Environment

As a business we have always had to consider the long term consequences of the choices we make. When we replace parts of our network that have come to the end of their life, we have to think about how the networks will be used in the future, and make sure they will be fit for purpose not only for today’s customers but also for their children and even grandchildren.

We recognise our responsibility to operate in a way that minimises our impact on the environment. We’re constantly striving for high environmental compliance standards and greater operating efficiency.

Over the last few years in particular, we’ve raised the profile of environmental responsibility and sustainability amongst staff and managers at WPD and we work closely with partners representing a range of environmental and heritage interest bodies.

Our environmental responsibility commitments for 2010 – 2015

• Reduce electricity consumption in depots and offices by 5%
• Reduce the level of waste being sent to landfill by 5%
• Increase the use of recycled paper to 95%
• Increase investment recovery by 5%
• Reduce indirect staff travel miles by 5% pro rata
• Reduce the kg levels of SF6 leakage by 25%
• Reduce the volume of oil contained within redundant fluid-filled cables to reduce the risk of leaks by 5%
• Reduce fluid-filled cable leaks by 5%
• Complete transformer bunding to contain potential oil spillage at 100% of our primary transformers