IBERDROLA'S MEASURES IN BRAZIL IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

We reinforce prevention against COVID-19 among our employees External link, opens in new window.

We increase the care with our more than 14,000 professionals who work directly to maintain the quality of the supply in such challenging times. To do so, we reorganized routines and workspaces, provided masks and face shields for everyone, carry out massive testing periodically, promote live broadcasts for guidance and use the HealthCheck online health platform.

We deliver solar panels to health and educational institutions in three states External link, opens in new window.

Aiming to contribute to philanthropic health and educational institutions, we delivered in 2020 generation equipment that sum up a 350.42 kWp installed capacity, actions that continue in 2021. In addition, we are delivering over 700 scientific refrigerators for vaccine storage and we continue to benefit hospitals in the fight against COVID-19.

We reinforce COVID-19 precautionary measures among our critical service employees External link, opens in new window.

At Neoenergia we have a series of preventive actions for professionals who go out on the streets, such as an online health platform, awareness campaigns and delivery of hygiene kits.

We are delivering 700 scientific refrigerators for storing vaccines External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia has begun the distribution of over 700 scientific refrigerators donated for the storage of COVID-19 vaccines. This donation, worth 7.5m reales (about €1.14m), forms part of its Energy Efficiency Programme (EEP) and has started with the states of Bahia and Pernambuco.

Brazil's public health system has been strengthened with the donation of 50 ventilators, which were delivered between 4 and 5 November, to help treat patients with respiratory diseases.

Facial recognition technology makes life easier for our customers External link, opens in new window.

Social distancing brought about by COVID-19 has caused many businesses to think about quick digital solutions. Our latest solution is facial recognition, a technology that makes it possible to apply for a new electricity connection without the customer having to go to the distributor's office.

We perform remote activities in a global movement to encourage volunteering External link, opens in new window.

We are signing up for the third year running to International Volunteer Day, promoted by Iberdrola. This year, as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, the ten initiatives will be undertaken remotely.

We begin our back to work plan for face-to-face activities External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia has begun its plan to resume face-to-face activities, after five months of remote working on tasks where this was possible. In addition to taking measures in its buildings to comply with health protocols, the company has distributed brochures with relevant information on prevention inside and outside the office.

Restaurants in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo distribute more than 30,000 meals External link, opens in new window.

More than twenty local restaurant owners and cooperatives have distributed over 30,000 meals to vulnerable people in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo as part of the Healthy People and Businesses project. The initiative promoted by the Neoenergia Institute and the Integrated Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Programmes (CIEDS) aims to keep the local economy afloat and fight hunger.

We have restarted the school of electricians virtually for more than 500 students External link, opens in new window.

By adopting distance learning resources, we resumed the activities of the School of Electricians, an initiative aimed at professional electrical training that had to be suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are promoting the digital transformation of our social projects External link, opens in new window.

The new reality caused by coronavirus has also transformed the third sector, and the Neoenergy Institute and its social initiatives have also undergone significant changes. We have therefore adapted the projects to online versions, promoting a truly digital transformation for the institutions and activities held.

Reinforcing safety advice for electricity External link, opens in new window.

With the kids at home all day because of the lockdown, it's important not just to keep them entertained, but also to keep them safe. With this in mind, we've produced a series of tips to prevent accidents with electricity, especially for those in charge of the children's world.

Our employees send letters to isolated elderly people in the midst of the pandemic External link, opens in new window.

Elderly people housed by institutions in Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte are receiving letters with words of affection and encouragement sent by Neoenergia employees. The letters are accompanied by baskets of basic items and hygiene products and donations to the Transforma Brasil fund, to which we have contributed more than one million reais.

We are digitalising our intern recruitment process during the pandemic External link, opens in new window.

The lockdown period has meant that companies have had to create unprecedented solutions for undertaking their usual activities. In our case, we have had to fully digitalise the recruitment process for our 2020 Intern Program. Seven hundred of the more than 11,000 candidates registered have been selected for interview.

Power companies unite against COVID-19 External link, opens in new window.

Neonergia joins companies from across the electricity sector — generation, transmission, distribution and sales — in a campaign to raise funds for the production and purchase of diagnostic test kits for COVID-19.

We are extending the self-reading service to all our customers External link, opens in new window.

