ESG Approach
We believe our success requires strong management and oversight of ESG matters, as well as transparency and accountability regarding where we need to improve and how we’re going to succeed. We also believe staying true to our Mission and Core Values means executing our corporate responsibility approach to pursue objectives and initiatives that positively impact our stakeholders, advance our company strategy and help fulfill our vision for a more sustainable, forward-thinking and industry-leading FirstEnergy.
ESG Priorities:
- Environmental: Protect the environment by minimizing our impact, improving the sustainability of our operations, executing our Climate Strategy and finding opportunities to enhance the ecosystems we interact with
- Social: Support the development of an inclusive, equitable, rewarding and safe workplace while empowering our diverse and innovative team to make our customers’ lives brighter and our communities stronger
- Governance: Maintain oversight of significant company issues and strengthen risk management; build a strong, centralized corporate compliance program and culture of ethics and integrity; continue stakeholder engagement efforts and provide consistent, transparent disclosures on ESG topics
How We Manage Our ESG Priorities:
- Assess the company’s significant ESG-related risks and opportunities and evaluate opportunities to mitigate those risks and capitalize on opportunities that help us be a more sustainable, forward-thinking electric utility
- Respond to external stakeholder guidance and expectations regarding ESG performance, reporting transparency and accountability
- Collaborate with employees across the company to advance ESG priorities and integrate our corporate responsibility approach into FirstEnergy’s overarching business strategy
- Demonstrate the value that our company goals and initiatives bring to our stakeholders, and the alignment of those goals to our ESG priorities
- Inform stakeholders of our efforts to improve our ESG performance and demonstrate accountability and transparency
Corporate Responsibility
Governance and Oversight
Board and executive-level oversight of ESG topics is vital to our commitment to corporate responsibility and our company’s success.
FirstEnergy’s Board committees provide oversight and guidance on distinct environmental, social and governance related topics. For a summary of each committee’s ESG oversight responsibilities, please visit the Board Governance page of our Corporate Responsibility website.
In addition to the ESG oversight roles and responsibilities described above, our Corporate Responsibility team works with the Corporate Responsibility Executive-Level Steering Committee and Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility Board Committee to ensure the transparency and accountability of FirstEnergy’s ESG efforts, and continuously strive to improve our ESG performance across our organization.
Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee
The Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee of the Board of Directors, comprising independent directors, provides oversight of the company’s corporate responsibility approach and supporting ESG initiatives. The Committee meets five times per year to discuss, among other things, updates on a broad range of ESG issues, and company management provides regular updates on ESG progress throughout the year. Please see the Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee Charter for a description of the Committee’s full responsibilities.
Corporate Responsibility Executive-Level Steering Committee
This cross-functional, executive-level steering committee oversees our company’s corporate responsibility approach and supporting ESG initiatives. Members include senior leadership from the company’s five organizational pillars – Finance & Strategy, Customer, Operations, Legal, and Human Resources & Corporate Services. The Committee receives quarterly reports on ESG progress from the Corporate Responsibility Manager and Corporate Responsibility team.
Manager, Corporate Responsibility
The Manager leads the Corporate Responsibility team responsible for the execution of our corporate responsibility approach and the development of our ESG initiatives. This person reports to the Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Responsibility and regularly updates the Corporate Responsibility Executive-Level Steering Committee and the Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility Board Committee on evolving considerations for our company and our ESG progress. The position is also responsible for educating employees on the importance of corporate responsibility efforts and improving ESG focus and performance across business areas.