Press Releases and Notices

2025-03-28 centrata Kindly note that the following documentation, pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting convened for 30 April 2025, is available to the public at the Company headquarters, on the authorised storage website 1INFO (www.1Info.it) and on Hera Group’s website (https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/corporate-governance/shareholders-meetings): Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 1 on the agenda - Extraordinary Session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 2 on the agenda - Ordinary Session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 3 on the agenda - Ordinary Session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 4 on the agenda - Ordinary Session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 5 on the agenda - Ordinary Session Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 6 on the agenda - Ordinary Session 09:39:00 sede Hera 110x150.jpg

2025-03-26 The year closed with growth in the main operating and financial indicators and in investments. The value created for all stakeholders and the Group’s financial solidity once again prove the validity of its multi-business model and ability to combine corporate growth with sustainable development. The proposed dividend was raised to 15 cents per share. centrata Financial highlights Revenues at 12,889.7 million euro Ebitda* a 1,587.6 million euro (+6.2%) Net profit* for shareholders at 494.5 million euro (+31.8%) Gross operating investments at 860.3 million euro (+5.5%) Net financial debt settles at 3,963.7 million euro, with net debt/Ebitda* at 2.50x Return on invested capital increases, with ROI rising to 10.4% Proposed dividend rises to 15 euro cents per share (+7.1%) Operating and sustainability highlights Growth in operating results supported by all business areas Energy customers rise to 4.6 million (+20%), while over 7.5 million citizens have at least one service provided by the Group Innovative initiatives continue to help the communities served pursue the ecological transition and strengthen the resilience of assets under management, in line with the industrial strategy to 2028 and the Net Zero by 2050 target Shared-value Ebitda rises to 856.6 million euro (+10%) and shared-value investments amount to 655.1 million euro (76% of total investments) Economic value distributed in the areas served over 2.1 billion euro   Today, the Board of Directors of the Hera Group, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, unanimously approved the consolidated financial results at 31 December 2024, along with the Sustainability reporting, which as of this year is an integral part of the annual report, as foreseen by Directive 2022/2464/EU (CSRD), and the Report on remuneration policy and compensation paid. In 2024, the Hera Group continued along its path of growth in both free-market and regulated businesses; the 5.5% increase in gross operating investments demonstrates the Group’s ongoing focus on developing, enhancing and strengthening the resilience of the assets managed, whose solidity was confirmed even during the extreme weather and climate phenomena that hit Emilia-Romagna last autumn. In particular, the commitment to combine corporate growth and sustainable development with concrete initiatives capable of helping the country move towards the green transition was confirmed, fully consistent with the Group’s 2024-2028 Business plan and its Climate Transition Plan with a Net Zero by 2050 target. The operating and financial results thus highlight the ability to create value that orients the Group’s growth. Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group: “The results achieved confirm the Hera Group’s ability to continue along its path of creating sustainable value. The increase in the main economic-financial indicators and continuous improvement in return on invested capital, with ROI rising to 10.4% and Total shareholders return exceeding 35%, are clear signs of the solidity of our industrial model. We obtained significant growth in both our free market and regulated businesses, with Ebitda reaching close to 1.6 billion euro in 2024, while gross operating investments stood at 860.3 million euro, 35% higher than the average of the previous five years, 76% of which was aimed at pursuing decarbonisation, resilience and the circular economy. The growth in shared-value Ebitda as well, in absolute and percentage terms, testifies to our constant focus on creating not only economic, but also social and environmental value. Evidence of this lies in the economic value distributed in the local areas in which we operate, which in 2024 reached 2.1 billion euro. In addition to our infrastructural growth, we have also achieved commercial growth in all free market businesses and, in particular, in energy supplies, where we have reached 4.6 million customers, up 20%. Thanks to this further development, more than 13% of Italy’s population now receives at least one service from the Hera Group. In light of the results achieved and the Group’s financial solidity, we will propose to the Shareholders Meeting the payment of a dividend set at 15 euro cents per share, up 7.1% compared to the last dividend paid. The effects of this increase will extend to our entire dividend policy for the upcoming years. The results for 2024 therefore confirm once again the validity of our Group’s strategic vision and constitute the first building block of our Business plan.” Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group: “In 2024, the Hera Group confirmed its solidity and capacity for growth, recording an increase of over 30% in net profit for Shareholders, which rose to almost 500 million euro. All business areas contributed to this result, which proves the Hera Group’s ability to continue growing in a complex macroeconomic context. The positive operating performances were supported by effective financial operations, since 2024 benefited from the liability management and debt rationalisation initiatives undertaken since the beginning of the energy market crisis, which have helped maintain a net debt to Ebitda ratio of 2.5x, ensuring that the Group has significant financial solidity and flexibility among the lowest reached in last two decades. This operating-financial solidity allows us to continue along our path of external growth, fully consistent with the perspectives defined in the Business plan. Moreover, we continued to accelerate our commitment to the green transition, with a focus on decarbonisation, circular economy and resource protection, also thanks to the contribution coming from of the EIB financing line. In 2024, gross operating investments reached 860.3 million euro, continuing the trend in infrastructure development that has lasted for years, aimed at improving the quality of services and the efficiency of assets, thus making the local areas served increasingly liveable, competitive and resilient. The Hera Group has therefore once again demonstrated its ability to combine economic development and sustainability, making a significant contribution to the creation of value in the areas it serves and to the achievement of its sustainability objectives, using the lever of innovation to ensure efficiency and new opportunities for growth. Lastly, we must mention that this year we have drafted a Sustainability reporting that covers all the core standards defined by the ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards).” The Group’s path of growth continues at the same rate as the creation of value for stakeholders In line with the results achieved in 2023, 2024 was also a year that saw significant development for the Group, which continued to consolidate its role as a leading player in the sector, pursuing a strategy geared towards creating value for all stakeholders. In addition to significant internal growth, the company also continued to expand through external lines, with the aim of offering increasingly complete, innovative and competitive solutions to its customers. In addition, it leveraged its financial solidity and flexibility to acquire new strategic assets, expand the corporate scope and successfully participate in the tender for the Gradual protection electricity service. In a year characterised by ongoing international instability, persistent volatility in commodity prices due mainly to geopolitical tensions, as well as the extreme weather phenomena, the Hera Group was committed to guaranteeing the continuity and quality of its services with positive repercussions for the served communities fully concentrated in the Northeast part of the domestic market. This concrete and transparent value was also quantified by Ebitda and shared value investments. The Group’s ability to combine corporate growth and sustainable development was also proven by its increased investments for the circular economy, decarbonisation