Universal Registration Document 2022

3.1.2.8 Adjustment of distribution networks

Enedis, in its capacity as network operator ⁽¹⁾, is working to reduce the vulnerability of its networks, experimenting with local zero emission generators, and has set up a Rapid Intervention Force.

Reducing network vulnerability

Enedis is also working on reducing the vulnerability of its 1.4 million kilometres of networks. This mainly consists in burying high-voltage overhead lines to avoid risks of falling trees, wind, snow and frost, beginning with the most exposed facilities. In 2022, 1,057km of high voltage overhead lines and 4,170km of low voltage overhead lines were removed ⁽²⁾.

Electricity Rapid Intervention Force (Force d’intervention rapide électricité, FIRE)

Enedis set up ⁽³⁾ the Electricity Rapid Intervention Force (Force d’intervention rapide électricité, FIRE), enabling resources and staff to be redeployed nationwide to restore power as quickly as possible. FIRE is one of the EDF group’s key measures to respond to extreme weather risks. FIRE currently has 2,500 technicians trained for crisis situations and 11 logistics storage facilities across the country, allowing the deployment of 1,800 high-power generators (over 60kVA) and 1,000 low-power generators (10kVA), meeting the power needs of low voltage networks during significant climate incidents.

In Corsica and French Overseas Territories, EDF IES draws on solidarity between Corsica and Overseas territories and on FIRE as and when weather events have a major impact on the network.

In 2022, FIRE intervened on six occasions. Island territory examples include:

• Between 3-4 February, a Category 4 Cyclone (Batsirai) affected Réunion Island for 38 hours, causing extensive damage to the grid and leaving over 72,000 customers without power. In addition to the 200 local employees, some 20 service providers, a dozen or so employees of IES Corsica and 3 FIRE teams from Enedis (some 50 people in all) were mobilised within 24 hours, allowing power to be restored quickly.
• On 18 August, Corsica was hit by an exceptionally violent storm (with gusts of over 200-220km/h, the equivalent of a Category 3 cyclone), resulting in major damage. Up to 45,000 customers lost power as a result. Some 100 members of IES Corsica staff and some thirty contractors got to work immediately, allowing power to be restored to 80% of customers that same evening. In view of the extent of the repairs required, 3 squads of Enedis FIRE teams (almost 40 employees) were mobilised, arriving on 19 August and allowing normal service to be resumed on 21 August.

3.1.3 EDF climate governance

3.1.3.1 Governance bodies

The EDF group’s climate strategy governance forms part of its sustainable development governance (see section 3.5.2 “CSR governance bodies”). This is supervised, in accordance with the independent management of the network’s infrastructure managers, at the top Group-level.

3.1.3.1.1 Governance reinforced recently

For two years, to bolster its climate governance, and in line with the highest TCFD standards, the EDF group have been appointing Climate point persons within its Executive Committee and its Board of Directors ⁽⁴⁾.

COMEX Climate Point person

The Group Senior Executive Vice-President, in charge of Innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility & Strategy is the Climate point person within the Group Executive Committee. In this capacity, he presents the Group’s carbon-neutrality ambition to the Board’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and the Board itself;

Board of Directors Climate Point person

The Chairwoman of the Corporate Responsibility Committee is the Climate point person within the Board. She ensures, in liaison with the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee’s Climate point person, that the Board identifies all impacts of climate change for the Group and that the work undertaken by the Board as well as the latter’s strategy include considerations pertaining to climate change.

Climate resolution

For the first time ever, EDF brought a “Say on Climate” motion before its Shareholders’ Meeting. The EDF group’s climate transition plan was adopted by a 99.87% majority at the Shareholders General Meeting of 12 May 2022 (see also section 4.2.2.9 “Activity of the Board of Directors in 2022”).