ESG for the Utility Sector

January 25-26, 2022 | , ::

0122-esg-risks

The climate crisis poses a real threat not just to mankind but to the global economy.  This conference will serve as a platform for investors, financiers, utility companies, governments as well as stakeholders in the supply chain to have an in-depth dialogue in examining the key drivers, developments, challenges, and opportunities that lie in climate change, financial markets, and ESG.

As the world strives to tackle climate change and increasingly stringent regulations around reporting, Climate & ESG metrics and reporting in the utility sector has become a more pressing concern.   

Investors and stakeholders are increasingly scrutinizing companies that they want to associate with based on their ESG scores and reporting.   As a result, nearly every publicly held company and many privately held firms are facing new pressure to adapt, measure, disclose and improve their ESG policies and programs.

This forum aims to provide participants with the necessary tools they will need to become an important part of this new investment paradigm.  Through a combination of presentation, discussion and case studies, participants will learn about financially material Environmental Social Governance (ESG) indicators, climate data providers, and how to translate corporate performance on sustainability into financial performance. Attendees will also hear from utility companies on some of best sustainability and ESG practices in the sector.  Executives will leave this course with ideas on how to adapt, incorporate or advance ESG investment practices within their organizations. 

Learning Outcomes

This course will provide attendees an opportunity to:

• Identify ESG metrics and trends that matters most to energy and utility companies
• Review what ESG & climate risk metrics are, why it matters today and how it can enhance your company’s growth and reputation
• Examine the role climate & ESG plays in identifying, assessing, acquiring, financing and funding utility projects
• Analyze climate, financial & ESG risks and opportunities for the utility sector growth
• Review best practices in ESG and impact investing
• Discover how utility companies are transitioning displaced workforce in the new environment
• Identify trends in corporate governance & reporting

Tuesday, January. 25, 2022 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. :: Climate, Financial & ESG in the Utility Sector

• Overview of ESG and climate risks concepts
• Intersection between climate risk, financial risk & ESG
• How are utility companies committing to net zero
• Distributed energy resources & policies

Katie Ott, Vice President, Sustainability and Climate Strategy, Constellation

Julie Smolinski, VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Sustainability, Hawaiian Electric Industries

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. :: The Rise of Impact Investment

• Shifting investor expectations
• The role of foundations, endowments, and pensions
• Stakeholders’ capitalism
• Beyond profit – sustainable investing

Karen Wawrzaszek, CFP, CTFA Regional President, BNY Mellon Wealth Management

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:15 – 12:15 p.m. :: The Transition to the Just Society

The energy transition is not only environmental but also a social transition.   How do we transition the workforces that are being displaced in the new environment?

Karen Wawrzaszek, CFP, CTFA Regional President, BNY Mellon Wealth Management     

12:15 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. :: Regulatory Response to Climate Risk in the Utility Sector

This session will cover how policy makers and regulators are identifying and responding to the complex risk posed by climate change.

Moderator:

Lorraine H. Akiba, President/CEO, LHA Ventures

Panelists:

Abigail Anthony, Commissioner, Rhode Island PUC

James P. Griffin, Chair, State of Hawaii PUC   

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. :: Keynote Address

Christopher J. Creed, Senior Advisor- Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy

3:00 – 3:15 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

3:15 – 4:00 p.m. :: Climate Resilience thru Strategic Reinvention & Investment

• Context: Climate Intensity
  • Events such as wildfires, tree die-off, sea-level rise, flooding, drought, water quality /pollution, increasing in severity and frequency due to extreme climate patterns

• Strategic Transformation 
  • Avoid disruption  
  • Strengthen operational resilience via new data and technologies
  • Future-proofing business

• ESG as Risk Mgmt.
  • Baseline assessment + business case costs / benefits
    • Physical assets –Introducing “risk” as a driver for re-investment in infrastructure 
    • Brand assets – corporate reputation management, client trust, workplace culture, community involvement, etc.

