News
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12/06/2017Iberdrola presents the eighth edition of the ‘Legal Manuals for Engineers’ Iberdrola, in conjunction with the I.C.A.I. Engineers’ Association, today presented the eighth edition of its Legal Manuals for Engineers in the Aula Magna at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas. The event was chaired by the rector of the Universidad Pontificia Comillas ICAI-ICADE, Father Julio L. Martínez, S.J., who was accompanied by Iberdrola's director of Legal Services, Santiago Martínez Garrido, the chairman of the I.C.A.I. Engineers’ Association, Román Escudero, and the coordinator of the Manuals, Carmen Chinchilla, representing the various coordinators involved in the publication. This new edition of the Legal Manuals for Engineers, which was managed jointly by Santiago Martínez Garrido and Miguel Ángel Agúndez, is organised into five volumes analysing the following topics: the Board and its committees, brand value creation as a strategy for good corporate governance, different methods of funding, the legal and commercial aspects of the Law on voluntary jurisdiction and administrative law. Each of the volumes, published by Wolters Kluwer, was in turn coordinated by an expert in each of the legal fields: Rafael Sebastián, Álvaro Sainz, Javier Badiola, Alberto Alonso Ureba, Efrén Villán Sánchez and Carmen Chinchilla. With this publication, Iberdrola and the I.C.A.I. Engineers’ Association are continuing to pursue their common goal of providing engineering professionals with an overview of the legal aspects they need for their work. This new edition of the Legal Manuals for Engineers also has a foreword by the Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, who emphasises that “we are proud of these Manuals and also of the fact that the profits that come from their sale go to the I.C.A.I. Engineers’ Foundation for its Development work and they are then reinvested by the foundation in its Access to Energy Programme, which takes electricity to people who do not have it and implements sustainable energy development projects in emerging countries.” In previous editions, the Manuals dealt with other aspects and sectors, offering a broad view of the law in various areas: shareholder and investor relations, regulatory compliance, procedural law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, financial markets and Community law, among others. For those who are interested in finding out more information about the volumes published, Iberdrola has set up a web site http://cuadernosdederechoparaingenieros.com/ . READ MORE
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08/06/2017Neoenergia incorporates Elektro’s businesses to create an electricity industry leader in Brazil and Latin America The shareholders of Neoenergia – Iberdrola (39%), Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil (Previ) (49.01%) and BB Banco de Investimentos (Banco do Brasil) (11.99%) - have reached an agreement by which the company will take on the activity and businesses of Elektro, the Brazilian affiliate of Iberdrola1. This will create the biggest electricity utility in Brazil and the first in Latin America in terms of customer numbers, with 13.4 million users and an important role of its regulated businesses. The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, pointed out that “thanks to the agreement with our partners, Previ and Banco do Brasil, the biggest power company in Brazil and Latin America is now being created, further strengthening our commitment to the energy development of Brazil. “The integration of Elektro into Neoenergia aims to fulfil the goals of our 2016-2020 Strategic Prospects: committing to regulated and stable businesses while consolidating and controlling the management of our activity in Brazil,” he added. The resulting company – which will combine electricity distribution, transmission, generation and retail assets from Neoenergia and Elektro – will have, approximately, the following stake distribution: 52.45% will be controlled by Iberdrola; 38.21% will be held by Previ and 9.35% by Banco do Brasil. The shareholder agreement includes Iberdrola’s commitment to list part of the capital whenever Previ and Banco de Brasil deem it appropriate. Transaction structure The transaction announced today will be carried out under the formula known as incorporação: Neoenergia will execute a capital increase that will be subscribed wholly by Iberdrola, whose increased stake in the company will be in return for Elektro's assets. Also, the three owners of Neoenergia have signed a new shareholder agreement (replacing the previous one from 2005) which includes, amongst others, the following items: the approval of certain reserved matters by bolstered majorities; limits on the transfer of company shares; the right of Iberdrola to appoint a majority of the members of the Board of Neoenergia; and Iberdrola’s obligation to channel all of its investments in Brazil through the company. The transaction is contingent on approval from the General Shareholders' Meetings of Neoenergia and Elektro and from the relevant Brazilian authorities CADE and ANEEL, as the usual fare for this type of operations indicates. The leading electricity company in Brazil The agreement approved by Neoenergia will give rise to the biggest electricity company in Brazil and Latin America’s largest by customer numbers, at 13.4 million. The company will service a territory with a population of more than 43 million people, compared to 