Greenhouse

We recognise the significance of the greenhouse issue and climate change.  Our sources of greenhouse emissions include fuel use from transport, energy consumption in offices, workshops and depots, emissions from waste disposal and those resulting from line losses - where electricity is lost from our distribution networks while being transported from the transmission grid to end users.

Another minor source is sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas, which is used as an electrical insulator in sealed electrical switchgear. Where possible, we now use non-SF6 equipment in new installations.

As required under the terms of the Federal Government's National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act (2007), we submit an annual NGER Report that details our greenhouse emissions for the preceding financial year. 

Notwithstanding the greenhouse emissions associated with line losses from our network, we also undertake a range of activities to mitigate the greenhouse impact from other aspects of our business.

From 1 January 2007 we began purchasing 10% of electricity used in our offices and depots from renewable sources under the GreenPowerTM scheme. Under the agreement our energy supplier will purchase the energy we nominate from renewable sources such as such as solar, wind, biomass (waste), wave or hydro. Unlike electricity sourced from coal, no greenhouse gases are produced from these sources in creating energy.

GreenPowerTM is a government approved, national accreditation program that sets stringent environmental and reporting standards for all renewable energy products offered by electricity retailers across Australia.

To reduce emissions associated with the disposal of co-mingled waste, we have developed and implemented a range of recycling initiatives that have reduced the volume of waste we send to landfill.

We offset the LPG, diesel and petrol emissions of our light fleet vehicles each year with Greenfleet. Greenfleet sequesters carbon via native vegetation plantings.  These plantings also help to reduce soil erosion and salinity and promote streamside rehabilitation.

We have also introduced a range of initiatives to encourage employees to reduce the time they spend driving cars, including the development and support of bicycle users groups, promotion and encouragement of the use of public transport and the installation of on-site video conferencing faciities.