• Opportunities for Profitable Impact
  • Corporate Venture Fund Investments via Bolt-on VC /Private Equity Managers
  • Infrastructure Investment & Asset Optimization

• Re-investment gap and lack of insights (the problem)
• The availability and use of existing data 
• Planning your re-investment levels on budget constraints (Nordic experience) 
• Perspective on the organization – when data-driven decision support enters the room.

Brian V. Iversen, Managing Partner, Cimbria Capital

Noah Sabich, Partner, Cimbria Capital

Ulrich B. Hansen, CEO, APX10    

4:00 – 4:15 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. :: The Path to Net Zero

This session will cover how utilities are responding and committing to net zero

Julie Yunker, Senior Project Developer, Hawaii Gas

Sharon Allan, Chief Strategy Officer, Smart Electric Power Alliance

5:00 p.m. :: End of day

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. :: Corporate Governance & Reporting

Sandy Nessing, Managing Director, Corporate Sustainability, American Electric Power

9:45 a.m. – 10:30 am. :: Climate Risk Management and Why It Matters to ESG

Chris Benjamin, Director, Corporate Sustainability, PG&E Corporation

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. :: Break

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. :: Climate Risk Assessment and ESG – A Rating Agency Perspective

• Climate risk – what does it mean to business in general?
• How do you define risk and how do you report it?
• ESG risk metrics

Jillian Cardona, Analyst, Moody’s Investor Service

 

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: The Role of Carbon Credit/GHG Accounting in Transition to Net Zero

Steph Harris, Director, Carbon Markets, 3Degrees Group, Inc.

12:30 p.m. Conference Adjourns

• Lorraine H. Akiba, President/CEO, LHA Ventures

• Sharon Allan, Chief Strategy Officer, Smart Electric Power Alliance

• Abigail Anthony, Commissioner, Rhode Island PUC

• Chris Benjamin, Director, Corporate Sustainability, PG&E Corporation

• Jillian Cardona, Analyst, Moody’s Investor Service

• Christopher J. Creed, Senior Advisor- Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy

• James P. Griffin, Chair, State of Hawaii PUC

• Ulrich B. Hansen, CEO, APX10

• Steph Harris, Director, Carbon Markets, 3Degrees Group, Inc.

• Brian V. Iversen, Managing Partner, Cimbria Capital

• Sandy Nessing, Managing Director, Corporate Sustainability, American Electric Power

• Katie Ott, Vice President, Sustainability and Climate Strategy, Constellation

• Noah Sabich, Partner, Cimbria Capital

• Julie Smolinski, VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Sustainability, Hawaiian Electric Industries

• Karen Wawrzaszek, CFP, CTFA Regional President, BNY Mellon Wealth Management      

• Julie Yunker, Senior Project Developer, Hawaii Gas

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
• Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
  • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

ESG for the Utility Sector

January 25-26, 2022 | Online

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RELATED WORKSHOPS:

ESG and Climate Risk Metrics Reporting

January 26

Individual remote connection(s) - $ 495.00 each
Volume pricing also available Call us at 1.303.770.8800 to find out if we can customize a package for you
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Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before December 17, 2022 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this conference and 0.3 CEUs for the workshop.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

PowerPoint presentations, video, and Q&A will be used in the program.

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

CPE Credits: 11.0 CPEs for the conference and 3.0 for the workshop
There is no prerequisite for this event.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preperation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

 

Who Should Attend

• Utility and Energy Companies, Municipalities, Cities with titles
• Chief ESG Officer/Sustainability Directors/Managers
• Chief Value Officer
• CSR Professionals
• CEOs, Board Directors and Managers
• CFOs/Finance Officers/Treasurers
• Compliance Personnel/Risk Officers
• Investor Relations Officers
• Environmental Policy Directors/Managers
• Climate Risk Director/Officer/Manager
• Risk Managers/Operational Managers/Internal Auditors
• Chief DEI Officer/HR
• Finance sector specialists in asset management, ESG/Sustainability and Investment Bankers, Buy side/Sell side analysts
• Financial Advisors/Investment Managers
• Portfolio Managers
• Investors
• General Counsel/Lawyers
• Financiers looking to invest or fund energy or utility infrastructure projects
• External Auditors.
• Regulatory and Government Agencies
• Rating Agencies