KEY CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

Ten Directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the next annual meeting and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. (See “Information About the Director Nominees” on pages 7 to 12.) Directors are permitted to stand for election until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75. Of the Board members standing for election, John McAvoy is the only member who is an officer of the Company. All of the nominees were elected Directors at the last Annual Meeting, other than William J. Mulrow and Deirdre Stanley. Mr. Mulrow and Ms. Stanley were elected to the Board effective November 16, 2017.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommends candidates for election or re-election to the Board and reviews the qualifications of possible Director candidates. When recommending to the Board the slate of Director nominees for election at the Annual Meeting, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee strives to maintain an appropriate balance of tenure, diversity, and skills on the Board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also strives to ensure that the Board is composed of Directors who bring diverse viewpoints, perspectives, professional experiences and backgrounds, and effectively represent the long-term interests of stockholders. The Board and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believe that striking an appropriate balance between fresh perspectives and ideas and the valuable experience and familiarity contributed by longer-serving Directors is critical to a forward-looking and strategic Board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee identifies candidates through a variety of means, including professional search firms, recommendations from members of the Board, suggestions from senior management, and submissions by the Company’s stockholders. (See “The Board of Directors – Standing Committees of the Board – Corporate Governance

and Nominating Committee” on page 16 for additional information on the Director nomination process.) A professional search firm assisted the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in connection with its recommendation of Ms. Stanley and a member of the Board recommended Mr. Mulrow to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

Each nominee was selected by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and approved by the Board for submission to the Company’s stockholders. The Company believes that all of the nominees will be able and willing to serve as Directors of the Company. All of the Directors also serve as Trustees of the Company’s subsidiary, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (“Con Edison of New York”). Mr. McAvoy also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Company’s subsidiary, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (“Orange & Rockland”).

Michael J. Del Giudice, who retired from the Board effective January 18, 2018, and Vincent A. Calarco, who will be retiring from the Board effective May 21, 2018 having reached the mandatory retirement age, each served with distinction as Directors of the Company. Messrs. Del Giudice and Calarco will not be standing for re-election and the Board has reduced the number of Directors to ten effective immediately prior to the Annual Meeting.

Shares represented by every properly executed proxy will be voted at the Annual Meeting for or against the election of the Director nominees as specified by the stockholder giving the proxy. If one or more of the nominees is unable or unwilling to serve, the shares represented by the proxies will be voted for any substitute nominee or nominees as may be designated by the Board.

The Board and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider the qualifications of Directors and Director candidates individually and in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition and the Company’s current and future needs. The Board believes that the Board, as a whole, should possess a combination of skills, professional experience, and diversity of backgrounds necessary to oversee the Company’s business. The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist it in exercising its responsibilities to the Company and its stockholders. In evaluating Director candidates and considering incumbent Directors for renomination to the Board, the Board and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider various factors. Pursuant to the Guidelines, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews with the Board factors relating to the composition of the Board (including its size and structure), the Company’s principles of diversity, and the skills and characteristics of Director

nominees, including independence, integrity, judgment, business experience, areas of expertise, and availability for service to assure that the Board contains an appropriate mix of Directors to best further the Company’s long-term business interests. For incumbent Directors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also considers past performance of the Director on the Board.

The current Director nominees bring to the Company the benefit of their qualifications, leadership, skills, and the diversity of their experience and backgrounds which provide the Board, as a whole, with the skills and expertise that reflect the needs of the Company. See pages 8 to 12 for information about each Director nominee, including their age as of the date of the Annual Meeting, business experience, period of service as a Director, public or investment company directorships, and other directorships.

		George Campbell, Jr., Ph.D.   Director since: 2000   Age: 72   Board Committees: •  Corporate Governance and     Nominating •  Executive •  Management Development and     Compensation (Chair) •  Operations Oversight

Career Highlights: Dr. Campbell, a physicist, was the Non-Executive Chairman of the Webb Institute, Glen Cove, NY, an all scholarship college offering degrees exclusively in naval architecture and marine engineering, from November 2012 to October 2016. Dr. Campbell was the President of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, NY, a college providing degrees in engineering, architecture, and fine arts, from July 2000 to June 2011. Dr. Campbell also held various research and development and management positions at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Dr. Campbell also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of NACME, Inc., a non-profit corporation focused on engineering education and science and technology policy.