and energy efficiency, along with innovation and resilience of the assets managed, with concrete projects that are consistent with major national and international policies. Particularly significant is the path taken towards carbon neutrality, outlined in the Climate Transition Plan approved on 31 July 2024, with the ambitious target of reaching Net Zero by 2050. This goal will be pursued through an overall 90% reduction in emissions compared to 2019, in addition to offsetting residual emissions. This commitment reflects a long-term strategic vision, consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 decarbonisation outlook previously defined. In 2024, the Hera Group’s overall emissions for the defined scope of operation have already decreased by 14% (compared to 2019). Among the main events of 2024, mention must surely go to the tender awarded in February for the Gradual protection electricity service for household customers in 37 Italian provinces, which led the company to acquire approximately one million new customers, consolidating its role as the third largest operator in the sector. Once again in the energy area, in December the Group’s shareholding in EstEnergy increased to 100%, following the acquisition of 25% of the share capital from Ascopiave. Furthermore, in May the Group was awarded the tender called by the company Soelia, 100% owned by the Municipality of Argenta (Ferrara), for the corporate branch concerning plants, natural gas distribution networks and related management services, effective from 1 July. In the waste management sector, also in July, the Hera Group launched a partnership with Fincantieri that led to the establishment of the newco CircularYard, to optimise the management of the waste cycle in shipyards in line with the principles of the circular economy. The Group also continued to grow through strategic acquisitions, including the one involving 70% of TRS Ecology, thus consolidating its leadership in industrial waste treatment and recovery. In the area of public lighting, 30% of Triveneta Luce (Vicenza) was acquired, aiming to increasingly improve the energy efficiency and management of facilities in the municipalities served with advanced technologies. Revenues at approximately 13 billion euro The Hera Group’s 2024 revenues amounted to 12,889.7 million euro, down from 15,331.1 million euro in 2023 (-15.9%), mainly due to lower energy commodity prices and the loss of activities linked to the super-ecobonus. This drop was offset by higher volumes of electricity sold, thanks to significant commercial development. Ebitda* increases to almost 1.6 billion euro (+6.2%) Ebitda* for 2024 rose to 1,587.6 million euro, up 6.2% from 1,494.7 million euro at 31 December 2023. This growth was mainly organic and structural, and is due to the overall contribution coming from the energy area with 50.2 million euro, the water cycle with 25.7 million euro, and the good performance of the waste management area with 13.6 million euro. This result fully offsets the lack of margins related to the super-ecobonus and once again confirmed the solidity of the Group’s multi-business portfolio. Ebit* rises to 829.9 million euro (+12%) Ebit* increased to 829.9 million euro (+12%) from 741 million euro at 31 December 2023, twice the percentage growth seen in Ebitda thanks to normalised provisions to bad debts benefitting the drop from energy commodity prices. Net result* increases to 535.9 million euro (+28.5%) Financial operations in 2024 amounted to 153.8 million euro, with a clear improvement of 61 million euro compared to the previous year, mainly due to the optimisation of the financial structure and lower costs related to super-ecobonus activities. Even taking into account the 29.1% tax rate, higher than the 27.3% seen in 2023 (with a change due to the reduction of some benefits the Group received in the past and some write-downs made during the year that were not tax-relevant), the net result* at 31 December 2024 reached 535.9 million euro, up 28.5% from 417.0 million euro in the previous year. These figures also include the contribution of some positive non-recurring items mainly related to the acquisition of minority interests in EstEnergy. Net of these special items, the 2024 net profit* amounted to 488.1 million, as against a 2023 amount of 390.1 million euro, showing a 25.1% increase in Group profit. Profit for Shareholders* up by more than 30% At 31 December 2024, profit for shareholders* rose to 494.5 million euro, up 31.8% from 375.2 million euro in the previous year. Net of contributions from special items, profit for shareholders in 2024 amounted to 446.7 million euro, compared to 348.3 million euro in 2023, up 98.4 million euro. Growth in investments and improved net debt/Ebitda ratio* In 2024, the Hera Group’s operating investments, including capital grants, reached 860.3 million euro, up 5.5% from 815.8 million euro in 2023. Investments on the Group’s regulated infrastructures led to an increase in RAB, which rose to 3.6 billion euro, 250 million euro more than in 2023. The Group’s financial solidity was fully confirmed by a net debt/Ebitda* ratio at 2.50x, an improvement over both the third quarter of 2024 and the figure at 31 December 2023. Net financial debt amounted to 3,963.7 million euro, compared to 3,827.7 million euro at 31 December 2023, mainly as a result of increased capital expenditure and M&A, including the acquisition of 70% of TRS Ecology. The creation of value in 2024 is clear from the upward trend in return on equity (ROE), at 12.2% and up from 10.4% in the previous year. An improvement also occurred in return on invested capital (ROI), standing at 10.4%, compared to 9.8% in 2023. Shared-value Ebitda and investments increase to 856.6 million euro (+10%) and 655.1 million euro (76% of total investments) respectively As confirmation of the Group’s commitment to sustainability and creating value in the areas it serves, 2024 shared-value Ebitda, referring to business activities that also meet the goals on the Global Agenda, rose to 856.6 million euro, up 10% from 776.0 million euro in 2023 and corresponding to 54% of Group Ebitda. This result confirms the significant evolution of the CSV Ebitda foreseen by the Business plan, projected at more than 1,100 million euro in 2028, or 66% of total Ebitda. Shared-value investments also rose, up from 558.4 million euro in 2023 to 655.1 million euro in 2024 and accounting for approximately 76% of total gross operating investments. Moreover, around 90% of the investments eligible for the Taxonomy are already aligned with the criteria of the European Regulation and are thus able to contribute to environmental objectives including climate change mitigation, circular economy, water resource protection and pollution prevention. All this data testifies to the growing weight of initiatives that not only generate margins for the company, but also bring concrete benefits for the areas and communities served, in line with the goals on the UN Agenda. Over 2.1 billion distributed in the areas in which the Group operates In 2024, the Group distributed over 2.1 billion euro to suppliers, employees and public administrations in the areas it serves. Sustainability reporting in compliance with the CSRD and ESRS reporting standards The 2024 annual financial report includes, for the first time, the Hera Group’s Sustainability reporting prepared in accordance with legislative decree 125/2024 implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) 2022/2464/EU and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). As required by legislation, this reporting is an integral part of the report on operations and contains all information necessary to understand the company’s impact on sustainability matters and how they affect its performance and results. More specifically, the Hera Group’s Sustainability reporting is structured according to the requirements of ESRS 1, which call for the document to be divided into four parts: general information, environmental (including disclosures pursuant to Article 8 of EU Regulation 2020/852, also known as the “Taxonomy”), social, and governance. The scope of the reported sustainability data and information includes all companies fully consolidated in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. Proposed dividend increases to 15 euro cents per share As announced in January during the presentation of the new Business plan to 2028, and in consideration of the significant results achieved, the Board of Directors decided to propose to the Shareholders Meeting held on 30 April the payment of a dividend coming to 15 euro cents per share, up 7.1% compared to the last dividend paid. This increase will be extended to the entire dividend policy in the upcoming years, reaching 17 euro cents per share in 2028, with net earnings per share rising by an average of 6% per year. The ex-dividend date has been