Climate Change Data

Summit Utilities, Inc.

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2021, 2023)

Reporting Period: 2020

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environment
  • Social
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced methane emissions by 20% in Arkansas and Oklahoma since 2013 through pipeline replacement program.
  • Reduced total energy use by over 100 metric tons of CO2e in Maine by lowering the temperature of heaters at regulator stations.
  • Saved approximately 28.1 metric tons of CO2e through piloting methane recapture technology in two states.
  • Avoided approximately 27,086 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the last decade through energy efficiency programs.

Social Achievements

  • Launched a quarterly survey program to gather employee feedback.
  • Implemented a comprehensive diversity and inclusion initiative.
  • Implemented unconscious bias training company-wide.
  • Conducted a comprehensive review of Summit’s benefits program.
  • Instituted anti-corruption training for all employees.
  • Donated refurbished wi-fi hotspots for local school students in Arkansas.
  • Delivered food to high-risk community members in Colorado and Missouri.
  • Sewed masks and delivered hand sanitizer to first responders in Maine.
  • Voluntarily suspended disconnections and associated fees for customers.

Governance Achievements

  • Strengthened policies to include clear requirements regarding ESG related standards.
  • Developed a model for measuring ROI on sustainability initiatives.
  • Created an internal process to track all ESG related investments.
  • Created an internal process to document ESG related metrics, reporting procedures, and data sources.
  • Instituted annual anti-corruption and bribery training for all employees.
  • Developed best practices for office supplies and company events that prioritize sustainably sourced products and reduces waste.
  • Implemented quarterly enterprise risk assessments.
  • Increased security by implementing multi-factor authentication company-wide and conducting quarterly trainings.
  • Conducted a phishing campaign to test employee response to potential scams.
  • Reorganized Board committees to include enhanced DEI issue oversight.
  • Recruited a new Board member with expertise in DEI issues.
  • Increased Summit’s reporting on DEI KPI’s to a quarterly basis.

Climate Goals & Targets

Short-term Goals:
  • Implement an Environmental Management System aligned with ISO 14001.
  • Advance Renewable Natural Gas Policy in states where Summit operates.
  • Create a customer care strategy for each state to better align with customer needs.
  • Donate 2,000 hours of VTO company-wide.
  • Create a low-income program in Maine to assist customers with heating costs.

Environmental Challenges

  • COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on operations and community.
  • Aging pipeline infrastructure requiring replacement.
  • Unintended and uncontrolled releases of natural gas posing safety and emissions risks.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Transitioned employees to work from home, implemented safety measures for those in the office and field, and developed an Infectious Disease Preparedness Plan.
  • Systematically replacing and upgrading aging pipe through a multi-year capital investment program.
  • Enhanced Damage Prevention practices, including a new in-house application and outreach to excavators and homeowners.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Best practices for office supplies and company events that prioritize sustainably sourced products and reduces waste.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards

Awards & Recognition

  • Southern Gas Association’s ESG Award
  • American Gas Association’s “Industry Leader Accident Prevention Award”

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:49,580 tCO2e/year (Scope 1)
Scope 1 Emissions:49,580 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:1,182 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:1,025,523 tCO2e/year

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environment
  • Social
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced methane emissions by 20% in Arkansas and Oklahoma since 2013 through pipeline replacement program.
  • Won the 2021 Southern Gas Association ESG Award for methane recapture pilot.
  • Transported over 526,000 MMBtu of renewable natural gas (RNG) on its system.
  • Awarded a nearly $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a green hydrogen biogas project.
  • Replaced over 43 miles of leak-prone pipe in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Social Achievements

  • Named one of the Best Places to Work in Maine for the third year in a row.
  • Won the Industry Leader Accident Prevention Award for the sixth year in a row.
  • Included women on interview panels over 90% of the time for office-based jobs and 70% of the time for field-based jobs.
  • Donated $30,000 across three states to help those in need with home heating costs.