Other Directorships: Dr. Campbell is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York and a Director of Barnes and Noble, Inc. Dr. Campbell is also a Director or Trustee of the Josiah Macy Foundation, The Mitre Corporation, Montefiore Medical Center (Emeritus), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Institute of International Education, Inc., the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation and the Webb Institute.

Attributes and Skills: Dr. Campbell has experience leading premiere colleges and a non-profit corporation, with a focus on engineering and science. Dr. Campbell also has experience in management and research and development at a public company. Dr. Campbell’s experience from his leadership positions at Webb Institute, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, AT&T Bell Laboratories, and NACME, Inc., and his service on other boards support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s operations and management activities.

		Ellen V. Futter   Director since: 1997   Age: 68   Board Committees: •  Environment, Health and Safety     (Chair) •  Operations Oversight

Career Highlights: Ms. Futter has been the President of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, since November 1993. Previously, Ms. Futter served as the President of Barnard College, New York, NY, and was a corporate attorney at the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy.

Other Directorships: Ms. Futter is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York. During the past five years, Ms. Futter also served as a Director of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Inc. through July 2013. Ms. Futter also served as a Director and Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Ms. Futter is a Director or Trustee of NYC & Company and the Brookings Institution and a Manager at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Attributes and Skills: Ms. Futter has management and operations experience leading major New York not-for-profit entities that provide services to the public. Ms. Futter also has legal and financial experience. Ms. Futter’s experience from her leadership positions at the American Museum of Natural History and Barnard College, and her legal experience support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s operations, planning and regulatory activities and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders.

		John F. Killian   Director since: 2007   Age: 63   Board Committees: •  Audit •  Corporate Governance and     Nominating •  Management Development and     Compensation

Career Highlights: Mr. Killian was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc., a telecommunications company, from March 2009 to December 2010. Mr. Killian was the President of Verizon Business, Basking Ridge, NJ, from October 2005 until February 2009, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Telecom from June 2003 until October 2005, and the Senior Vice President and Controller of Verizon Telecom from April 2002 until June 2003. Mr. Killian also served in executive positions at Bell Atlantic and was the President and Chief Executive Officer of NYNEX CableComms Limited.

Other Directorships: Mr. Killian is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York and Goldman Sachs Trust II and a Director of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company. Mr. Killian is also a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Providence College.

Attributes and Skills: Mr. Killian has leadership experience at regulated consumer services companies, including experience with financial reporting and internal auditing. Mr. Killian’s experience from his leadership positions at Verizon Communications, Inc., Bell Atlantic and NYNEX CableComms Limited supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s auditing, financial, operating, and strategic planning activities, and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders.

		John McAvoy   Director since: 2013   Age: 57   Board Committee: •  Executive (Chair)

Career Highlights: Mr. McAvoy has been Chairman of the Board of the Company and Con Edison of New York since May 2014. Mr. McAvoy has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison of New York since December 2013. Mr. McAvoy was President and Chief Executive Officer of Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. from January 2013 to December 2013. Mr. McAvoy was Senior Vice President of Central Operations for Con Edison of New York from February 2009 to December 2012. Mr. McAvoy joined Con Edison of New York in 1980.

Other Directorships: Mr. McAvoy is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York. Mr. McAvoy is also a Director or Trustee of the American Gas Association, the Edison Electric Institute, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Partnership for New York City and the Puerto Rico Energy Resiliency Working Group. Mr. McAvoy is also Chair of the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center Members Executive Committee and Orange & Rockland.

Attributes and Skills: Mr. McAvoy has leadership, engineering, financial, and operations experience, as well as knowledge of the utility industry and the Company’s business. Mr. McAvoy’s experience from his leadership positions at the Company, and his service on other boards, supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s management, financial, operations, and strategic planning activities, and the Company’s relationships with stakeholders.