set for 23 June 2025, with payment as of 25 June 2025. The dividend will be paid to the shares recorded on 24 June 2025. Report on remuneration policy and compensation paid approved The Board of Directors also approved the Report on remuneration policy and compensation paid, in line with international best practices. Gas Ebitda* for the gas area, which includes natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and energy services, rose to 571.4 million euro at 31 December 2024, up 10.5% from 516.9 million euro in 2023. The upward trend compared to the previous year was due to a return of variability on energy markets to the levels seen prior to the crisis, which offset the disappearance of non-recurring business opportunities that characterised 2023, such as energy efficiency activities supported by tax incentives (110% ecobonus), and lower customer consumption due to the increase in average temperatures and energy-saving behaviour. The reduction of modulation costs, in particular, consolidated sales margins and significantly improved the sector’s performance during the year. The contribution coming from gas distribution was also positive, benefiting from increased investments and positive changes in tariffs due to inflation recovery and WACC. The number of gas customers totalled approximately 2 million. Gross investments in 2024 amounted to 180.5 million euro, as against 191.8 million euro in the previous year, and went towards work on gas distribution and district heating networks and plants, the acquisition of new customers, and energy services. In particular, the Esco Hera Servizi Energia continued to provide condominiums, public administrations and industrial customers with its decarbonisation and energy saving services, including the construction of an NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) structure and the seismic and energy requalification of a number of schools. During 2024, investments continued for the replacement of gas meters, while non-recurring maintenance work on networks and plants was carried out. Extraordinary items also included the corporate acquisition of Soelia, concerning gas distribution in the municipality of Argenta (Ferrara). The partnership with Panasonic Industry Europe, an operating company of the Japanese multinational and world leader in the production of electronic products and components, was also strengthened to increase distribution of the innovative NexMeter gas meter in the Italian and European markets. In addition, the construction of the two Hydrogen Valleys under construction in Modena and Trieste continued, which have obtained PNRR funding and will produce approximately 800 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, contributing to the decarbonisation of the companies and local areas involved, as well as redeveloping disused areas, with significant and positive environmental, social and economic consequences. The Group’s green gas strategy also includes experimenting with the first plant in Italy, located in Castelfranco Emilia (Modena), to use a mixture of gas and hydrogen in a municipal distribution network, which will be resumed in the coming weeks following the recent protocol signed with the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security and the Italian Gas Committee. The gas area accounted for 36% of Group Ebitda. Electricity In the electricity area, which includes electricity generation, distribution and sales services as well as public lighting, Ebitda stood at 322 million euro at 31 December 2024, compared to 326.3 million euro in 2023. This result was mainly due to decreased volumes supplied in the safeguarded service and a slowdown in energy efficiency activities following changes in tax incentives, only partially offset by higher margins related to growth in the energy customer market. Electricity distribution made a larger contribution thanks to the application of the ROSS regulatory criterion, investments in development, inflation recovery and the increased WACC. The number of customers in the electricity area reached 2.6 million, up 50.4% compared to the same period of 2023, mainly due to the positive outcome of the previously mentioned tender for the Gradual protection service for household customers, but also thanks to the contribution coming from activities to strengthen commercial action on the free market, focusing on value-added services involving the decarbonisation of consumption. In particular, due to a partnership with the Rimini-based company F.lli Franchini, of which Hera Comm acquired 60% in 2023, the range of energy efficiency solutions has been expanded, with a focus on the corporate segment, strengthening its presence in the market for sustainable solutions, including the construction of thermal and mechanical systems capable of significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This consolidation further strengthens the Hera Group’s position in the sector, while promoting sustainable solutions for businesses as well. In the context of the energy transition, the corporate market has in fact seen significant growth, partially thanks to the valorisation of new services integrated with the supply of this commodity, such as plants for self-consumption integrated with storage systems, and energy consumption monitoring and management, which makes it possible to optimise supply costs, improve overall energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint. With regard to public lighting, in 2024 the Hera Group acquired approximately 44.5 thousand lighting points in 24 new municipalities, mainly located in Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Umbria, Liguria and Sardinia. The percentage of lighting points managed that use LED bulbs also rose, confirming the Group’s constant focus on an increasingly efficient and sustainable management of public lighting. Overall, in the electricity area, gross investments in 2024 amounted to 127.2 million euro, in line with the previous year. In distribution, instead, investments increased by 14.6%, for interventions mainly concerning upgrading on plants and networks, including the construction of new primary substations to increase hosting capacity, as well as the ongoing 2G meter installation activities and work to improve network resilience. These actions respond to the goal of anticipating the future incremental demand for electricity linked to the increasing electrification of consumption, and to enable the growing development of distributed generation. They also include the Smart Grid project developed by subsidiary AcegasApsAmga: planning has been completed and construction sites are underway for the main works that will strengthen the Trieste electricity grid and create new plants to power the port terminals in Trieste, responding to the city’s evolving needs, which will see the overall power demand double over the next 10 years. Lastly, in December, the Hera Group obtained 9.4 million euro from the PNRR to develop two advanced agrivoltaic systems in Emilia-Romagna, with an expected production of almost 30 GWh per year. The electricity area accounted for 20.3% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle Ebitda for the integrated water cycle area, which includes aqueduct, purification, and sewerage services, amounted to 297.1 million euro, up 9.5% compared to 271.4 million euro in the previous year, thanks to investments in development, increased regulatory WACC as of 2024 and inflation recoveries. The result for 2024 did not benefit from the two-year bonuses recognised by ARERA for the high-quality standards achieved by Hera in managing the integrated water service as it will be accounted for next year. More specifically, last year the Group was awarded first and third place in the general ranking of Italian operators (2020-21 two-year period) for its significant investments, state-of-the-art plants and use of the best technologies for an efficient management of the water cycle in the areas served, in line with the Group’s sustainability and circular economy strategies. Including capital grants, investments amounted to 261.1 million euro (+14.4%). The main interventions on the aqueduct, across the various areas served, include installing smart meters and districtisation activities (particularly in the Padua and Trieste areas and in the municipalities of the Marche region served by Marche Multiservizi) aimed at reducing network leakage, ongoing reclamation activities on networks and connections, and specific projects such as the development of the new supply system in Castelbolognese and the renewal of the adduction networks in Calderara di Reno and San Pietro in Casale, near Bologna. In the sewerage sector, interventions concerned constructing first rainwater basin in Cattolica, upgrading the sewerage network in various areas served, drain upgrading works, and works required by the extension of the Forlì and Modena bypasses. Moreover, in order to optimise management of the purifiers in Padua, AcegasApsAmga continued works for the construction of 7 new bio-dryers, fully financed by PNRR funds, which at present provide the best sustainable choice for drying sludge from the city sewage plants, destined for recovery. In addition to the Rimini seawater protection plan (PSBO), other interventions in purification include upgrading and expanding the Ravenna and Lugo purification plants, a new purification plant in Budrio (Bologna), and the construction of the new power-to-gas technology plant at the IDAR purification plant in Bologna, partially financed by the PNRR, which will make it possible to use purified water to produce first renewable hydrogen and then biomethane, using the waste oxygen for purification processes. Lastly, thanks to the two interventions launched for the construction of a new sewage system for wastewater in the municipalities of Petriano and Vallefoglia, including 4 new lifting stations, and the completion of the San Costanzo sewerage system, which will be concluded in 2025, the Pesaro-Urbino area will be released from the EU infringement procedure on purification. