ESG Approach
We believe our success requires strong management and oversight of environmental, social and governance (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 all of our stakeholders.
ESG Vision:
- Strengthen our business and achieve our vision for a more sustainable, forward-thinking and industry-leading FirstEnergy
ESG Strategic 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 work atmosphere, 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 ESG goals and initiatives bring to our stakeholders
- Inform stakeholders of our efforts to improve our ESG performance and demonstrate accountability and transparency on ESG goals and initiatives
Corporate Responsibility
Governance and Oversight
Board and executive-level oversight ensures the transparency, accountability and relevancy of our ESG initiatives.
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 of this group 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 Supervisor and Corporate Responsibility team.
Supervisor, Corporate Responsibility
The Supervisor manages 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 Vice President of Investor Relations and Communications and regularly updates the executive-level Corporate Responsibility 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.