18 million people in Iberdrola's area of influence in Spain. Its concession area will cover 836,000 square kilometres, compared to 190,000 square kilometres in Spain, while its distribution network will be 585,000 kilometres long against 268,000 kilometres in Spain. The company, which is mainly regulated, will also be present in the wind energy and hydroelectric generation business, with a capacity 2,080 megawatts (MW) operational and 1,460 MW under development, as well as in thermoelectric power generation, with 530 MW operational. The new Neoenergia will have a regulated share base valued at around R$14.1 billion – about €3.65 billion. If full year 2016 figures for Elektro and Neoenergia were combined, the new company would have generated revenue of some €7.93 billion. Gross operating profit (Ebitda) would have been roughly €934 million. About Neoenergia Neoenergia is a leading energy company involved in energy distribution, generation, transmission and retail, with a presence in 11 states. The company provides services under concession in an area of over 37 million people. At the end of 2016, Neoenergia had 10.8 million supply points in Brazil and its total volume of electricity distributed was over 38,000 gigawatt hours (GWh). Currently, it is owned by PREVI (49.01%), Iberdrola (39%) and Banco do Brasil (11.99%). It also owns 50% of the joint venture Força Eólica do Brasil (the other 50% owned by Elektro) which develops and operates wind energy projects. About Elektro Elektro is an electricity distribution, generation and retail company, 99.99% owned by Iberdrola. It operates in the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, in a concession area of over six million people. At the close of 2016, Elektro had 2.6 million supply points in Brazil and distributed around 16,000 GWh of electricity. It holds a 50% stake (the other 50% owned by Neoenergia) in the joint venture Força Eólica do Brasil which develops and operates wind energy projects. READ MORE
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05/06/2017Iberdrola and the Royal Spanish Rugby Federation present the Queen’s Cup Iberdrola and the Spanish Rugby Federation today presented the Rugby Sevens Queen’s Cup at the Colegio Mayor Ximénez de Cisneros, in Madrid, the first headquarters of the championship. The Iberdrola collaborator in ‘Women’s Universe’, Noelia Florín de Oro; the director of women’s rugby for the Spanish Rugby Federation, Mariola Arraiza; the national women’s selector, José Antonio Barrio, and the Olympic players Marina Bravo and Amaia Erbina emphasised the company’s support for this competition. This season the Queen’s Cup Sevens Grand Prix Series has been created, with the support of Iberdrola, in order to encourage the development of the Olympic version of women's rugby. In this new Sevens competition, twelve teams from around the Peninsula will meet in three tournaments to become the queens of Spanish sevens rugby. “This new competition was created in response to the analysis we made after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games”, explained José Antonio Barrio. “In order to go to the Tokyo 2020 Games in the best condition possible, we saw two areas in which we could improve: structured development through training and creating a competition that would encourage the future National Olympic Team,” said the selector. Mariola Arraiza added that “without the support of Iberdrola, creating a competition of this size would be impossible and we wish to thank them for their support for our rugby”. The director stated that “their support ensures the viability and success of the Leonas in the 2020 Olympics”. About the Rugby Sevens Queen’s Cup The competition will use a similar dynamic to the World Rugby Series and have the same rating system. The three weekends will be: * Madrid Sevens Series: 10 and 11 June. Madrid, Central Campus, Complutense University of Madrid. * Valencia Sevens Series: 17 and 18 June. Valencia, Quatre Carreres Sports Centre. * Valladolid Sevens Series: 1 and 2 July. Valladolid, Campos Pepe Rojo recreation ground. The following teams will be taking part in this event: Rugby Albéitar, Autoconsa El Salvador, Jabatos, Tecnidex Valencia, XV Sanse Scrum, CRAT- Universidade da Coruña, XV Hortaleza, Ingenieros Industriales Las Rozas Rugby, Majadahonda, Olímpico Escrapalia, Complutense Cisneros and Universidad de Sevilla. The women's team that will receive the Spanish crown for Olympic rugby will be announced at the last series. In addition, the Qualifying Tournament for the GPS Sevens Queen's Cup for 2018 will be held, and all interested teams can sign up for this championship. READ MORE
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30/05/2017Iberdrola and the Real Federación Española de Gimnasia present the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Iberdrola and the Real Federación Española de Gimnasia today presented the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup at an event held at Guadalajara City Hall. In this championship, which will start on Friday 2 June and will last the entire weekend, the best rhythmic gymnasts in the world will compete. The mayor of Guadalajara, Antonio Román, the Iberdrola representative in the ‘Universo Mujer’ initiative, Noelia Florín, and the president of the Real Federación Española de Gimnasia, Jesús Carballo, presented the poster for this competition. The World Cup, for which Iberdrola is the main sponsor, is the biggest rhythmic gymnastics event held in Spain this year, and in Guadalajara