Career Highlights: Mr. Mulrow is a Senior Advisory Director since May 2017 at The Blackstone Group, the world’s largest alternative asset management firm. Previously, he served as Secretary to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo from January 2015 to April 2017, and was a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone from April 2011 to January 2015. From 2005 to 2011, he was a Director of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Mr. Mulrow also held various management positions at Paladin Capital Group, Gabelli Asset Management, Inc., Rothschild Inc., and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation. In addition, Mr. Mulrow served in a number of other government positions including Chairman of the New York State Housing Finance Agency and State of New York Mortgage Agency.

Other Directorships: Mr. Mulrow is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York, and a Director of JBG Smith Properties since July 2017, and Arizona Mining Inc. since June 2017.

Attributes and Skills: Mr. Mulrow has business and leadership experience in both the public and the private sector. He also has financial, accounting and asset management experience from his leadership positions at Blackstone, New York State government, and his service on other boards which supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s financial and strategic planning activities.

Career Highlights: Mr. Olivera was President of Florida Power & Light Company, an electric utility that is a subsidiary of a publicly traded energy company, from June 2003, and Chief Executive Officer from July 2008, until his retirement in May 2012. Mr. Olivera joined Florida Power & Light Company in 1972. Mr. Olivera also served as Chairman of the Boards of two non-profits: Florida Reliability Coordinating Council that focuses on the reliability and adequacy of bulk electricity in Florida, and Southeastern Electric Exchange that focuses on coordinating storm restoration services and enhancing operational and technical resources.

Other Directorships: Mr. Olivera is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York. Mr. Olivera also serves as a Director of Fluor Corporation and Lennar Corporation. During the past five years, Mr. Olivera served as a Director of AGL Resources, Inc. until July 2016, and as a Director of Florida Power & Light Company until May 2012. Mr. Olivera is Trustee Emeritus of Cornell University and also a Trustee and Vice Chair of Miami Dade College.

Attributes and Skills: Mr. Olivera has leadership, engineering, and operations experience, as well as knowledge of the utility industry. Mr. Olivera’s experience from his leadership positions at Florida Power & Light Company, and his service on other boards, supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s management, financial, operations, and strategic planning activities.

Career Highlights: Mr. Ranger has been Senior Managing Director of Diamond Castle Holdings LLC, New York, NY, a private equity investment firm, since 2004 and Non-Executive Chairman of KDC Solar LLC since 2010. Mr. Ranger was an investment banker in the energy and power sector for twenty years, including at Credit Suisse First Boston, Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, DLJ Global Energy Partners, and Drexel Burnham Lambert. Mr. Ranger was also a member of the Utility Banking Group at Bankers Trust.

Other Directorships: Mr. Ranger is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York and a Director of Covanta Holding Corporation. Mr. Ranger is also a Director or Trustee of KDC Solar LLC and Professional Directional Enterprises, Inc., and is a Trustee and Vice Chair of St. Lawrence University. Mr. Ranger also served as a Trustee of Morristown-Beard School through 2017 and Director of Bonten Media Group Inc. through 2017.

Attributes and Skills: Mr. Ranger has investment experience focusing on the energy and power sector, investment banking experience in the energy and power sector, and experience as a member of a utility banking group. Mr. Ranger’s experience from his investment activities in the energy and power sector and his service on other boards supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s corporate governance and financial and strategic planning activities.

Career Highlights: Ms. Sanford was Senior Vice President Enterprise Transformation, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), a multinational technology and consulting corporation, from January 2003 to December 2014. Ms. Sanford joined IBM in 1975.

Other Directorships: Ms. Sanford is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York and a Director of Pitney Bowes Inc., RELX NV (formerly Reed Elsevier NV) and RELX PLC (formerly Reed Elsevier PLC). During the past five years, Ms. Sanford served as a Director of ITT Corporation through May 2013. Ms. Sanford is also a Director or Trustee of ION Group and New York Hall of Science. Ms. Sanford also served as a Trustee of St. John’s University through May 2015 and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute through December 2016.