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 18.7% of Group Ebitda. Waste Ebitda for the waste management area, which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services, stood at 367 million euro, up 4% from 353.4 million euro in 2023. More specifically, Ebitda for waste treatment and recovery services reached 305.8 million, while Ebitda for environmental services involving waste collection and street sweeping rose to approximately 61.2 million, mainly due to the efficiency gains in the operations of new concessions. In particular, an increase occurred in special waste, mainly due to an 8% increase in waste from third parties, thanks to the consolidation of existing business relations, the development of the customer portfolio, particularly in the industrial market, and expansion in complementary industry market segments. Despite the complex macroeconomic context with repercussions in the markets in which it is present, the Group thus continues along its path of growth in this business area, thanks to the diversification of its offer, the breadth of its customer portfolio and its ability to respond with innovative and integrated services. Hera has thus consolidated its role as a leading Italian and European operator in this sector, in particular in the industrial market following the acquisition of 70% of TRS Ecology, with a portfolio of over 2,700 customers. The renovations begun on the TRS platform in Caorso (Piacenza) are expected to strengthen the growth prospects of a well-established local company, and to develop future technical and commercial synergies with the Group’s other plant solutions and companies in an attractive geographical area of the domestic industry market. A key partner supporting companies in reducing and recycling waste, regenerating resources and achieving their ESG targets, Hera continues to play a strategic role in the environmental transition of the Italian industrial sector. One example of this is the aforementioned agreement with Fincantieri to manage almost 100,000 tonnes per year of industrial waste produced in shipyards in Italy and, in the future, also abroad. The goal is to create a new integrated waste management system through concrete initiatives, from reducing the waste produced to increasing the solid waste sent for recycling, valorising residues, recovering water and reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition, the numerous initiatives in the area of the circular economy and decarbonisation continued to implement the value creation and environmental sustainability objectives of local areas. This includes the CO₂ capture project at the Ferrara WTE plant, the first industrial-scale example of CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) applied to a plant of this type in Italy, selected to receive almost 24 million euro in funding from the EU Innovation Fund. Protecting environmental resources was a priority objective in 2024 as well, as was maximising their reuse. This is demonstrated by the special attention dedicated to increasing sorted waste collection which, thanks to the numerous projects the Group has put in place in all areas served, rose by 2.1 percentage points, going to 74.3% as against 72.2% in 2023. Mention must also go to the commitment to increase the sustainability of company fleets by using electrically powered vehicles and the increasing consumption of HVO fuel produced from depleted vegetable oil, which helps reduce CO2 by almost 90%. Gross investments for the waste management sector amounted to 162.3 million euro (+7.6% compared to 2023), mainly for maintenance and upgrading on the set of plants. This includes, for example, work on line 4 of the Padua WTE plant, non-recurring maintenance on the Modena, Forlì and Rimini plants, the work carried out by the companies HEA and Vallortigara to expand the Torrebelvicino plant, and the start of construction in Modena of Aliplast’s innovative rigid plastics regeneration plant, partially thanks to PNRR contributions. The authorisation process for expanding PE production and regeneration capacity at Aliplast’s Borgolavezzaro (Novara) plant was also launched, which will allow the company to increase its production capacity by approximately 20,000 tonnes per year. At the end of the year, work began on the first of the two lines of the new FIB3R plant in Imola, the only one of its kind in Europe. When fully operational, it will produce 160 tonnes of recycled carbon fibre per year, with a 75% energy saving compared to virgin fibre. Lastly, note that in December the tender called by Confservizi Cispel Toscana was awarded for the management of the Montale (Pistoia) WTE plant, capable of handling 50 thousand tonnes per year of municipal and special waste. The waste management area accounted for 23.1% of Group Ebitda.       Hera Group approves FY2024 results (1).pdf 13:50:00 Download Press Release sede Hera 110x150.jpg

2025-03-07 The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, the Italian Gas Committee and Hera’s subsidiary Inrete Distribuzione Energia have signed an operating protocol to test the introduction of a mixture of natural gas and up to 10% hydrogen into household networks. The project involves a residential area in the province of Modena, and internationally recognized bodies have been tasked with supervising safety aspects. centrata The Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), the Italian Gas Committee (CIG) and Inrete Distribuzione Energia (a company part of the Hera Group) have signed a protocol to carry out studies and field tests on mixtures of natural gas and hydrogen to be injected into distribution networks. This is the first project to fall under the framework agreement signed by MASE and CIG aimed at creating favourable conditions for developing trials with mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas, to gradually introduce increasing percentages of low-carbon gas into gas networks. The “pilot” operating protocol, for the first time in Italy, calls for mixtures containing up to 10% hydrogen to be gradually used to supply an isolated segment of the network. While complying with the most demanding safety requirements, this is aimed at testing solutions that use green gasses in the civil and residential sectors as well. These energy vectors with a low environmental impact, in fact, could contribute to the decarbonisation of local areas with significant environmental benefits, making it possible to make the most of Italy’s existing gas infrastructure, which is unique in Europe in terms of extensiveness, without modifying the current heating systems. The first step of the trial involves feeding a mixture with 5% hydrogen into the network, which will contribute to ongoing studies before increasing the percentage, helping meet the country’s need to diversify its energy sources. In line with its agreement with MASE and CIG, Inrete will therefore start testing in the upcoming months, cooperating with numerous partners and being supervised by internationally recognised bodies. The tests will involve operators from the entire gas supply chain, from transport to manufacturers of technological equipment, up to manufacturers of boilers and gas burners. The partial replacement of natural gas with hydrogen - whose combustion does not produce carbon dioxide (CO2), mainly responsible for global warming - is indeed a solution pursued by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, in collaboration with specialists in the field and with the aim of facilitating the energy transition. Trials within a project that started in 2022 in Castelfranco Emilia (Modena) As of 2022, Inrete is at the head of an initiative that has already successfully tested, with