CTEEP seeks to contribute to sustainable development and social inclusion through initiatives and projects geared to the communities in the vicinity of its transmission lines and operations. These projects are funded by the Company itself and sponsored by third parties through the incentive laws. Sponsorship deals are closed after thorough transparent examination of the proposal submitted, in line with the Company’s CSR guidelines.
In 2012, R$3.2 million was invested in socio-cultural projects, R$2,556,240.00 of which through incentive laws and R$652,258.32 from the Company’s own funds. These projects benefited 14,761 people directly and up to 70,000 indirectly (considering everyone that watched or visited the Company’s projects).
Amigos da Energia
The Amigos da Energia [Friends of Energy] project, launched in 2012, was developed to create a closer relationship between the Company and the communities in the vicinity of its facilities and help them live near transmission lines safely. The activities include talks given at schools, neighborhood associations and other community spaces, about topics like: the importance of the energy transmission business; safety zones beneath transmission lines; risks related to kites, air balloons and unauthorized burning; and instruction for waste and debris disposal and for recycling.
This project is a major risk prevention initiative that has benefited 8,089 students and 549 teachers at 40 schools in 30 cities and towns in São Paulo State.
One of the communication tools used in the project is the hotsite Amigos da Energia ( http://amigosdaenergia.ideiaeconceito.com.br/), which features content about the topics discussed in the talks; games, animated infographics explaining the route of electric power; and information about the Company, its sustainability activities and initiatives.
Circuito Cultural CTEEP
Since 2010, the Company has been organizing Circuito Cultural CTEEP [CTEEP Cultural Circuit], geared to children and teenagers from public schools. The project is intended to raise awareness of environmental preservation, transmission line maintenance, sustainable development, social responsibility, citizenship, education and culture by making videos, among other cultural activities. It, therefore, complements the Primary Education curriculum.
In 2012, 2,400 students from 60 schools in six cities participated in the project. Overall, 480 workshops were held, totaling 1,200 hours. In addition, the participants put on 60 recitals and 12 theater plays, and made six short films. Overall, the program reached 7,468 people, who participated in the activities and attended the performances and presentations.
The project is sponsored by CTEEP, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, and organized by H. Melillo Grupo de Articulação Social.
Musical Groups
Guri Santa Marcelina Children’s and Teenagers’ Groups
Since 2010, CTEEP has supported Projeto Guri [Child Project], organized by Associação de Cultura, Educação e Assistência Social Santa Marcelina [Santa Marcelina Cultural, Educational and Social Assistance Association], which provides music literacy and opportunities for social inclusion for children and youth (8 to 19 years of age) from São Paulo City.
The organizers create educational centers in the project areas, selected based on criteria like youth vulnerability, exposure to urban violence, academic level and teenage pregnancy. The participants then have social assistance services and have access to social networks, theme workshops, tutoring classes and job training for people with special needs.
In 2012, 303 students participated in seven groups, which put on 43 performances that drew an audience of 10,530 people. The project offered the students many educational activities, such as rehearsals, classes and masterclasses, in addition to the classes that they already took at the regional educational centers of Projeto Guri.
Grupos Artísticos Emesp
In 2012, CTEEP sponsored the creation of Grupos Artísticos Emesp [EMESP (Escola de Música do Estado de São Paulo, or São Paulo State Music School) Arts Groups], intended to increase the opportunities for the students from Associação de Cultura, Educação e Assistência Social Santa Marcelina to improve their repertoire practice. There are 15 groups playing different instruments. Their repertoire comprises both classical and popular music.
The EMESP Arts Groups consisted of 206 permanent members, as well as 1,009 guest members in 2012. They put on 30 performances to audience of 5,686 at different venues, such as Museu da Casa Brasileira, Fundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, Teatro Fecap and Mosteiro de São Bento.
Grupos Jovens do Estado
The 2012 concert season of Grupos Jovens do Estado [State Youth Groups] featured conductors and soloists of prestige both in Brazil and worldwide, and included special trips and projects. It drew an audience of 16,245. The three musical groups of 120 grant recipients gave 51 concerts, 38 of which with the support of CTEEP, which has sponsored the project since 2009 to make quality music more accessible. The project is also coordinated by Associação de Cultura, Educação e Assistência Social Santa Marcelina.
Trabalhando a deficiência
Projeto Trabalhando a Deficiência [Working on Disability Project], developed by Santa Marcelina Cultura, offers the professionals from Projeto Guri Santa Marcelina job training focused on including children and teenagers with special needs and providing equal opportunities for them.
These job training programs are open to professionals who deal directly with the students, such as: the monitors of each location, support agents, teachers, social assistants and the employees who manage the program. The project also involves examining and proposing the production and/or adaptation of communication and/or educational materials to eliminate the obstacles to the participation of children and teenagers with special needs in the Guri Santa Marcelina educational program.
The project created 16 groups in 2012 and benefited 90 people (61 teachers and 29 students) directly. In addition, 255 professionals (comprising support agents, social assistants, monitors and other professionals from the Guri and EMESP groups) were given job training when the groups were created.
Film Production Incantive
In 2012, CTEEP sponsored two film projects connected with the electric sector, under the terms of the cultural incentive laws. The movies were “Fragmentos de Paixão” [Passion Fragments], produce by INPE [Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, or Brazilian National Institute for Space Research] and “Na Trilha da Energia” [On the Trail of Energy], produced by Instituto Acende Brasil [“Light Up Brazil Institute”]. Both productions are scheduled to be shown in 2013.