for the second year running. Last year, at this same competition, the Spanish rhythmic team won a gold medal. This edition is the second of the four to take place this year. 41 individual gymnasts and 14 squads from a total of 24 countries will be taking part. They include Russia, current Olympic champion, with individual gymnasts and with a squad that includes some of the athletes who took part at Rio. On Saturday there will be a tribute to Carolina Pascual, who won silver in the individual category at Barcelona 92, which was the first Olympic medal won by a Spanish rhythmic gymnast, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Games. On Sunday, the tribute will be to the Rio squad, which won the Olympic silver. Also on Sunday, in the morning, Margarita Mamun - current Olympic champion - will give a masterclass to the first hundred girls to enrol in a list that took seven minutes to fill. Iberdrola, the mainstay of ‘Women, Health and Sport’ Under the agreement with Spain’s Higher Council for Sport (CSD), Iberdrola supports various sports federations, including gymnastics, swimming, football, triathlon, badminton, canoeing, rugby, handball, volleyball and hockey, plus other possible additions in the future. These sports have been chosen on account of the extraordinary level of success achieved in them, the high rate of participation, the existence of schemes to promote the sport at the grass-roots level, and other social projects. The 13 May saw the start of the Iberdrola Circuit, in which the eight best female rhythmic gymnastics clubs from each autonomous region competed. This new circuit opens up new possibilities for gymnasts who have not been able to take part in national championships to compete in a competition among clubs. The aim of the Iberdrola Circuit is to create a competition in which clubs from around the country will take part in classifying rounds, with the best club in Spain resulting from the final round. Its implementation is intended to bring better media coverage to this discipline and by doing so to increase the number of women taking part in this sport. Iberdrola is the first company to make a global commitment to promoting the participation of women in every area of sport. The company is also one of the leading sponsors of the Spanish Paralympic Team and the Paralympic Sailing Team. It has been involved in the Paralympic Sport Support Plan (ADOP) since it was launched in 2005, and backed the Spanish Paralympic Team at the Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games. The group’s contribution to Paralympic sport was acknowledged in 2013 with the Olimpia Award from the Higher Council for Sport (CSD): READ MORE
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29/05/2017Ignacio Galán presents the bases for Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy The chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, today spoke at the Clean energy package for all Europeans meeting, organised by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) in Madrid, in which the commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, also participated. The aim of this event was to generate debate about the European Commission's winter package, sought by the European Union's leaders in the transition to clean energy . Iberdrola's chairman positively assessed the action plan drawn up by the European Commission and was confident it would be something that would unify Europe: “I am convinced that, just as carbon and steel were the starting point for the first European treaties, clean energy and re-industrialisation can form a pairing to revitalise a united Europe we so badly need.” He also expressed his satisfaction with the starting point for the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law: “I consider the debate sessions organised by the Government and inaugurated last Thursday by the President extremely useful.” After the welcome message from the president of PwC España, Gonzalo Sánchez, Ignacio Galán delivered a speech entitled The electricity company of the future, which began with a summary of the current scenario: the increase in world energy consumption of over 30% by 2040[1] and the urgent need to combat climate change, by implementing the Paris Agreement. The electricity company of the future In this context, as Iberdrola's chairman explained, a decarbonisation of the economy is required, in which the electricity sector must play a key role. Galán pointed out that all low-carbon energy sources will be necessary, although their intermittent nature will require a significant increase in storage capacity. Furthermore, the management of the electricity system will be more complex and therefore more grids with more digitalisation will be necessary. Fourthly, the company's chairman highlighted that the customer will play a much more active role, thanks to the digitisation of the grid, which will help manage consumption more effectively and thus increase energy efficiency. “All this will entail a profound transformation of the traditional electricity companies, who will have to change their business model until they become, what the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has termed the utility of the future”, Ignacio Galán affirmed. In this respect, the chairman of Iberdrola explained that the company has been progressing in this direction for 15 years, after making investments of 90,000 million Euro in the period. This has led it to become, today, the world leader in installed terrestrial wind power, while