Attributes and Skills: Ms. Sanford has leadership experience at an international technology company, including experience with information technology, cybersecurity, manufacturing, customer relations, and corporate planning and transformation. Ms. Sanford’s experience from her leadership positions at IBM and her service on other boards supports the Board in its oversight of technology, relationship with stakeholders, and financial and strategic planning activities.

Career Highlights: Ms. Stanley has been Executive Vice President and General Counsel to Thomson Reuters, a leading source of news and information for professional markets, since 2008 where she also currently serves as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors, chairs the Disclosure Committee and oversees the company’s enterprise risk management process and reporting. Ms. Stanley was Senior Vice President and General Counsel to The Thomson Corporation from 2002 to 2008 when it combined with Reuters PLC to form Thomson Reuters. Prior to 2002, Ms. Stanley held various legal and senior executive positions at InterActive Corporation (previously USA Networks, Inc.), and GTE Corporation (a predecessor company to Verizon). She was also an attorney with the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Other Directorships: Ms. Stanley is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York. Ms. Stanley is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for Special Surgery. During the past five years, Ms. Stanley also served as a Director of the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Attributes and Skills: Ms. Stanley has leadership, legal and operations experience at an international news and information company, including experience with mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and risk management. Ms. Stanley’s experience from her leadership positions at Thomson Reuters and InterActive Corporation, her legal experience and service on other boards support the Board in its oversight of the Company’s operations, risk management, strategic planning and relationships with stakeholders.

Career Highlights: Mr. Sutherland was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Aramark Corporation, Philadelphia, PA, a provider of services, facilities management and uniform and career apparel, from 1997 through April 2015 and the Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer from April 2015 to December 2015. Prior to joining Aramark in 1980, Mr. Sutherland was Vice President in the Corporate Banking Department of Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, NY.

Other Directorships: Mr. Sutherland is a Trustee of Con Edison of New York and a Director of Colliers International Group Inc. Mr. Sutherland is also a Director or Trustee of Duke University, People’s Light and Theater and Sterling Talent Solutions. Mr. Sutherland is also Chairman of the Board of WHYY, a PBS affiliate.

Attributes and Skills: Mr. Sutherland has leadership experience at an international managed services company, including experience with financial reporting, internal auditing, mergers and acquisitions, financing, risk management, corporate compliance, and corporate planning. Mr. Sutherland also has corporate banking experience. Mr. Sutherland’s experience from his leadership positions at Aramark Corporation and Chase Manhattan Bank supports the Board in its oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, auditing, and strategic planning activities.

MEETINGS AND BOARD MEMBERS’ ATTENDANCE

During 2017, the Board consisted of the following members: Vincent A. Calarco, George Campbell, Jr., Michael J. Del Giudice, Ellen V. Futter, John F. Killian, John McAvoy, William J. Mulrow (effective November 16, 2017), Armando J. Olivera, Michael W. Ranger, Linda S. Sanford, Deirdre Stanley (effective November 16, 2017), and L. Frederick Sutherland. The Board of Directors held nine meetings in 2017. At its meetings, the Board considers a wide variety of matters involving such things as the Company’s strategic planning, its financial condition and results of operations, its capital and operating budgets, personnel matters, succession planning, risk management, industry issues, accounting practices and disclosure, and corporate governance practices.

In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (currently Mr. Ranger who succeeded Mr. Del Giudice following his retirement from the Board on January 18, 2018) serves as independent Lead Director and, as such, chairs the executive sessions of the non-management Directors and the independent Directors. The Board routinely holds executive sessions at which only non-management Directors are present, and the independent Directors meet in executive session at least once a year. The Company’s independent Directors met four times in executive session and the non-management Directors met eight times in executive session during 2017.