The documentary “Na Trilha da Energia”, made by Canal Azul Consultoria Audiovisual LTDA., shows in a simple manner how electric power reaches consumers’ homes, from generation through transmission to distribution. It also focuses on environmental and social concerns during the construction and operation of facilities.
“Fragmentos de Paixão”, in turn, is a docudrama about lightning in the History of Brazil, including its impact on the electric sector and the context of climate change. The film traces the journey of a scientist who investigates six lives affected by lightning in different ways, thus showing how science and culture have viewed lightning from the discovery of Brazil to the future. Executive producer and director Iara Cardoso’s project will also give visibility to a lightning protection campaign through educational events and exhibitions.
Energia Solidária
Programa Energia Solidária [Solidary Energy Program] was implemented in 2009 to promote volunteering among CTEEP’s professionals. Employees who do volunteer work share information and experiences to promote volunteer initiatives in the Company.
In 2012, the Program focused on the Winter Clothes Collection Drive and the Christmas Drive, with donations from employees in the Company’s Headquarters and Regional Offices. A total of 16 organizations were received about 2,900 donated toys and articles of winter clothing.
Fundação ABRINQ [Foundation of the Brazilian Association of Toy Manufacturers] participated in the Christmas Drive through Programa Nossas Crianças [Our Children Program].
Projeto Vila Nilo
GRI EC8
CTEEP continued Projeto Vila Nilo [Vila Nilo Project], which involves restoring the safety zone of a transmission line located between the cities of São Paulo and Guarulhos. There were illegal settlements and debris was dumped in the area, thus jeopardizing safety and affecting the Company’s services.
After the area was repossessed and cleaned up, CTEEP hired a company to devise a project for a bike lane to be used by the local population. The project was submitted in 2012. The next step is to reevaluate the means to implement it, taking into account the current situation of the electric sector among other factors.
Community-based risk management
GRI PR1, EU20
Since CTEEP has an extensive transmission grid, it has to undertake a series of efficient guidance, inspection and prevention initiatives, among other measures, to ensure the safety of local communities and monitor service quality.
One of the main points in this regard is to create safety zones beneath transmission lines. These are delimited areas of an appropriate width safe for the construction, operation, maintenance and inspection of power lines, based on factors like the swinging of wires due to wind, the electrical effects on people, the size and position of the structures. The use of safety zones is restricted so that there is no risk to the population’s physical integrity in case of incidents. There are safety signs and, when necessary, other devices, such as fences, to prevent trespassing. (GRI PR3)
In addition, transmission lines are inspected regularly as part of the maintenance routine. These inspections allow detecting inappropriate use of safety zones (for example, for dumping waste), as well as illegal settlements, or unauthorized (total or partial) use of safety zones. Whenever an illegal settlement is found, CTEEP follows certain steps. First, it notifies squatters formally and warns them about the risks of remaining in the area. If the squatters refuse to leave the area voluntarily, the Company maps the settlement, makes a record of its features (with drawings, pictures and accounts), and sends the material to the Legal Department for analysis. Only if no agreement is reached out of court does the Company file a repossession lawsuit. In these cases, CTEEP makes plans, taking into account the characteristics of the local population. It checks, for example, if there are children, pregnant women, elderly people or people with special needs. The Company then coordinates actions with the State and local governments, the Police department, the Fire department, the São Paulo Traffic Engineering Company (CET), among other bodies, so that the dislocated families will be included in the Government’s housing programs and the resources needed to carry out the eviction order (such as ambulances, social assistants and police force) are available. CTEEP has a partner to coordinate these actions and relocate the people and their goods.
In 2012, the Company filed 16 repossession suits that required relocating people. Two of these suits were settled in the same year. Except in the case of repossession suits, the Company displaced no-one to perform its services. It is worth noting that no suits led to death or accidents with users of CTEEP’s services or equipment in the year. (GRI EU22, EU25)
In addition to complying with the requirements and safety rules applicable to electrical facilities, CTEEP has a major educational project, Amigos da Energia (Friends of Energy), which focuses on relationship building and risk prevention (further information in the Society section in this report).
The social communication initiatives with the population in the vicinity of new transmission lines and/or substations are part of the Environmental Management projects of each enterprise, under the responsibility of a specialized consulting firm, and include electric shock signaling in all the Company’s units, in compliance with the legislation.
Indirect economic impact on society
GRI EC9
In addition to the direct influence that electric energy transmission has on the economy, this service also has a series of indirect economic impacts. Electric energy is connected with the development of society. Currently, it plays a more and more important role in people’s everyday lives. The manufacturing and service industries are heavily dependent on the use of electric power. For final consumers, it provides a major improvement in life quality and comfort, often in connection with the possibility of using a wide range of household appliances and electronics.
Therefore, it is safe to say that electricity transmission services boost the economy, allow technological progress in different fields, facilitate communication and provide entertainment, among other direct and indirect effects.
Besides being part of this enormous complex web of influences, CTEEP also contributes to the development of the areas in which it is present. It creates jobs, boosts the local economy by increasing the local demand, promotes improvements in the local infrastructure indirectly, hires services and buys goods locally, pays taxes, etc.
The Company is aware of its potential for influence, but does not have any specific processes or procedures to identify and assess the significant indirect economic impacts of its activities, as well as the extent of these impacts.
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