Environmental Financial Statement

Investments in the urban environment

Helsinki Energy continued its work for the bene­fit of the urban environment. In money terms, the underground coal transport equipment at the Salmisaari coal store was the most significant individual improvement in the environment of the city’s inhabitants. Handling coal underground eliminates the dust and noise inconveniences of handling above ground, as well as the driving of coal tractors. In 2004, EUR 7.3 million was inves­ted in underground coal conveyors, which together with the previous year’s investment amounts to a total of EUR 12 million.

The visual urban landscape was enhanced by an illuminated work of art consisting of LED light towers around the coal store of the Hanasaari Power Plant. A less positive but ever necessary landscaping expense is the removal of graffiti from Helsinki Energy properties, link boxes, distribution substations and towers. Each year, up to EUR 130,000 is spent on removing and preventing graffiti.

Air pollution control is self-evidently always a priority in Helsinki Energy’s environmental protection work: each year we spend millions of euros on reducing emissions. In 2004, improvement of the functioning of the electric filters at the Hanasaari Power Plant, which reduced its dust emissions, was worth noticing. On the other hand, climate conservation also causes intangible environmental costs as a consequence of preparations for the emissions trading process comparable to the environmental licence processes. According to a cautious estimate, more than EUR 100,000 of the costs of environmental management in 2004 was specifically due to preparations for emissions trading.

Interaction and sustainable development are essential features of Helsinki Energy’s corporate social responsibility. For example, each year, we spend hundreds of thousands of euros on energy-saving advice and other environmental communication.

Total environmental costs decreased by more than three million euros from the previous year, because reduced consumption of coal and heavy fuel oil led to a corresponding fall in fuel taxes. Nonetheless, environmental costs accounted for 8.9% of Helsinki Energy’s total costs. Environmental investments accounted for approx. 7% of total investments.

Environmental revenue came mainly from the sale of ash and scrap and from the supplementary price of electricity paid by environmental penny customers.

Environmental responsibilities

The salinity of the ground water in the vicinity of the Vuosaari coal store remained high. On the basis of the observation programme, no significant changes have taken place in the environment. Helsinki Energy’s possible liability for reconditioning the ground waters is being investigated in connection with the environmental licence process.

The Vuosaari Power Plants pay EUR 850 as an annual fee ordered by the Water Rights Court. The Klåsarö and Ahvenkoski Hydro Power Stations on Kymijoki River pay a fishing industry fee of EUR 50,000, Mankala and Ediskoski discharge their obligations with fish plantings. The ascent of the fish into the river is taken into account in the release of water of the Museum Hydro Power Plant at Vanhakaupunki.

The soil in the Suvilahti area in the district of Sörnäinen has been found to be partially contaminated. Until the mid-1970s, there was a gas plant in the area producing town gas by dry-distilling coal. The covered masses of earth in the storage and technical areas do not represent a health risk. Helsinki Energy is aware of its possible liabilities relating to renovation of buildings and networks in future, but these cannot yet be defined in money terms
 

Financial Statement 2004 - Environmental Matters	2004 1000 €	change %	2003 1000 €
Environment-based operating costs ___Protection of climate, soil and watercourses ___Desulphurisation ___Denitrification ___Removal of particles ___Waste management and utilisation of combustion products ___Other waste management ___Observation of emissions and environmental impacts Landscaping ___Communication ___Information on energy saving ___Environmental communication and marketing Environmental management and training Environmental research and development Depreciation of environmental investments Fuel taxes Total environmental costs ___% of turnover ___% of all costs Environmental investments Environmental yields	3,405 262 304 1,159 479 273 130 449 140 715 91 896 27,242 35,545 6.1% 8.9% 7,899 182	-2 2 0 -19 -10 117 0 37 96 4 2 46 -11 -8 26 -13	3,484 258 305 1,423 531 126 130 329 71 820 90 614 30,723 38,775 6.7% 9.7% 6,278 210