During 2017, each member of the Board attended more than 75% of the combined meetings of the Board of Directors and the Board Committees on which he or she served held during the period that he or she served. Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting. All of the Directors attended the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Company’s corporate governance documents, including its Corporate Governance Guidelines, the charters of the Audit, Corporate Governance and Nominating, and Management Development and Compensation Committees, and the Standards of Business Conduct, are available on the Company’s website at conedison.com/shareholders. The Standards of Business Conduct apply to all Directors, officers and employees. The Company intends to post on its website at conedison.com/shareholders amendments to its Standards of Business Conduct and a description of any waiver from a

provision of the Standards of Business Conduct granted by the Board to any Director or executive officer of the Company within four business days after such amendment or waiver. To date, there have been no such waivers.

LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

The Board consists of a substantial majority of independent Directors. (See “The Board of Directors—Board Members’ Independence” on pages 14 to 15.) As discussed in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board selects the Company’s chief executive officer and chairman of the Board in the manner that it determines to be in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders. The Company’s leadership structure combines the roles of the chairman and chief executive officer. The Board believes that this leadership structure is appropriate for the Company due to a variety of factors, including Mr. McAvoy’s long-standing knowledge of the Company and the utility industry, and his extensive engineering, financial, and operations experience.

The Board has an independent Lead Director who is the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Lead Director: (i) acts as a liaison between the independent Directors and the Company’s management; (ii) chairs the executive sessions of non-management and independent Directors and has the authority to call additional executive sessions as appropriate; (iii) chairs Board meetings in the Chairman’s absence; (iv) coordinates with the Chairman on agendas and schedules for Board meetings, information flow to the Board, and other matters pertinent to the Company and the Board; and (v) is available for consultation and communication with major stockholders as appropriate.

Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board has oversight responsibility for reviewing the Company’s strategic plans, objectives and risks. Each of the standing committees of the Board, other than the Executive Committee, is chaired by non-management Directors. (See “The Board of Directors—Standing Committees of the Board” on pages 15 to 18).

RISK OVERSIGHT

The Board’s primary function is one of oversight. In connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees the Company’s policies and procedures for managing risk. The Board administers its risk oversight function primarily through its

Committees that report to the Board. Board Committees have assumed oversight of various risks that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies and reports to the Board on the Company’s risk management program. Management regularly provides reports to the Board and its Committees concerning risks identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program.

PROXY ACCESS

The Company developed and implemented a proxy access framework that allows a stockholder or a group of up to 20 stockholders who have owned at least three percent (3%) of the outstanding shares of the Company for at least three years to submit nominees for up to twenty percent (20%) of the Board, or two nominees, whichever is greater, for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement and form of proxy, subject to complying with the requirements identified in the Company’s By-laws.

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS AND POLICY

The Company has adopted a written policy for approval of transactions between the Company and its Directors, Director nominees, executive officers, greater-than-five-percent (5%) beneficial owners, and their respective immediate family members, where the amount involved in the transaction since the beginning of the Company’s last completed fiscal year exceeds or is expected to exceed $100,000.

The policy provides that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee review certain transactions subject to the policy and determine whether or not to approve or ratify those transactions. In doing so, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee takes into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. In addition, the Board has delegated authority to the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee to pre-approve or ratify transactions where the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $1.0 million. A summary of any new transactions pre-approved by the Chair is provided to the full Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for its review in connection with a regularly scheduled committee meeting.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has considered and adopted standing pre-approvals under the policy for limited transactions with related persons. Pre-approved transactions include:

In 2017, Ellen V. Futter’s brother received approximately $145,000 for providing legal services to Con Edison of New York and is providing legal services in 2018. The provision of these services by Ms. Futter’s brother was approved by the Committee.

