Sustainability

Sustainability, Sustainable Environment - TRUenergy

TRUenergy has a long-standing commitment to sustainable business management. We make every effort to balance our responsibilities as an essential service provider with the environmental, social and economic needs of our stakeholders, customers and the communities in which we operate.

Experience tells us that operating a sustainable business makes good business sense. On one level, it helps us comply with legislation and regulations that apply to every element of our business. On another level, it helps build our relationships and reputation with stakeholders and ensures we live up to the expectations of the wider community.

TRUenergy’s vision is to be Australia’s best customer focused energy management group.  Here are some highlights from initiatives we implemented in 2007 to help us achieve this vision.

Environment

In July 2007, we launched our Climate Change Strategy, committing us to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by the year 2050.  So far, we are the only Australian energy utility to launch such a strategy.

Construction of our gas-fired power station at Tallawarra in NSW continues. Scheduled for completion in summer 2008/2009, Tallawarra will be Australia’s most efficient gas-fired power station and will emit 70 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional coal-fired plants.

We signed a $292 million Development Agreement with Solar Systems, a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic cells.  The Agreement will initiate the development of the world’s largest and most efficient concentrated solar power station.

Efficiency improvements at our power station in Yallourn achieved a 90,000 tonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Customers

In 2007, we set a target to double the number of customers on accredited GreenPower accounts.  We exceeded this target, seeing the number of GreenPower accounts rise from 6% to 11% of our overall electricity customer base.

Our Customer Welfare team completed 237 home energy efficiency audits for customers experiencing financial hardship.  The average savings amounted to $224 per customer.

Community

In 2007, we held the third annual TRUenergy Yallourn Fun Run/Walk to raise funds for the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre.  Over the years, $102,000 has been raised through the event, which this year attracted over 600 participants.

The Phoenix Fridge Program, an alliance between the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Moreland Energy Foundation, supported by TRUenergy and Sustainability Victoria, was launched in April 2007.  The Program takes unwanted fridges which are retrofitted by refugees and sells them at minimal cost to low-income households, helping to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint at the same time.

TRUenergy Tallawarra hosted a Clean Up Australia Day event on the foreshore of Lake Illawarra.  30 volunteers worked with TRUenergy employees to remove approximately two tonnes of waste.

Our commitment to support the communities in which we operate continues to be an important part of our business philosophy.  Check the ‘In the community’ section of the website for updates about projects around our assets.

Social and Environmental Reports

Each year, we produce a detailed Social and Environmental Report to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable development and our proactive approach to dealing with key social and environmental issues. 

Our first social and environmental report was released in May 2006, following the launch of our new business and brand name. Prior to this, the company existed as two separate businesses, TXU and Yallourn Energy.

To view these reports, click on the links below.