Powering corporate citizenship: assessing corporate social responsibility of hydroelectric companies in Canada

Hydroelectric stations are a renewable source of electricity, but social and environmental impacts have been hindering social acceptance of new projects. The hydroelectricity sector has been investing heavily in sustainability marketing and social responsibility to improve the sector perceptions among shareholders and minimize public scrutiny. This paper examines corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting of the hydroelectric sector focusing on Canadian corporations. In addition, this paper reveals that although CSR is addressed in either the websites or environmental reports, the type of framework adopted, the completeness, and frequency of reporting is not equally implemented. Overall, financial accountability persists driving the reports attention and playing a major role in the CSR view. This work also attempts to link CSR and social impact assessment to improve sustainability reporting. Several recommendations are presented throughout the text.