Our sustainability performance

At FortisBC, sustainability touches every aspect of our organization. To measure our progress, we’ve reported on our sustainability performance annually since 2017 using our performance indicators.

2020 performance indicators

While there are numerous sustainability frameworks and disclosures available, we reviewed the key elements that were important to our organization’s long term sustainability based on their impacts to our business, to stakeholders and to the communities affected by our business. We then identified 52 sustainability performance indicators to report on that demonstrate our continued commitment to, and performance in, the social, environmental and economic aspects of our sustainability performance.

In preparing our performance indicators, the intersection between our data and external frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) were considered. In addition to referencing the GRI standards, we use the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards to disclose GHG emissions.

These indicators provide a balanced view of sustainability performance across FortisBC’s four priority areas:

These priority areas provide context on where we’ve been and where we are headed, as well as insight into opportunities for advancing additional sustainable business practices. As our stakeholders seek information on a wider range of topics, we plan to expand upon the current reported metrics and increase transparency on our sustainable business practices.

GRI content index

This document* references how FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) disclose against Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards for the 2020 reporting year. FortisBC does not purport to report in relation other frameworks and standards. For more information on the GRI, please visit www.globalreporting.org.

GRI content index

Our sustainability governance

Our sustainability governance model is similar to that of our parent company.

Stakeholder	Responsible for:
Board of directors	providing oversight on the business’s strategic priorities and receives updates from the FortisBC CEO and executive leadership team on sustainability initiatives and strategies
CEO and executive leadership team	overseeing the development and progression of the overarching business strategy and direction of the sustainability initiatives at FortisBC, risk management oversight and ensuring business is conducted to meet high standards of ethical, environmental and social responsibility
Natural gas and electricity operations	operational aspects of sustainability, including the identification and development of initiatives that support and progress the FortisBC sustainability strategy and business priorities, as well as ensuring the safety, reliability and resiliency of our natural gas and electricity systems
Sustainability business unit	developing and supporting sustainability initiatives as well as consulting with internal stakeholders on company initiatives to lead performance reporting practices and indicators

Engagement with stakeholders and Indigenous communities

We are consistently looking for new ways to grow, improve, innovate and operate more effectively, sustainably and efficiently. We rely on conversations with our stakeholders and Indigenous communities to understand their needs and expectations to progress as an organization. Below we’ve outlined examples of how we engage with each group to understand their needs and expectations in relation to our business activities.

Who we engage with	How we approach engagements
Communities	charitable donations and sponsorships charitable activities and events partnerships with educational institutions community and project consultation programs membership and participation in local Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce employees serving on nonprofit boards employee volunteerism active economic participation
Indigenous communities	donations and sponsorships activities and events partnerships with educational institutions and mentorship, internship and scholarship programs resource planning workshops community and project consultation programs membership and participation in local Indigenous trades and training organizations participation as a member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Businesses and maintaining our status as a Progressive Aboriginal Relations Committed Member active economic participation
Customers	energy efficiency programs customer service delivery community outreach and events through our Street Team community education programs—school and public safety customer bills, bill inserts and emails Energy Moment monthly newsletter customer surveys websites social media
Employees	departmental and team meetings monthly CEO updates various leadership connections employee‐run groups and committees corporate campaigns and events formal process for complaints training union relations regular internal communications employee safety perception survey employee development plans cross‐utility working groups
Regulatory and government	focus on constructive regulatory relationships participation in public policy and legislative consultations providing responses to general industry requests from regulators regular regulatory and government outreach
Unions	IBEW 213 MoveUP
Utility industry	Participation in industry associations, including: Alliance for Transportation Electrification Canadian Electricity Association Canadian Energy Partnership for Environmental Innovation, a subgroup of the Canadian Gas Association Canada Energy Pipeline Association Western Energy Institute Pacific Northwest Gas Consortium BC Business Council Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium Electric Mobility Canada Electric Power Research Institute’s Incubatenergy Labs

*This material references Disclosures 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, 102-4, 102-5, 102-6, 102-7, 102-8, 102-9, 102-10, 102-12, 102-13, 102-14, 102-18, 102-20, 102-22, 102-23, 102-25, 102-32, 102-40, 102-41, 102-42, 102-43, 102-45, 102-47, 102-48, 102-49, 102-50, 102-51, 102-52, 102-53, 102-55 and 102-56 from GRI 102: General Disclosures 2016; Disclosures 103-1, 103-2 and 103-3 from GRI 103: Management Approach 2016; Disclosure 201-1 from GRI 201: Economic Performance 2016; Disclosures 202-2 from GRI 202: Market Presence 2016; Disclosures 205-3 from GRI 205: Anti-Corruption 2016; Disclosures 302-2 from GRI 302: Energy 2016; Disclosures 305- 1, 305-2, 305-5 and 305-7 from GRI 305: Emissions 2016; Disclosure 307-1 from GRI 307: Environmental Compliance 2016; Disclosure 401-1 from GRI 401: Employment 2016; Disclosure 403-9 from GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety 2018; Disclosure 404-1 from GRI 404: Training and Education; Disclosure 405-1 from GRI 405: Diversity and Equal Opportunity 2016; Disclosure 406-1 from GRI 406: Non-Discrimination; Disclosure 411-1 from GRI 411: Rights of Indigenous People.