Centrica PLC

Lobbying Transparency and Governance

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Direct Lobbying Transparency
Overall Assessment Comment Score
Comprehensive Centrica PLC has demonstrated a comprehensive level of transparency in disclosing its climate lobbying activities. The company explicitly names specific climate policies it has engaged with, such as the 'Future Homes Standard,' the 'Boiler Upgrade Scheme,' the 'Energy Company Obligation (ECO)' scheme, and the 'Hydrogen Storage Business Model: Market Engagement on the First Allocation Round.' It also references its advocacy for the UK ETS and EU ETS, providing detailed context about its lobbying efforts and recommendations for policy adjustments. Centrica has disclosed its lobbying mechanisms, including direct engagement through consultation responses, open letters, and roundtables with governments, regulators, and policymakers. It also highlights indirect lobbying through trade associations like Energy UK and Hydrogen UK, and its participation in advisory councils such as the Hydrogen Advisory Council Working Group. Specific targets include the UK Government, EU policymakers, and regulatory bodies such as Ofgem. Furthermore, Centrica has been transparent about the specific outcomes it seeks, such as advocating for the introduction of a social tariff funded through general taxation, reforms to streamline low-carbon heating support schemes, and establishing a UK hydrogen production capacity target. The company also supports measures to improve grid connections, prioritize ready-to-connect projects, and develop a Dispatchable Power Agreement (DPA) to support early investments in hydrogen power plants. These disclosures reflect a high level of transparency in naming policies, mechanisms, and desired outcomes, ensuring clarity in its climate lobbying activities. 4
Lobbying Governance
Overall Assessment Comment Score
Comprehensive Centrica discloses a comprehensive governance framework ensuring its climate lobbying aligns with the company's climate goals. The company refers to "dedicated policy groups that develop detailed policy positions," which are reviewed and approved by the CEO in "a regular, typically monthly, policy and engagement meeting," and subsequently "socialised with the board," demonstrating a clear oversight structure. Centrica also commits to assessing indirect advocacy, explaining that "where Centrica wish to join a trade body we evaluate whether any of their stated positions contradict any of the stated climate policies materially in a manner which we believe would hamper decarbonisation efforts," and conducts an annual assessment of its memberships against the Paris Agreement. Further oversight is provided by the Board, the Safety, Environment and Sustainability Committee, and the Audit and Risk Committee, while the Group Head of Environment underscores the company's "open and ongoing dialogue with investors and NGOs." Centrica has also built "an online depositary" holding examples of its climate advocacy and commits to enhanced disclosures of both direct and indirect activities. This indicates a comprehensive governance process, with identified accountable parties and monitoring mechanisms, to ensure Centrica's lobbying efforts remain aligned with its broader climate goals. 4