temporary two-step trials, the introduction of a mixture of natural gas and 2% hydrogen into municipal gas networks. The study involved around forty families living in a residential area of Castelfranco Emilia (Modena), all of whom were adequately informed. Having acquired the necessary know-how, in terms of both technology and safety, the Hera Group company, thanks to the protocol signed with the MASE and the CIG, and in agreement with the same residential area’s municipal administration, will launch the third phase of experimentation. It will thus be possible to explore the different operational aspects that enable the infrastructure to receive, in its current configuration, mixtures of natural gas and 5% hydrogen. This time, too, cooperation coming from citizens will be crucial, at no cost to the families residing in the area chosen for the tests. Indeed, the latter will also be carried out downstream of the meter, with checks on the operations of domestic gas appliances in households, including boilers and burners, to obtain a precise evaluation of the results. “The pilot agreement we have just signed with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the Italian Gas Committee,” comments Hera Group CEO Orazio Iacono, “comes as important recognition of our ability to innovate in enabling infrastructures to support transitions, first and foremost the energy transition. The need to diversify our country’s energy sources, which is now urgent, cannot disregard the use of green gases such as hydrogen, and in this context our assets are ready to increase the percentage of the blend in networks, as foreseen by the protocol, reaching 10% and confirming their alignment with the European taxonomy. These trials represent an additional driver for developing strategic and innovative activities aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, by accompanying customers in the energy transition and ensuring the resilience of the areas served.” “We are proud to have signed this operational protocol with MASE and CIG for tests involving green gas,” adds Federico Bronzini, CEO of Inrete Distribuzione Energia. “We have thus confirmed our commitment to pursuing advanced solutions aimed at reducing energy dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Thanks to significant investments and our experience in the sector, we are ready to concretely promote, once again, the path towards decarbonisation in the civil and residential sector as well.” NexMeter, the advanced meter developed by the Hera Group For a correct gas measurement, this trial calls for the use of NexMeters by all users in Castelfranco Emilia involved in the project. NexMeter is the G4 gas meter developed by the Hera Group, already able to measure mixtures of methane and hydrogen; this device, which has opened up new possibilities in the sector thanks to both the advanced technologies it uses and its safety functions, is already found in almost 300,000 Italian homes connected to the gas distribution networks managed by the Hera Group’s distribution companies. The project’s collaborators: BAXI; Bosch; Electrolux; Emerson; Ferroli, Immergas; Innovhub SSI; Pietro Fiorentini; RINA; Snam; TdZ, Valpres, a Bonomi Group company, Alfa Engineering and Idrotherm 2000. 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2025-01-24 centrata In accordance with art. 2.6.2 (Required Reporting) of the “Rules of the markets organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A.", please find below our annual calendar of corporate events: 1. 26 March 2025 – Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve the previous year’s preliminary financial statements. 2. 30 April 2025 – Shareholders’ Meeting to approve the previous year’s financial statements. 3. 14 May 2025 – Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve additional financial information for the period ending on 31 March 2025. 4. 30 July 2025 – Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve the half-year financial report as at 30 June 2025. 5. 12 November 2025 – Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve additional financial information for the period ending on 30 September 2025. The Board of Directors, as communicated for the previous financial year and in line with the past, in order to guarantee regularity in the information provided to the financial market and investors, has decided to continue preparing and publishing this information quarterly, on a voluntary basis and in line with current regulations. (*) barring changes 14:48:00 sede Hera 110x150.jpg

2025-01-23 Development, resilience and creating value shared with all stakeholders confirmed as the strategic pillars of the new business plan, which allocates more than 5 billion euro in investments to accelerate the achievement of ecological transition targets and further increase the resilience of networks and plants. The preliminary results for 2024, rising once again while maintaining financial leverage stable, indicate solid organic growth centrata BUSINESS PLAN TO 2028, OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Five-year gross investments at 5.1 billion euro Return on net invested capital at 9.5% Structural growth in Ebitda reaching 1.7 billion euro EPS to rise by approximately 6% CAGR Dividends up 21% (rising to 17 cents per share) and average annual yield at roughly 5% Average annual total shareholder return (TSR) at 11%. Net debt/Ebitda stably below 3x over the period covered by the plan and projected at 2.8x in 2028 BUSINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY HIGHLIGHTS A portfolio balanced between regulated and free-market activities maintained, generating resilient results and capable of grasping emerging opportunities 2.6 billion euro in investments aligned with the European Taxonomy for Sustainable Investments (96% of eligible investments) Shared-value investments amounting to 77% over the entire five-year Plan 45% increase in shared-value (CSV) Ebitda over the period covered by the Plan, reaching 66% of total Ebitda in 2028 Commitment to reduce total CO2 emissions by 37% within 2030 and Net Zero by 2050 confirmed 25% of total investments will contribute to digitisation and innovation, 47% to increasing the resilience of infrastructures to climate change and 60% to the ecological transition 10.8 billion euro in economic value distributed over the 2024-2028 five-year period to stakeholders in the areas in which the Group operates 2024 PRELIMINARY RESULTS, HIGHLIGHTS Ebitda exceeds 1.55 billion euro (+4% vs 2023) Net debt/Ebitda ratio below 2.6x (stable compared to 2023) Dividends forecast at 15 eurocents (+7.1% vs 2023), higher than expected in the previous Plan The Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, reviewed the preliminary results for 2024 results and approved the Business Plan to 2028. Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of Hera Group: "A 5.1-billion-euro investment plan, rising by 46% compared to the previous five-year period and supporting sustainable industrial development that increases the resilience of our infrastructures, will allow us to target a 2028 Ebitda coming to 1.7 billion euro, supported by visible growth, both internal and external. This growth fully meets the objective of creating shared value for all stakeholders: profits will indeed increase by 30% (from 2023 to 2028), as will the contribution coming from sustainable activities to Group Ebitda, reaching 66%. The improvement in the objectives of the new Business Plan, along with the positive forecasted for 2024, allow us to revise our dividend policy upwards, proposing a 7% increase, compared to 2024, as early as 2025, reaching 21% by 2028. The economic value distributed over the 5 years covered by the Plan to stakeholders in the areas in which we operate also grows, to almost 11 billion euro." Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group: “For 2024, we expect to close with Ebitda over 1.55 billion euro, a result supported by all businesses in our portfolio, especially structural activities. This is even more significant when compared to the already outstanding 2023, which was affected by several non-recurring revenue opportunities, above all in the energy sector. This performance allowed us to fund an increase in investments and to further improve our financial solidity, with a net debt/Ebitda ratio below 2.6x, stable compared to the previous year. These good results are perfectly consistent with the new Business Plan, which forecasts 5.1 billion euro in gross investments, of which roughly 3 billion euro will be dedicated to the green transition in the areas served. The significant financial commitment required to support the investment plan, benefitting industrial development, will in any case be financed by a strong cash generation, which will also make it possible to keep financial leverage below the prudential level of 3x through to 2028, confirming our financial solidity and creating further flexibility to seize future opportunities.” 