From now on, all Neoenergia's customers have access to the self-reading service. The measure is one of the actions taken by the company to help prevent coronavirus, since it avoids the physical presence of our technicians in homes and businesses that have their meter inside.

We launch a platform to monitor employees' health and prevent the spread of COVID-19 External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia has launched the HealthCheck platform, through which 12,000 employees can undergo a weekly "health check" by answering five questions about how they feel, physically and emotionally, and whether they are isolating or not. The aim is to draw-up increasingly assertive strategies to combat the coronavirus.

Thermal imaging cameras that measure body temperature are the latest preventive tool against COVID-19 for Neoenergia employees. These systems have been set up at the entrance to all the company's business unit facilities, including generation plants and distribution offices, meaning employees who work on-site can be checked for a fever on a daily basis.

Employee participation program during the pandemia External link, opens in new window.

With the changes to the way in which its employees are working and following the recommendations of the health authorities, Neoenergia has created the Energia Que Não Se Apaga (Power that Never Goes Out) program, which encourages participation by the different departments, the collaborative production of content and training to strengthen the link between the company and its employees during the quarantine period.

Our customers can donate up to R$ 5 to social institutions without paying a thing External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia will donate 5 reals to social support organisations for every customer who signs up for direct debit and electronic billing, to help counteract the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. If 40 % of customers sign up, this could amount to 5.6 million reals (almost €1m).

We launch a debt negotiation platform External link, opens in new window.

Amid the economic impact of the coronavirus, and with the aim of offering digital solutions to its more than 14 million customers, Neoenergia has launched an exclusive portal for negotiating debts. This intuitive tool offers advantages like flexible payment and alternative conditions, and is available 24 hours a day.

We distribute food to communities in Rio and São Paulo External link, opens in new window.

The Neoenergia Institute and CIEDS (Integrated Centre for Sustainable Development Programmes and Studies) have come together to distribute hot meals to vulnerable populations in communities in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

We are adopting bill payment with emergency help cards External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia has launched another digital solution for its more than 14 million customers who have signed up for emergency assistance. There is no need for them to leave their home to pay their electricity bill as it can be done with a virtual Caixa Econômica Federal card.

Social acceleration program against COVID-19 External link, opens in new window.

The Neoenergia Institute, in association with the Ekloos Institute, has prolonged the registration period, until 1 June, for the second Impactô Social Acceleration program, aimed at social organisations mobilised to combat the coronavirus.

A fourfold increase in safety inspections External link, opens in new window.

Looking after our employees is an intrinsic part of our daily routine, and during the COVID-19 pandemic we have multiplied our preventive measures by four to keep our teams safe from accidents and from the coronavirus. As a result, safety inspections increased by 317 % between January and April 2020.

We are registering customers for exemption from their energy bills External link, opens in new window.

Over 240,000 families have already benefited from the Social Tariff program aimed at people on a low income. In April, Neoenergia reminded its customers of the importance of re-registeringExternal link, opens in new window. in order to qualify for these subsidies, which can extend up to a 100% discount on energy consumption.

We are experiencing continuous change each day, which requires a new approach. It is time to reinvent ourselves and build a different tomorrow. In Neoenergia, we believe that the future is being made now and we are increasingly prepared for the challenges to come. Will you accompany us on this journey?

Our initiatives External link, opens in new window.

We have created a new website with all the initiatives that we are undertaking to combat COVID-19.

Our chatbot receives a million questions External link, opens in new window.

As a way of preventing the spread of the pandemic, Neoenergia's concessionaires have opted to provide customer assistance via Whatsapp using a chatbot. In little over a month (since 20 March) this chatbot has given over a million responses.

Supporting culture in times of pandemic External link, opens in new window.

The Neoenergía Institute stands behind creative economy initiatives during COVID-19, in particular driving measures to bolster regional culture and boost the economy.

Teamwork helps working from home External link, opens in new window.

All areas have had to come together to make it possible for 4,000 Neoenergia employees to work from home, particularly in the IT service, which in a mere four days was capable of setting up a large part of its structure.

Listen to our playlist "Focus and concentration" External link, opens in new window.

To avoid spreading the novel coronavirus, many people are working or studying from home. With this in mind, we have produced a Spotify playlist, called Focus and Concentration, to help to avoid distractions and improve concentration. Have a listen!