reducing its emissions in Europe by 75% since 2000, reaching levels 70% lower than the average for European companies in the sector. Galán also reminded the audience that the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the electricity sector will require over 19 billion dollars in investment up to 2040, over 75% of which will be assigned to renewable grids and energies. In this regard, the Chairman of IBERDROLA said: "We must not forget the opportunities these investment needs present in wealth generation terms. In Iberdrola's case, we employ over 280,000 people and we are contributing to revitalising industrial sectors like shipbuilding, iron and steel and the equipment industry.” Finally, Galán wished to congratulate the commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete “for a package of measures that lays the bases for companies to be able to invest in the transformation of the electricity sector with the ultimate aim of providing a sustainable, competitive and quality service to Europe's citizens”. [1] Source: International Energy Agency. READ MORE
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26/05/2017The Iberdrola Tower is organising dramatised tours of the exhibition entitled "Memory Regained - Imprints on the history of the United States” The Iberdrola Tower is organising tomorrow, Saturday 27 May, and Sunday 28, at 12 noon, two dramatised visits to the exhibition "Memory Regained - Imprints on the history of the United States”, which can be visited on floor 25 of the building, in Bilbao, until this coming 2 July. Under the heading ‘18th Century women: corsets, enlightenment and free women’, two guides wearing faithful reproductions of period costumes will play the role throughout the exhibition of two aristocratic ladies and will reflect on the importance of women in 18th Century diplomacy, politics and society. These themed visits, which will last about an hour will also cover "Basque Immigration in North America". In this case they will be on 14 June at 12 noon and 6 p.m. During this tour, a number of experts will introduce the visitor to this migration phenomenon that occurred in the second half of the 19th century and much of the 20th, when many shepherds, cowherds and lumberjacks, mainly of Basque origin, set up in the American West, where specialised labour was required in these trades. Those interested in putting their names down for this initiative to get to know the exhibition in a more entertaining and original way should call to book a place through the freephone number (+34) 900 119 129 or via the web page http://www.iberdrola-arte.es/ . In both cases it will be possible to visit the exhibition for free at the end of the guided tour. About the exhibition "Memory Regained" Organised by Iberdrola to coincide with their 2017 Annual General Meeting "Memory Regained - Imprints on the history of the United States sets out to give an insight into the little-known contribution made by the Spanish royal family to the development of the United States of America. The exhibition, curated by José Manuel Guerrero Acosta focuses in particular on the Basque Country's role in exploration, sailing and trade, as well as on migration to North America from when Spaniards arrived on the continent up to the 20th century. The choice of exhibits includes over 200 works of art, documents, maps, costumes, miniatures and reproduction sets from various institutions, such as the US Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art; the Prado Museum; the Lázaro Galdiano Museum; the Museum of the Americas and the Fine Arts Museum of Bilbao; together with works from the art collections owned by Iberdrola and AVANGRID (the group's US subsidiary) themselves. The over 40 artists featured include some names from today's US art scene, such as James Turrell and Dan Flavin, as well as Spaniards like sculptors Luis Antonio Sanguino de Pascual and Salvador Amaya, painters Augusto Ferrer Dalmau and Llanos Lerma, and illustrators of the likes of Fernando Vicente. Anyone interested in visiting the exhibition should, as a general rule, pick up an invitation at the Iberdrola Tower building and book an appointment for a guided tour, by calling the free number (+34) 900 119 129. New for this year however, admission on Wednesdays will be without prior booking. Further information is available on the website at www.iberdrola-arte.es . The organisation of "Memory Regained - Imprints on the History of the United States" reflects Iberdrola's commitment to spreading art and culture and to shareholder involvement, encouraged by the company's Board of Directors as expressed in the company's Shareholder Engagement Policy. Once again, Iberdrola proves its dedication to sharing art and culture and its bond with the USA, where the company's presence is significant in States such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Maine, as well as being listed on the New York Stock Exchange through its subsidiary AVANGRID, the country's second largest wind power operator. * To download photos about women in the 18th Century and Basque immigration click here: https://we.tl/h5zubEXuln * To download more photographs and videos of the exhibition, click here: https://goo.gl/iZOgck READ MORE