2024 PRELIMINARY RESULTS The year that just ended saw a positive performance of the industrial margins of all businesses in the portfolio, with Ebitda expected to exceed 1,550 million euro, as against 1,495 million euro in 2023. The “structural” growth observed in the preliminary results, mainly supported by factors involved in organic growth, is even more significant when compared to 2023 Ebitda adjusted for non-recurring contributions, totalling roughly 100 million euro, at 1,395 million euro. A robust cash generation, also supported by efficient working capital management, allowed the net debt/Ebitda ratio to remain below 2.6x, in line with the 2023 result. Considering these figures, the dividend policy was revised upwards: the Board of Directors is expected to propose a dividend payment of 15 eurocents per share, up 7.1% with respect to the 2023 coupon paid in 2024, to be compared with the 3.5% growth forecast in the previous Business Plan (14.5 eurocents). BUSINESS PLAN TO 2028 The new Plan’s strategic framework confirms creating sustainable value benefiting all stakeholders thanks to a balanced business portfolio as the Hera Group’s goal, developing resilient industrial assets even in a scenario marked by continuous volatility and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change. Creating value: a target of 1.7 billion euro for 2028 Ebitda, with a 30% rise in profits The Group’s strategy focuses on creating value through four main growth levers: an efficient allocation of capital to investment projects with the best sustainability-risk-return profiles, expansion of market shares, an enlarged scope of operations thanks to M&A transactions and efficiency gains in both operating and financial costs. The plan aims to generate value benefiting all stakeholders, through financial, environmental and social sustainability objectives. The plan envisages a structural growth of Ebitda by 475 million Euro to 2028 with a CAGR of +7% exactly reflecting the targets set out in the previous Business Plan. This structural growth will more than compensates the eventual shortfall during the period covered by the Plan of some temporary business opportunities of the amount of 170 million euro and drive in any case Group Ebitda to 1,700 million euro in 2028, up from the previous target of the Plan to 2027. Organic growth, accounting for 375 million euro of the Ebitda generated over the period covered by the Plan, is the main lever and will be fuelled by the investment plan for development, expansion in volumes and customers in liberalised markets, and the efficiencies and tariff adjustments set by the Authority on all regulated activities. The Plan also foresees a contribution from M&A transactions for about 100 million euro of Ebitda, in line with the Group’s track record in the consolidation activity on the Italian highly fragmented markets, that has underpinned the Group expansion in core business exploiting significant synergies creating value. The framework agreement signed with Modena-based AIMAG, in which Hera has been a shareholder since 2009, with a 25% stake, strengthens the industrial partnership between the two parties and provides, as early as today, high visibility on M&A targets of the business plan to 2028. Indeed, the Business Plan drawn up by AIMAG expects to improve Ebitda to 77 million euro by 2028, without considering the synergies with Hera (for more details, see the recently published dedicated press release). The business plan highlights the strategy to further strengthen all three of the Group’s core businesses, maintaining their balance, applying the management policies that have guaranteed so far a strong resilience in results and uninterrupted growth within all scenarios experienced over the past two decades. This structure will see regulated activities remaining at over 60% of the invested capital in 2028 and liberalised activities accounting for the remaining 40% of the portfolio. The growth targets defined lead to a return on invested capital (ROI) of 9.5% to 2028, in line with the previous Business Plan. Earnings per share are expected to rise by an average of about 6% per year, thus supporting the increase in dividends, set to reach 17 eurocents by 2028 (+21% compared to the last dividend paid). At current Hera share prices, the dividend policy guarantees an average yield of approximately 5% and offers full visibility on the prospective dividends in each year of the Plan. The total shareholders return, which takes into account both the trend in expected profits and the dividend yield, is therefore confirmed at an average annual rate of about 11%. Focus on the sustainable development of the entire regional ecosystem, with steady growth in shared-value Ebitda, at over 1.1 billion euro in 2028 (66% of total Ebitda) The Hera Group has included initiatives in its Plan that have adequate profitability and are consistent with operating-financial balance, which at the same time guarantee that sustainable value creation is enhanced. By maintaining a focus on decarbonisation, circular economy, resilience and innovation, “shared-value Ebitda” is expected to increase significantly, exceeding 1,100 million euro in 2028, as against 776 million euro in 2023, reaching 66% of the Group’s total Ebitda and respecting the target of 70% in 2030. In the 2024-2028 five-year period, shared-value Ebitda will increase by 45%, reflecting the growing weight of initiatives that not only generate margins for the company, but are also in line with the goals on the UN Agenda. On the path towards a “just transition”, with a large number of initiatives aimed at the prosperity of its reference communities and a strong focus on social equity, Hera will continue to generate positive effects for all stakeholders, with an estimated economic value distributed over the five years covered by the Plan coming to 10.8 billion euro and investments dedicated to the green transition amounting to roughly 3 billion euro. Ongoing interventions are aimed, on the one hand, at making the Group’s assets and processes more resilient to increasingly frequent and intense exogenous phenomena and, on the other, at contributing to carbon neutrality and the energy transition. With regard to the Hera Group’s commitment to work towards decarbonisation, in line with the 37% emission reduction targets by 2030 (compared to 2019) validated by the prestigious international network Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), in its Climate Transition Plan the Group has set itself the goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. As regards the regeneration of resources, the Hera Group confirms its adoption of circular business models, with the goals of increasing recoverable wastewater (up to 14.4% of total wastewater in 2028), reducing internal water consumption (-24% in 2028) and increasing recycled plastics by 165% in 2028 (compared to 2017, thus exceeding the previous target 2030 of +150%). Sorted waste collection is expected to increase in both quality and quantity, going from 72.2% in 2023 to 77.7% in 2028. Lastly, the application of technologies and innovations to the Group’s industrial activities also plays an essential role in the new strategic document: creating new business models and introducing pioneering solutions will, in fact, enable the Group to gain a competitive advantage and promote continuous improvement in efficiency and quality in its target sectors. Gross investments at over 5 billion euro, with financial leverage remaining below 3x Over the 2024-2028 period, the Business Plan calls for total investments amounting to 5.1 billion euro. This financial commitment is 6% higher than the one included in the previous strategic document and 46% higher than the investments made over the last five years. Indeed, in addition to the 4.6 billion euro of investments directly financed by the Hera Group, almost 500 million in resources will come from the PNRR and other institutions. Of these investments, 61% will be earmarked for regulated businesses, while the remaining 39% will go towards fuelling the growth of free-market businesses. More than half of the investments (2.5 billion euro, or 54%) will be dedicated to networks. Furthermore, approximately 8% of the resources will be used to seize external growth opportunities. In line with the content of the European framework, the Group estimates that operating investments coming to 2.6 billion euro (or 96% of eligible investments) will be aligned with the European Taxonomy for sustainable projects, thus fully accessing subsidised sustainable finance instruments, with benefits also in terms of financial costs. 