Governance Achievements

  • Implemented an Environmental Management System aligned with ISO 14001.
  • Conducted quarterly Risk and Materiality Assessments.
  • Increased ESG benchmarking score in the GRESB by 6 points, scoring 86, and receiving four stars.
  • Implemented Cisco DUO multifactor authentication to better protect its networks and applications.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve net zero direct (Scope 1) emissions by 2035.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce fleet vehicle emissions by 15% over the next five years.
Short-term Goals:
  • Integrate new assets into Summit’s GHG emissions inventory and develop an operational emissions reduction roadmap to achieve net-zero goal.
  • Publicly announce Summit’s long-term emission reduction goal.
  • Advance the integration of certified gas or RNG into Summit’s gas supply by soliciting a Request for Information in at least one state.

Environmental Challenges

  • Line strikes accounted for over 18% of Summit’s Scope 1 emissions in 2021.
  • Reducing the carbon intensity of the gas delivered to customers.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investing over $460 million in pipeline replacement in the next five years.
  • Accelerated leak surveys (every 1-3 years instead of the federal requirement of 5 years).
  • Deploying Picarro leak detection technology in 2023.
  • Investing in high-efficiency vehicles and reducing miles driven.
  • Investing over $23.3 million to replace remote meters in Arkansas and Oklahoma over the next 5 years.
  • Implementing methane recapture technology.
  • Investing in RNG and green hydrogen.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products
  • Investment in RNG and green hydrogen

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
  • Green Hydrogen

Awards & Recognition

  • Southern Gas Association ESG Award
  • Industry Leader Accident Prevention Award

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:157,240 tCO2e (Appendix A)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Reducing Carbon Footprint
  • Community Well-being
  • Safety
  • Inclusivity
  • Governance
  • Integrity
  • Transparency

Environmental Achievements

  • Maine’s first Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Dairy Digester began producing gas and helped Summit transport 438,000 MMBtu of RNG on its system.
  • Implemented methane recapture technology across six projects, capturing 85.9 metric tons of CO2e.
  • Replaced over 95 miles of leak-prone pipe in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Social Achievements

  • Summit team members contributed over 8,875 volunteer hours.
  • The company provided more than $317,000 in donations and sponsorships to nearly 219 non-profit organizations.
  • Launched our first Employee Resource Group, MAVS (Military and Veterans Support).

Governance Achievements

  • Achieved a GRESB™ 5-star rating with a score of 98 out of 100.
  • Implemented an updated corporate leadership structure.
  • Enhanced cybersecurity security measures by implementing SCADA isolation.
  • Developed a Supplier Diversity Plan.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve net-zero Scope 1 emissions by 2035.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve limited assurance for Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions data.
Short-term Goals:
  • Expanding advanced leak detection technology.
  • Continuing infrastructure improvements.
  • Increasing community support initiatives.
  • Furthering our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Environmental Challenges

  • Leak-prone pipes contributing to emissions.
  • Need for enhanced gas loss measurement.
  • Unintended and uncontrolled releases of natural gas from outside force facility damages.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Replacing leak-prone pipes (over 95 miles in Arkansas and Oklahoma).
  • Implementing methane recapture technology (capturing 85.9 metric tons of CO2e).
  • Implementing advanced leak detection (Picarro units).
  • Enhanced damage prevention through locator training, map accuracy, and 811 legislation.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Developed a Supplier Diversity Plan to collect relevant ESG data from suppliers in 2024.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Wildfires (Colorado)
  • Tornadoes (Arkansas)
Opportunities
  • Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) development

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

Through our core business, we actively contribute to the UN’s 7th SDG, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. By investing in renewable energy initiatives, reducing our carbon footprint, and fostering community engagement, we are committed to making a tangible impact and leaving a positive mark on the path to a greener and more inclusive world.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

Awards & Recognition

  • GRESB™ 5-star rating (98/100)
  • Southern Gas Association’s Safety & Health Award
  • American Gas Association’s Industry Leader Accident Prevention Award
  • Forbes America’s Best Small Employers 2023
  • Arkansas Business’s Best Places to Work 2023
  • Biz 417’s 2023 Best Places to Work
  • 2023 Best Places to Work in Maine
  • 2023 Best Places to Work in Oklahoma
  • Arkansas Foodbank's 2023 Corporate Volunteer Group of the Year