Hera has consolidated its position as a national trailblazer in the area of web-based corporate social responsibility communications (CSR). Confirmation came in the form of the prestigious rankings put together by Lundquist and published in Sole 24 Ore, which monitor the commitment of the 50 biggest Italian companies to communicating their social performances on their corporate websites. Hera came 3rd overall in the rankings with 79 points out of 100, as compared to the very low national average of 35.4 points. There was particular praise for the chat with stakeholders in the Sustainability Report and the development of multimedia content in the CSR section of the website.

As part of the second Global Seminar Online CSR Communications, on 21 October 2010 in Milan Hera came in first place in the CSR Online Awards 2010, the Italian classification – now in its second year – that measures online Corporate Social Responsibility communications.Produced by financial communications company Lundquist, the rankings acknowledged Hera for the innovative and interactive nature of its website. The research was carried out by Lundquist on the basis of evaluation protocol comprising 77 parameters.The protocol was established on the basis of an annual survey which, this year, involved the participation of 250 CSR experts from 30 different countries.

The Webranking analysis, conducted every year by Hallvarsson in association with Corriere della Sera, assesses the quality of online communication of the 100 Italian companies with the biggest share capitalisation listed on the Italian stock exchange. In this field, it represents the most in-depth research in Europe. The Hera Group has won second place, beaten only by Eni: this is confirmation of Hera's growing commitment to quality and transparency of communication, which is increasingly seen as a strategic lever. For Hera the website is the backbone of a communication programme that is in step with the times and attentive to the needs of all stakeholders, with particular regard to issues of sustainability. This award demonstrates the importance of a culture of communication within a company that far exceeds its size.

Once again in 2009, Hera has been awarded the CEEP - CSR Label Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, given out as part of the European Discerno 3 project (promoted by the European Commission to promote social responsibility in European public utility service companies). This quality award is given to local public service companies that stand out for integrating social and environmental responsibility practices in their management operations. The label was awarded in Brussels by the CEEP (European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services) and thePartners of Discerno 3 to 15 European companies chosen by a jury of international CSR experts.

In the seventh edition of the Halvarsson & Halvarsson Webranking 2008 Italia Top80 study, which concluded in November 2008, Hera obtained the highest points tally of all Italian multiutility companies, consolidating its 6^th place achieved in 2007. Preceded only by the major national groups, in the study that evaluates the online communications of the most highly capitalised companies quoted on the Milan Stock Exchange, Hera gained 75 points, well above the Italian average of 41 and the European average of 57. Its areas of excellence included: the comprehensive nature and transparency of its management area, the detailed presentation of company strategies, the publishing of the sustainability report and the English version of the financial statements.

In 2008, Hera was awarded the CEEP label on Corporate Social Responsibility, assigned within the DISCERNO Plus European project (promoted by the European Commission to promote social responsibility in European public utility service companies). This mark of quality is given to local public service companies who distinguish themselves by their integration of socially- and environmentally-responsible practices in management operations: the mark was awarded by an international commission presided over by the CEEP (Centre Europeen des Enterprises à Participation Publique, or European Centre of Public Utility Service Companies, represented in Italy by Aran, Confservizi, and Poste Italiane). 269 companies participated in the recently-concluded edition of the DISCERNO project, 74 of which were pre-selected, and only 36 of which were granted the CEEP label.

It has been the sector’s most prestigious recognition for over fifty years, and rewards companies that have distinguished themselves by having the best financial, social, and environmental communications. On 28 November 2007 in Milan, the awards ceremony for the 2007 Oscar di Bilanciowas held.

Hera won the Financial Statements Oscar for the “Large companies” category for the following reason:

“The company presents broad and exhaustive documentation that shows economic and financial performance in a clear and detailed way for operations in various areas of business. The sustainability report highlights several initiatives in the area of stakeholder involvement that are particularly advanced, even on the European level. Hera operates on the basis of a well-structured and developed Ethics Code with participatory procedures.”