BOARD MEMBERS’ INDEPENDENCE

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board of Directors consist of a substantial majority of Directors who meet the New York Stock Exchange definition of independence, as determined by the Board in accordance with the standards described in the Guidelines below. The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that the following Directors are “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards: Vincent A. Calarco, George Campbell, Jr., Michael J. Del Giudice (until his retirement on January 18, 2018), John F. Killian, William J. Mulrow, Armando J. Olivera, Michael W. Ranger, Linda S. Sanford, Deirdre Stanley, and L. Frederick Sutherland. The Board monitors the independence of its members on an ongoing basis using standards set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

To assist it in making determinations of Director independence, the Board has adopted independence standards, which are set forth in its Corporate Governance Guidelines, available on the Company’s website at conedison.com/shareholders. Under these standards, the Board has determined that each of the following relationships is categorically immaterial and therefore, by itself, does not preclude a Director from being independent:

STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, currently Vincent A. Calarco, Chair, John F. Killian, Michael W. Ranger, and L. Frederick Sutherland, is composed of four independent Directors. Michael J. Del Giudice ceased being a member of the Audit Committee upon his retirement on January 18, 2018. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment of the independent accountants for the Company, subject to stockholder ratification at the Annual Meeting. The Audit Committee has appointed PwC as the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year 2018. If the appointment of PwC is not ratified, the Audit Committee will take this into consideration in the future selection of independent accountants.

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent accountants for the Company. The Audit Committee reviews the proposed auditing and non-audit fees and approves in advance the proposed auditing and non-audit services associated with the Company’s retention of the independent accountants. Every five years the Audit Committee evaluates whether it is appropriate to rotate the Company’s independent accountants and, in conjunction with mandatory rotation of the lead engagement partner, the Audit Committee is directly involved in selecting the lead engagement partner of the independent accountants. The Audit Committee meets with the Company’s management, including Con Edison of New York’s General Auditor, the General Counsel, and the Company’s independent accountants, several times a year to discuss internal controls and accounting matters, the Company’s financial statements, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, earnings press releases and the scope and results of the auditing programs of the independent accountants and of Con Edison of New York’s internal auditing department. The Audit Committee also oversees the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies, and the Company’s management of risks, relating to its duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program.

Each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that each Director on the Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert” as the term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee held seven meetings in 2017.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, currently Michael W. Ranger, Chair (effective January 18, 2018), Vincent A. Calarco, George Campbell, Jr., John F. Killian, Linda S. Sanford, and Deirdre Stanley (effective November 16, 2017), is composed of six independent Directors. Michael J. Del Giudice ceased being a member and the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee upon his retirement on January 18, 2018. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee annually evaluates each Director’s individual performance when considering whether to nominate the Director for re-election to the Board and is responsible for recommending candidates to fill vacancies on the Board. In addition, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee assists with respect to the composition and size of the Board and of all Committees of the Board. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also makes recommendations to the Board as to the compensation of Board members as well as other corporate governance matters, including Board independence criteria and determinations and corporate governance guidelines. Additionally, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to its duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program.

Among its duties, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the skills and characteristics of Director candidates, including their independence, integrity, judgment, business experience, areas of expertise and availability for service, factors relating to the composition of the Board (including its size and structure) and the Company’s principles of diversity.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has the authority under its charter to hire advisors to assist it in its decisions. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee identifies director candidates through a variety of means, including professional search firms, recommendations from members of the Board, suggestions from senior management, and submissions by the Company’s stockholders. When using a professional search firm, the firm assists in developing criteria for potential Board members to complement the Board’s existing strengths. Based on such criteria, the firm also provides, for review and consideration, lists of potential candidates with background information. After consulting with the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the firm further screens and interviews candidates as directed to determine their qualifications, interest and any

potential conflicts of interest and provides its results to the Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also considers candidates recommended by stockholders. There are no differences in the manner in which the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will make an initial determination as to whether a particular candidate meets the Company’s criteria for Board membership, and will then further consider candidates that do. Stockholder recommendations for candidates, accompanied by biographical material for evaluation, may be sent to the Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the Company. Each recommendation should include information as to the qualifications of the candidate and should be accompanied by a written statement (presented to the Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the Company) from the suggested candidate to the effect that the candidate is willing to serve.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has also retained Mercer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., to provide information, analyses, and objective advice regarding director compensation. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee directs Mercer to: (i) assist it by providing competitive market information on the design of the director compensation program, (ii) advise it on the design of the director compensation program and also provide advice on the administration of the program, and (iii) brief it on director compensation trends among the Company’s compensation peer group and broader industry. The Board members, including the chief executive officer, consider the recommendations of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The decisions may reflect factors and considerations in addition to the information and advice provided by Mercer. All of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held four meetings in 2017.

