E ON : support program for financially weak customers is a model example of sustainability

E.ON is the first German energy company offering payment support to customers struggling to pay their utility bills. Private households experiencing financial difficulties can now use a special support program for E.ON customers to pay their bills in small steps and avoid being disconnected. Together with the Federal Employment Agency and the debt counselling service of several welfare organizations E.ON is helping customers to help themselves, providing direct support in difficult times.

Apart from installment plans and a payment support team run by the company, the flexible program it also includes the opportunity to make partial payments on their energy bills in cash at supermarkets such as REWE, Penny or dm. In addition, job centers and welfare organizations have access to a team of specialized E.ON consultants. If a customer registers with one of these organizations, E.ON staff will help them identify the reasons for their energy debts early and find solutions. The aim is to prevent customers from being disconnected.

The E.ON payment support program has now been recognized as 'good practice' in the Global CompactGermanyYearbook. The United Nations Global Compact is the world's biggest sustainability initiative with over 8,600 participants from 162 countries. Since 2005, E.ON has been explicitly committed to the initiative's ten universal principles which include observance of human rights, compliance with labor and environmental standards as well as the fight against corruption. Based on the Global Compact principles, E.ON develops its own policies and regulations in areas such as sustainability management, internal compliance and the pre-qualification of new suppliers.

The examples provided in the Yearbook like the E.ON payment support program are to show that there are various practical ways for organizations to implement sustainability in their day-to-day work and their dealings with customers. 'If more and more companies abide by the ten Global Compact principles and see the Agenda 2030 as an opportunity, our world will become more sustainable, more just and more inclusive. This is an investment worthwhile for all of us,' said the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in his message to the readers of the new Global Compact Germany Yearbook.

Extensive information, energy saving tips and contact details are provided on the Internet in 14 languages. For more details, go to www.eon.de/zahlhilfe.

Information on the Global Compact principles at E.ON can be found at http://www.eon.com/en/sustainability/strategy/guidelines.html

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by E.ON Group management and other information currently available to E.ON. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. E.ON SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.