Supporting voluntary service during the COVID-19 pandemic External link, opens in new window.

As part of Neoenergia's corporate culture, the company is encouraging people to volunteer and make donations to help the families most affected by the necessary measures brought in to fight the coronavirus.

Shortening service times External link, opens in new window.

Our concessions have a tool that automatically schedules its teams' daily activities to satisfy external demand, including network inspections, resolving unscheduled power outages and the new connection service.

Low income customers are exempt from paying External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia's residential customers classified as low-income and with a monthly consumption of up to 220 kWh will be exempt from paying the electricity bill from 1 April to 30 June this year.

United against the coronavirus External link, opens in new window.

Companies across the electricity sector have joined a campaign to collect funds to produce and purchase Covid-19 diagnostic testing kits.

The electricity that people cannot do without External link, opens in new window.

Electricity is essential to continuing to provide the community with services. Learn about the preventive measures implemented to ensure a reliable electricity supply without endangering electricians' health.

Social Tariff discount rate on Whatsapp External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia customers can apply for the Tarifa Social discount energy rate from their retailers using Whatsapp. This measure is available to people whose monthly income is half the minimum professional salary or less.

We launch a platform for teachers External link, opens in new window.

The Instituto Neoenergia, in cooperation with the Integrated Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Programs (CIEDS), has launched the Balcão de Ideias e Práticas EducativasExternal link, opens in new window. project, a totally free platform that brings together a hundred different practices created by teachers for teachers.

Neoenergia boosts its safety measures External link, opens in new window.

With more leisure time spent at home, children may be tempted to explore places and objects they usually don't notice. This means that extra care should be taken when they are near items like electrical appliances, cables, plugs and sockets.

Neoenergia will be equipping hospitals and medical centres caring for patients with Covid-19 External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia will be equipping hospitals and health centres caring for Covid-19 patients with 220 air conditioners and efficient LED lamps.

Neoenergia advocates for investments in the electricity sector for after the COVID-19 pandemic External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia CEO Mario Ruiz-Tagle emphasised that at this difficult moment for the country, the economy and the electricity sector, the best alternative is to keep investing to prepare the segment for the reactivation of consumption after the impact of Covid-19.

Neoenergia offers to divide bills into up to twelve instalments External link, opens in new window.

To make life easier for Neogenergia customers and in light of the economic difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the company is offering customers the opportunity to pay their bills in up to 12 instalments with a credit card. The scheme also permits lump sum cash payments with no interest.

Now, more than ever, electricity has become a crucial asset for all our lives. That's why we're working every day to guarantee high-quality supplies to our 14 million retail customers.

Distributors of Neoenergia, Iberdrola's Brazilian subsidiary, are making technical visits to health centres to detect potential issues with the grid and to serve as a direct channel for hospitals to get speedy attention in case of emergencies. The same goes for sanitation companies and prisons.

Neoenergia will not cut off electricity to its residential customers External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia, Iberdrola Group's subsidiary in Brazil, has decided to suspend all cut-offs for the next 90 days to its more than 14 million residential customers in all the areas in which it operates (Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, interior of São Paulo and five municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul).

Neoenergia closes all physical customer services offices External link, opens in new window.

Our Brazilian subsidiary has closed its physical offices and is asking the customers of its retailers (Coelba, Celpe, Cosern and Elektro) to make use of digital customer services channels for services and emergency response. The company is ready to answer your questions promptly and efficiency via its digital channels.

Neoenergia launches a portal on the coronavirus External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia, Iberdrola group's subsidiary in Brazil, has created a specific space within its corporate website to provide its Stakeholders with relevant information on the coronavirus epidemic. The page provides access to digital customer service channels, groups the company's official communications and offers advice on how to save on energy consumption and cope with the quarantine.

How can I save energy working from home? External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergía offers advice on how to make more efficient use of energy to people working from home as a result of the measures adopted to control the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. It hopes that these will help you reduce energy use and secure the supply.

We are strengthening our services to the Brazilian health sector External link, opens in new window.

Neoenergia has designed a plan to give priority attention to the health, sanitation and water supply sectors directly related to fighting against and containing the spread of the coronavirus. To do this, it has enabled exclusive channels to respond more quickly to possible incidents in hospitals and water and sewerage companies.