholders
Government bodies

 

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,
States General, government ministries

 

Keeping them informed on a general level and on specific, topical issues

 

Relationship management, working visits, proactive and reactive updates
Qualitative research

 

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
Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets
Dutch Data Protection Authority
Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate
State Supervision of Mines
EU Industry Regulators
Social Affairs and Employment Inspectorate

 

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
EnergieNederland
Energy producers/ providers
Energy Storage Nederland
Eurelectric, Eurogas, ENCS
European Distribution System
Flexible power Alliance Network (FAN)
Gasunie
IGU, IEA
Nedu
Netbeheer Nederland
Operators for electricity (Edso)
Stichting ElaadNL
TenneT
WENb Employers’ Association

 

Knowledge sharing, partnerships, promotion of interests, collaboration

 

Administrative participation
Working group

 

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
Suppliers of goods and services

 

Collaboration,
Relationship management,
Dialogue

 

Contracting Day
Supplier Days
Theme consultations
Sustainable procurement consultations

 

Corporate social responsibility in the supply chain

Knowledge institutions

 

Education and knowledge institutions
Sustainable Electrical Energy Centre of Expertise

 

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
Nederland Cares

 

Volunteering

   

Workplace well-being

  

Housing corporations, project developers, business community

 

Participation,
Dialogue and relationship management

 

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,
Economic Board Arnhem Nijmegen
European Energy-Information
Foundation for rural energy services (FRES)
Global Gas Network Initiative
Global Intelligent Utility Network coalition
Global Reporting Initiative
Global Smart City & Community Coalition
Groene Zaak
HIER Opgewekt
Association of Provincial Authorities
Klimaatverbond Nederland
Management Community
MVO Nederland (CSR Europe partner)
Natuur & Milieu environmental organisation
Nederlandse Vereniging Duurzame Energie (sustainable energy association)
NG Infra
Open compliance and ethics group
Sharing & Analysis Centre
Smart Energy Collective
De Energiebank Foundation
Universal Smart Energy Framework Foundation (USEF)
New Energy Coalition Foundation
The Open Global Data
Urgenda Foundation
Association of Homeowners
Association of Netherlands Municipalities
Woman Capital
World Economic Forum

 

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