77% of the investment plan (or 4 billion euro) will go towards initiatives capable of creating “shared-value Ebitda”. These investments will be allocated as follows: 2 billion euro, or 39% of the planned investments, will help reduce the consumption of natural resources through the development and adoption of circular economy solutions and models; 1.1 billion, or 22% of the resources allocated in the Plan, will reduce or contain climate-changing emissions mainly through the development of renewable plants, energy efficiency initiatives and projects supporting the transition of our stakeholders; 2.4 billion euro, or 47% of total investments, will be dedicated to increasing the resilience of the assets under management and activities intended to face increasingly frequent and intense exogenous phenomena; 1.3 billion, or 25% of the investments, will go towards applying and developing pioneering technologies and introducing innovative solutions to achieve a competitive advantage in all industrial sectors covered, helping to seize market opportunities and ensure financial sustainability, efficiency and quality. The major financial commitment required to support the investment plan, benefiting industrial development and expanding the scope of operations with external growth transactions, will in any case be fully financed by a significant cashflow, which will also allow financial leverage to be kept below the prudential level of 3x, with a target of 2.8x by 2028, confirming the Group’s financial solidity and creating further flexibility that can be used to seize additional growth opportunities on the Italian attractive reference markets. Energy: a partner for the energy transition of our customers; target of 4.5 million customers by 2028 Ebitda for the energy area is expected to increase from 549 million euro in 2023 (calculated net of a non-recurring contribution amounting to 100 million euro, mainly due to the “super-ecobonus”) to 576 million euro in 2028. This target is based on structural growth coming to 177 million euro, which is able to more than offset the hypothesis of decreased margins for “last resort markets” clients, envisage a further growth in Ebitda results even compared to the extraordinary values of 2023. This result will be achieved thanks to the normalization of the “shaping costs” incurred in 2023, the expansion of the customer base, and an increase in renewable energy production, which confirms the Hera Group’s role as a partner in the energy transition of the communities served. To support the strategy in the energy sector, 1 billion euro in overall investments has been earmarked for the 2024-2028 five-year period, equivalent to 21% of the total investments included in the Plan. The Group, which is now Italy’s third largest operator by number of customers, intends to continue developing its customer base, starting from 3.8 million in 2023 and reaching 4.5 million by 2028, with a substantial growth in electricity customers, which will reach 2.4 million, surpassing the number of gas customers, partially thanks to the significant contribution coming from the 7 lots awarded in the Gradual protection service tender in 2024. In a market scenario that sees customers increasingly attentive to environmental sustainability and containing their energy costs, a more consistent demand for decarbonisation solutions has emerged for both retail customers and companies and public administrations, increasing development opportunities for the Group’s ESCOs through integration and differentiation of the offer by segment, from energy requalification and efficiency interventions to services for sustainable mobility, public lighting and smart cities for public administrations, as well as integrated services for industrial customers and condominiums. In order to achieve its ambitious decarbonisation targets, in the area of photovoltaic power generation, the Hera Group has confirmed its goal of installing over 300 MW by 2028, with preference going to plant solutions at consumption centres that do not involve further land consumption, such as agrivoltaic plants and the numerous projects being implemented on landfills or plants in the Group’s water cycle, as well as installations at customers’ premises, including Renewable Energy Communities. The construction of the two Hydrogen Valleys in Modena and Trieste continues, aimed at producing about 800 tonnes per year of green hydrogen, contributing to the decarbonisation of companies and, more generally, the local areas in question, and at the same time redeveloping disused areas. Waste management: leadership strengthened by expanding market share through commercial development, infrastructure development and M&As Ebitda for the waste management area is expected to rise from 353 million euro in 2023 to 470 million euro in 2028, thanks to development fuelled by both organic and external growth. The increase in profits will be driven by an expanded market share, supported by the development and diversification of the asset platform, partially thanks to an investment plan allocating approximately 1.1 billion euro to the waste management area. Thanks to more than 100 state-of-the-art plants (with 5 new facilities in the pipeline to 2028) and new partnerships, the multi-utility expects to reach a total of approximately 9.6 million tonnes disposed of and marketed by 2028, compared to 7.7 million tonnes in 2023 (+24% of waste treated). In the urban waste sector, also as a result of the recently renewed long-term concessions, the Group’s aim is to make this service to local areas more complete and efficient through innovation, new devices and infrastructures, and the involvement of citizens and stakeholders. The validity of the Group’s strategy in this area is confirmed by the fact that, at present, it has already achieved targets for the recycling rate and the portion of waste sent to landfills, well ahead of the EU deadlines, and will continue to pursue these excellent results in the period covered by the Plan. More specifically, by 2028 municipal waste conferred to landfills will be less than 3%, as against the European target set at 10%, the recycling rate will come to 64%, compared to the EU target of 60% by 2030, and the packaging recycling rate will reach 68%, compared to the EU target of 70% by 2030. In the area of waste treatment, in a country severely impacted by a shortage of plants, the Hera Group has managed over time to consolidate the largest and most modern set of plants in Italy, establishing itself as the main operator in this sector, with a market share of around 10% and ample room for further growth given the fragmented nature of the competition, which mainly consists of small, non-integrated operators. In this context, precisely by leveraging the competitive advantages it has built up over time, the Group’s new Business Plan points towards a strengthened leadership and an expanded market share, accompanying the needs of an increasingly diversified and qualified customer base (first and foremost, large companies). To this end, the Plan foresees an expansion of the Group’s set of plants, further development in its commercial offers and an expanded customer base, partially achieved by leveraging its activities abroad. The set of plants, which already treats municipal waste and special waste from the Italian production network, will be expanded, for example, with the construction of the new line of the waste-to-energy plant in Padua, full operations of the F3 plant in Ravenna, and the expansion of liquid waste treatment capacity. As regards commercial development, note the opportunities for important partnerships with leading operators in the national and international production sector, such as the recent newco CircularYard established with Fincantieri. Opportunities for collaboration will also drive development in the remediation field, in this case with entities in the petrochemical industry, in which the Hera Group has significantly strengthened its market leadership with the integration of the Modena-based ACR: this business segment shows a lively demand, supported by the PNRR and the country’s need to remediate over 13 thousand sites. Resource recovery and regeneration activities complement those involving treatment, and firstly concern plastics, in which the Group stands out for the high quality of its secondary raw material products. The increasing European legislation (SUP and PPWR) will determine a progressive growth in demand, for which the Plan calls for a doubling of the plants in Novara for the regeneration of PE and PET as well as innovative projects, such as the plant for carbon fibre recovery in Imola, which will be inaugurated soon, and the one for the regeneration of high-quality rigid plastics under construction in Modena. Networks: primary role as infrastructure operator confirmed by a robust investment plan and excellent performances Ebitda for the network sector is expected to grow by 155 million euro, going from 466 million euro in 2023 to 621 million euro in 2028. The regulated networks business, which