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26/05/2017IBERDROLA reaches 90% smart meters in Spain. Iberdrola Distribución has exceeded the figure of 9.5 million digital meters installed and the infrastructure that supports them has been adapted to smart grid, which means the company has modernised 90% of all its meters in Spain. The STAR project (Grid Remote Management and Automation System), is an ambitious Iberdrola initiative that complements the legal obligation to change meters - with powers of less than or equal to 15 kilowatts, which, in Iberdrola's case, means 10.6 million devices - with an extensive modernisation and digitalisation of the electricity grid, which is preparing this critical infrastructure for the services its customers will require in the future. This development coincides with Iberdrola's vocation to efficiently provide a quality service to its customers, ensuring its electricity grid is ready for future services and requirements, thus contributing to the growth of the country's economy and the well-being of its citizens. Thanks to the remote management, customers can consult --via www.iberdroladistribucion.es -- their daily, weekly and monthly consumption curves, their peak power demand and many other items. This data reveals how the electricity consumption is distributed so as to use it more efficiently and be able to decide which rate suits the customer’s profile best. Remote management enables immediate execution of the services the customer requires, such as changes of contracted power, unscheduled meter readings, contract subscription and deletion, etc. The adaptation to smart grid enables Iberdrola to monitor and remotely and automatically control the electricity grid, enabling it to get ahead of potential incidents and improve the quality of the service it gives its customers. The information available enables the electricity distribution grid to be operated more efficiently, reducing losses and increasing safety. Iberdrola uses the highest international standards and robust, maximum security encryption algorithms that guarantee the authentication, confidentiality and privacy of every one of its digital devices by means of unique user name and password identification. Furthermore, the digital meters use high-security cryptographic keys, in accordance with internationally established standards in the sector, ensuring data packages leave encrypted and authenticated. The digitalisation of the grid - providing an infrastructure that carries electricity and data - facilitates the integration of the renewable energy distributed, the management of a grid that is going to be increasingly active, and the future mass integration of electric vehicles. In addition, the information received about the state of operation of the grid enables the necessary investments to be optimised, maintenance work to be improved and, in short, increases operating efficiency. IBERDROLA boosts business sector The gradual roll-out of smart grids in Spain once again demonstrates IBERDROLA's strong pull effect on the domestic business sector and its positive impact on job creation and maintenance. The STAR project will require an overall investment by the company in Spain of over €2 billion. It is expected to be completed in the year 2018 and will involve the replacement of over 10.6 million meters and the adaptation of some 80,000 transformer stations Iberdrola plans to develop similar projects in the countries where it is active, provided that the appropriate regulatory conditions are met, which will give the companies collaborating in the STAR project access to significant business opportunities. READ MORE
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24/05/2017Iberdrola's 7th Collective Agreement, which includes improvements in conditions for 8,500 employees, has been signed Iberdrola and the General Workers Union (UGT), Association of Energy Technicians and Professionals (ATYPE), Independent Energy Union (SIE), Workers' Committees (CC.OO.) Workers' Trade Union (USO) and Trade Union Confederation (CGT), which account for 93.55% of the company's union representation, signed in Madrid this morning the 7th Collective Agreement of Iberdrola Group. This new agreement will apply through to 2020 and will benefit 8,500 Iberdrola employees in Spain. They include the staff of Iberdrola Ingeniería y Construcción, a company that up to now had its own Collective Agreement. When it takes effect, this coming 1 June, the 1,000 employees that make up this subsidiary's team will be granted the same conditions as the rest of the workforce. With the signing of the 7th Collective Agreement, Iberdrola continues to consolidate its firm commitment to stable, quality employment. On the one hand, the company continues to promote reconciliation between work and family life. The company, which in 2007 became the first one listed on the Ibex 35 to introduce the unbroken working day all year round, has once again backed flexible working hours: the margin in clock-on and clock-off is 1.45 hours and employees can leave on Fridays from 2pm. Furthermore, staff who need to for organisational and production reasons can do 1,000 hours per year compulsory hours and 670 hours per year set directly with their managers. Iberdrola will also improve contributions to its employees' social security plans, gradually increasing them from the current 55% up to 65%. For Iberdrola professionals who joined the company before October 1996, the provision to the social security system increases by 350 Euro, progressively, throughout the agreement's effective period. Finally, the group and the said union representation have also agreed to maintain the current link between the variation in salary and the achievement of Iberdrola España's gross operating profit target (Ebitda). READ MORE
