Measurement and reporting (‘metrics’) of a companies’ environmental and social footprint are essential tools in creating and leading purposive utility companies that have a sustainable licence to operate.
They enable boards and executive directors to assess the starting position in formulating strategy/business plans. And they then help these groups along with staff, investors (who are leading some of the pressure and thinking on wider
metrics), regulators, customer groups and other stakeholders ‐ to judge progress against agreed targets and wider purposive aspirations, as well as statutory and regulatory requirements. Identifying the right metrics is important in all businesses but vital in private companies that deliver public value to maintain legitimacy and enable accountability to be meaningfully
exercised.