represents the Hera Group’s main asset in terms of invested capital, will benefit from a substantial investment plan amounting to approximately 2.5 billion euro (54% of total investments) by 2028, in order to further enhance the resilience and digitalisation of infrastructures, consolidate efficiency in operations and maintain leadership in terms of the quality of service provided. Of these resources, about 1.4 billion euro will be allocated to the integrated water cycle, while almost 1 billion euro will be invested in gas and electricity distribution. The strategic initiatives of the Group, Italy’s second-largest operator in the water cycle, include works to guarantee stability and security of supply, technological solutions to reduce losses and ensure more efficient distribution, the upgrading of sewage systems, and the promotion of reuse and regeneration of this resource to support the sector’s ecological transition. This includes collection, storage and interconnection works, the project for the Trieste aqueduct, water management initiatives with the completion of the installation of smart meters to encourage more efficient and aware consumption, the districtisation and reclamation of the aqueduct network and the use of predictive maintenance to reduce losses, ongoing work on the Rimini Seawater Protection Plan (the largest sewage reclamation project ever carried out in Italy, with 270 million investments in total from 2013 to 2028), and the new biodryers in the Cà Nordio plant in Padua for greater energy savings in sewage sludge treatment. To enable the electrification of local areas, instead, the Group plans to upgrade the grid, thus ensuring reliability and flexibility of assets as well as service quality and continuity, including the support of digital technologies and innovative initiatives such as the deployment of 2G smart metering and new management technology models with a predictive capacity. The goal for 2028 is to increase the grid’s hosting capacity by 30% compared to 2023, to reach over 400 MW in 2028, partially thanks to initiatives such as the development of primary and secondary substations. Projects for smart grids, such as the one serving the port and metropolitan area of Trieste, also move in this direction. To promote the decarbonisation of the gas sector, Hera will focus on enabling networks to transport green molecules as well, as in the experimentation currently underway in the municipal distribution network of Castelfranco Emilia, near Modena. At the same time, the Group’s attention will also go to innovative solutions. Among these, the Bologna power-to-gas plant, connected to one of the main water cycle purifiers, will make it possible to use purified water to produce first renewable hydrogen and then biomethane, using waste oxygen for purification processes. The drive towards innovation will also come from the installation by 2028 of around 523 thousand NexMeter gas smart meters, patented by Hera in 2019, with advanced safety functions in the event of leaks or earthquakes and which can also be used for blends with green gas. These will be accompanied by around 465 thousand second-generation (2G) electricity meters, which will enable more precise measurement of consumption, and over 640 thousand smart meters for the water cycle. Lastly, among the assets enabling the energy transition of the areas served, the Group has included in its strategy additional development of district heating. The overall cumulative net investments in district heating amount to 124 million euro, accompanied by 49.5 million euro in PNRR/MASE contributions, for a total of approximately 174 million euro, to develop and adapt the distribution network and optimise management, making the systems more efficient and reducing the carbon footprint of the heat produced. These projects for developing district heating systems in Bologna, Ferrara and Forlì are a concrete example of the Group’s commitment to decarbonising the areas served and will contribute to a reduction in annual emissions coming to 19,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide compared to 2023. Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2028.pdf 08:00:00 sede Hera 110x150.jpg

2025-01-16 The Group has been confirmed as one of the best companies in Italy and worldwide in human resource management, thanks to its commitment to combining corporate growth, collective wellbeing and sustainable development centrata For the sixteenth consecutive year, the Hera Group has been certified as a Top Employer for its labour policies. This is a remarkable achievement, since this certification is among the most significant recognitions internationally given to companies that meet high standards in human resource management by the Top Employers Institute, a global certifier of corporate excellence in HR (Human Resource), based in the Netherlands. Top Employers Certification is awarded to companies that meet the high standards required by the HR Best Practices Survey. The analysis, which is highly attentive and increasingly selective from year to year, covers 6 macro-areas related to human resource management and examines in depth 20 different topics and the respective best practices, including: recognition of people and their professionalism, work environment, career opportunities, training and development, valuing diversity, fairness and inclusion, and well-being. This year the Top Employers programme recognised and certified 2,429 Top Employers in 125 countries worldwide, including the Hera Group. The main strengths that enabled the Hera Group to achieve this important result are: safety, procurement, sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing and people development. In these areas, investments coming to 60 million euro have been planned for the 2024-2027 four-year period in staff training, a third of which will be dedicated to safety. 2,600 new hires are also foreseen along with many initiatives for the development of new skills, to support parents, frail people, caregivers and to valorise different abilities. The Group’s investment in and commitment to the growth and wellbeing of its people includes combating gender-based violence and promoting inclusion. The new elements of 2024 included the Good Work Deal, signed in July with the trade unions, a forward-looking and virtuous document that provides a new reference point nationwide, capable of combining corporate growth, sustainable development and collective wellbeing, and that encompasses the good practices of valuing people accumulated over the years, making them a resource that is shared with the trade unions. This document was drafted using an inclusive language, ensuring it could be accessed in digital format as well to make it usable for blind or visually impaired persons using screen readers. The foremost novelty in the Good Work Deal lies in the calculation of the performance bonus, which is partially based on the Hera Group’s ability to increase shared value (in addition to the progressive annual increase in the same bonus, amounting to 225 euro per year over the 2025-2027 three-year period). This is accompanied by a series of people development actions in terms of evolving working methods, accelerating process digitalisation and increasing the value of sustainability and circularity. The good quality of life of the Group’s over 10,000 employees is also supported by its extensive welfare plan, offering them a wide range of services, in which the company invests 18 million euro every year. The most significant initiatives include free psychological support sessions, personalised diet plans and sessions with physiotherapists and posturologists, health promotion and prevention programmes with free check-ups and screenings, initiatives to support parenting and childhood education, and sustainable mobility. David Plink, CEO of the Top Employers Institute “Through advances in technology, economic change and the evolving social landscape, it is inspiring to see people and organisations challenge themselves. This year, the Top Employers Certification Programme highlights the dedication of our Top Employers, who continue to set high standards through world-class HR strategies and practices, promoting growth and well-being while improving the working world. It is with great pride that we celebrate these leaders and teams, capable of putting people at the centre: the Top Employers 2025!” Cristian Fabbri, Hera Group Executive Chairman “This recognition confirms our constant commitment to enhancing our main resource: people, with their skills, professionalism and uniqueness. Our way of being a company is based on respect for their needs and satisfaction, projected towards a path of constant improvement in offering every day services that are indispensable to the lives of citizens and companies.” Hera Top Employer for 16 years without interruption.pdf sede Hera 110x150.jpg