Hera S.p.A (Holding Energia Risorse Ambiente, Energy Resource Environment Holdings) is a multiutility company based in Bologna, Italy. Hera operates in the distribution of gas, water, energy, and waste disposal in the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena, Modena, Pesaro, Pordenone, Ravenna, Rimini, Trieste, Udine and Urbino, and in some municipalities of Ancona, Gorizia and Venice.[5][6]
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| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| BIT: HER | |
| Industry | Multiutility |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Bologna, Italy |
Key people | |
| Products | Natural gas, Water supply, Waste management and Electricity |
| Revenue | € 14,9 billion [4] (2023) |
| € 375.2 million [4] (2023) | |
Number of employees | 9,965[4] (2023) |
| Website | gruppohera.it |
In October 2012, Hera approved the merger with AcegasAps Group, which operates in the cities of Padua and Trieste. On 1 July 2014 AMGA, which operates in Udine merged with Hera Group.[7]
In 2024, Hera was the number one Italian domestic operator in terms of the amount of waste treated (7.7 million tons), in second place for the volumes of water supplied (283.4 million m³), the third energy sales operator by number of customers served (3.8 million) and fourth in the Italian gas distribution in terms of volumes distributed (2.2 billion m³).[4]
Corporate history
editHera was established in 2002[8] through the first merger of public utilities in the Emilia-Romagna region, which involved 11 companies.
In 2003, Hera started the process of listing on the Milan Stock Exchange,[9] which led the company to be partly privatized with 38.8% of its present share capital in private sectors. After 2003, Hera started to grow. In over five years, the Group merged with other Italian companies operating in distribution of energy, water and gas, such as Agea, Ecosea, Meta, Geat Distribution Gas, and Sat Inc.
Hera also had many long-term contracts with foreign suppliers over the years that followed. In 2006, Hera signed a memorandum of understanding with Enel, Edison and Sonatrach. The memorandum provided for the purchase of one billion cubic meters a year of natural gas transported through the methane pipeline belonging to Galsi, a partner company of Hera.
In July 2008, Hera acquired Megas Trade, selling gas and electricity in the Urbino area, owned by Marche Multiservices. The transaction formalized the birth of Hera Comm Marche, the commercial branch of the Hera Group for the Marche region, managed by Hera Comm.
On 25 July 2012, approval was given for the merger with Acegas-Aps S.p.A.[10] (Trieste-Padua), which became part of the Hera Group as of 1 January 2013.
On 1 July 2014 AMGA – Azienda Multiservizi S.p.A. merged with Hera Group.
Company profile and organizational structure
editStrategies and activities are mainly carried out by the holding, which has a leading and coordinating role throughout its partecipations.[4]
The Hera Group's shareholding structure includes 111 municipalities which hold 45.8% of the shares together with other public shareholders. The remaining 54.2% of the free float is held by private individuals divided between institutional and retail investors, banking foundations and companies.[4]
Shareholder Base as at 2024:[11]
Current operations
editThe Hera Group operates in the public utility services sector, pursuing a sustainable management policy.
The Group’s main activities are: management of waste services (waste collection and disposal, waste-to-energy and composting), water services (treatment, purification, sewerage) and energy services (distribution and sale of methane gas and electricity, district heating).
Hera Group EBITDA composition (as at 31 December 2023):[4]
- Waste Management (23.6%)
- Water (18.2%)
- Electricity (20.7%)
- Gas (34.6%)
- Other Services (2.9%)
Hera has the largest number of waste treatment plants in Italy. The environmental hygiene services provided by Hera Group in 111 municipalities in Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche, Tuscany and Veneto are part of an integrated waste management system. Activities include separated urban waste collection, washing and cleaning roads, pavements and porticos, cleaning up green areas and complementary services such as the reclamation of degraded areas and cleaning up beaches. The high percentage of separate waste collection and disposal in the reference areas makes the Group a major national operator in the field of environmental services:
Hera Group is one of the largest Italian operators in integrated water service management. With a total network of 35.136 km and 1,251 production, treatment and purification plants, 3.6 million citizens receive catchment, treatment, distribution, sewerage and purification services:
Hera is also a major national operator in gas and electricity sectors. Managing networks spanning 20 thousand km, Hera Group distributes natural gas in the provinces of Bologna, Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena, Ferrara, Modena, Rimini, Padua, Trieste, Gorizia and Udine. Through its subsidiary Marche Multiservizi, it also has a presence in the province of Pesaro-Urbino. In Bologna, Imola, Forlì, Cesena, Ferrara, Modena, Ravenna and Padua, the Group also offers district heating services, providing heat to buildings located far away from the point of production. With networks spanning 460 km, Hera serves around 82 thousand apartments. In 2013, its environmentally-friendly technology enabled it to achieve a primary energy saving of more than 34 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (toe). Hera also oversees the distribution of electricity through 12 thousand km of grids in the provinces of Modena, Bologna, Ravenna, Gorizia and Trieste, serving a total of around 623 thousand inhabitants. The Group’s main commitment in this sector is to the implementation of smart grids and the distribution of digital meters. These are designed to ensure the rapid and remote management and exchange of an enormous volume of information about effective electricity consumption between producer, distributor and consumer.
Competitors and market shares: benchmark by business
editHera Group can be compared to the other listed Italian multi-utilities. Comparison on operating data by business (waste, water, gas and electricity) also highlights the market shares.[12]
Source:[12]
Water: volumes sold 2023 (million of cubic meters)
editSource:[12]
- Hera Group 283.4
- Iren 179
- A2A 69
Gas: volumes sold 2023 (million of cubic meters)
editSource:[12]
Electricity: electricity sold 2023 (Gwh)
editSource:[12]
References
edit- ^ "Hera, debutta il nuovo cda: Cristian Fabbri eletto presidente" (in Italian). Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "Gruppo Hera: Orazio Iacono nominato nuovo amministratore delegato" (in Italian). Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Tommaso Rotella è il rappresentante del Comune di Modena e vice presidente di Hera spa" (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Consolidated Financial Statement 2023". Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Alternanza scuola-lavoro: al via gli 80 progetti in Hera per la formazione degli studenti" (in Italian). Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ "Gruppo Hera SpA Assigned ESG Evaluation Of 81; Preparedness Strong". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ "Hera si espande, dopo AcegasAps verso fusione con Amga di Udine" (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Hera". Borsa Italiana. 2010-08-25.
- ^ "Hera Group Profile". Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Hera Group Ownership". Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Benchmark by business". Retrieved 28 June 2024.