Environment, Health and Safety Committee

The Environment, Health and Safety Committee, currently Ellen V. Futter, Chair, William J. Mulrow (effective November 16, 2017), Armando J. Olivera, Linda S. Sanford, and Deirdre Stanley (effective November 16, 2017), is composed of five non-management Directors.

The Environment, Health and Safety Committee provides advice and counsel to the Company’s management on corporate environment, health and safety policies and on such

other environment, health, safety, and sustainability matters as it from time-to-time deems appropriate.

The Environment, Health and Safety Committee also reviews significant issues identified by management relating to the Company’s environment, health and safety programs and its compliance with environment, health and safety laws and regulations, and makes such other reviews and recommends to the Board such other actions as it may deem necessary or desirable to help promote sound planning by the Company with due regard to the protection of the environment, health and safety. Additionally, the Environment, Health and Safety Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to its duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Environment, Health and Safety Committee held four meetings in 2017.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee, currently John McAvoy, Chair, and three independent Directors, Vincent A. Calarco, George Campbell, Jr., and Michael W. Ranger (effective January 18, 2018), may exercise, during intervals between the meetings of the Board, all the powers vested in the Board, except for certain specified matters. Michael J. Del Giudice ceased being a member of the Executive Committee upon his retirement on January 18, 2018. No meetings of the Executive Committee were held in 2017.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee, currently L. Frederick Sutherland, Chair, William J. Mulrow (effective November 16, 2017), Armando J. Olivera, Michael W. Ranger, and Linda S. Sanford, is composed of five independent Directors. The Finance Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the Company’s financial condition and policies, capital and operating budgets, financial forecasts, major contracts and real estate transactions, financings, investments, bank credit arrangements, its dividend policy, strategic business plan, litigation, and other financial matters. Additionally, the Finance Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to its duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Finance Committee held six meetings in 2017.

Management Development and Compensation Committee

The Management Development and Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”), currently George Campbell,

Jr., Chair, Vincent A. Calarco, John F. Killian, William J. Mulrow (effective November 16, 2017), Michael W. Ranger (effective January 18, 2018), and L. Frederick Sutherland, is composed of six independent Directors. Michael J. Del Giudice ceased being a member of the Compensation Committee upon his retirement on January 18, 2018. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board relating to officer and senior management appointments. The Compensation Committee also establishes and oversees the Company’s executive compensation and welfare benefit plans and policies, administers its equity plans and annual incentive plan and reviews and approves annually compensation relating to the Named Executive Officers under the Company’s executive compensation program, with the exception of the salary of the President of Orange & Rockland which is approved by the Board of Directors of Orange & Rockland. Additionally, the Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks, relating to its duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program.

The Compensation Committee has the authority, under its charter, to engage the services of outside advisors, experts, and others to assist it. The Compensation Committee engages Mercer to provide information, analyses, and objective advice regarding executive compensation. The Compensation Committee directs Mercer to: (i) assist it in the development and assessment of the compensation peer group for the purposes of providing competitive market information for the design of the executive compensation program, (ii) compare the Company’s chief executive officer’s base salary, annual incentive and long-term incentive compensation to that of the chief executive officers of the identified compensation peer group and broader industry, (iii) advise it on the officers’ base salaries and target award levels within the annual and long-term incentive plans, (iv) advise it on the design of the Company’s annual and long-term incentive plans and on the administration of the plans, (v) brief it on executive compensation trends among the Company’s compensation peer group and broader industry, and (vi) assist with the preparation of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee held six meetings in 2017 and Mercer attended three meetings.

For a discussion of the role of the Compensation Committee and information about the Company’s processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive compensation, see the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 26.

In addition, the Compensation Committee also reviews and makes recommendations as necessary to provide for orderly succession and transition in the senior management of the Company and receives reports and makes recommendations with respect to minority and female recruitment, employment and promotion.

The Compensation Committee also oversees and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), and reviews and makes recommendations with respect to benefit plans and plan amendments, the selection of plan trustees and the funding policy and contributions to the funded plans, and reviews the performance of the funded plans.

Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is “independent,” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards under Rule 10C-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and meets the “outside director” criteria of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the “Non-Employee” Director criteria of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Operations Oversight Committee

The Operations Oversight Committee, currently Armando J. Olivera, Chair (effective January 18, 2018), George Campbell, Jr., Ellen V. Futter, and Deirdre Stanley (effective November 16, 2017), is composed of four non-management Directors. Michael W. Ranger ceased being a member and the Chair of the Operations Oversight Committee effective on January 18, 2018. The Operations Oversight Committee oversees the Company’s efforts relating to the Company’s operating systems and their impact on the customer. The Operations Oversight Committee also reviews significant issues identified by the Company relating to the Company’s subsidiaries’ operating systems and their impact on the customer. The Operations Oversight Committee also reviews compliance of the Company’s subsidiaries’ operating systems with laws and regulations and the Company’s corporate policies and procedures, as may be necessary or appropriate. Additionally, the Operations Oversight Committee oversees the Company’s management of risks relating to its duties and responsibilities that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk management program. The Operations Oversight Committee held four meetings in 2017.

COMPENSATION CONSULTANT DISCLOSURE

The Compensation Committee has retained Mercer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., to

assist with its responsibilities related to the Company’s executive compensation programs and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has retained Mercer to assist with its responsibilities related to the director compensation program, including the design and structure of the Company’s long term incentive plan. Mercer’s fees for executive and director compensation consulting to the committees in 2017 were approximately $540,000.

During 2017, the Company retained Marsh & McLennan affiliates (other than Mercer) to provide services, unrelated to executive compensation. These services were approved by the Company’s management. The aggregate fees paid for these other services, which include auction services and employee benefit guides, were approximately $30,000.

The Compensation Committee considered the independence of Mercer under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The Compensation Committee concluded that the services provided by the Marsh & McLennan affiliates (other than Mercer) did not raise any conflicts of interest and did not impair Mercer’s ability to provide independent advice to the Compensation Committee concerning executive or director compensation matters.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

Vincent A. Calarco, George Campbell, Jr. (Chair), Michael J. Del Giudice, John F. Killian, William J. Mulrow (effective November 16, 2017), and L. Frederick Sutherland were on the Company’s Compensation Committee during 2017. Michael W. Ranger became a member of the Compensation Committee effective upon the retirement of Michael J. Del Giudice on January 18, 2018. The Company believes that there are no interlocks with the members of the Compensation Committee.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Interested parties may communicate directly with the members of the Company’s Board of Directors, including the non-management Directors as a group, by writing to them, care of the Company’s Vice President and Corporate Secretary, at the Company’s principal executive office at 4 Irving Place, New York, New York 10003. The Vice President and Corporate Secretary will forward communications to the Director or the Directors indicated.

OVERVIEW

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee bi-annually reviews director compensation. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers information, analyses, and objective advice regarding director compensation provided by Mercer. Director compensation is assessed relative to the Company’s compensation peer group, general industry trends, and the total cost of governance. The Board reviews the recommendations of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee when determining whether changes, if any, will be made. To better align with market practices, in 2018, Committee member meeting fees are being eliminated and stock ownership guidelines are being increased. Eliminating meeting fees is consistent with a trend in the decline of their use as companies focus on compensating Directors for their expertise more than their time. Certain retainers and the value of the annual equity award are being increased to replace the Committee member meeting fees. Compensation for individual Directors will continue to approximate the median of compensation for Directors in similar positions at the compensation peer group.

ELEMENTS OF COMPENSATION

In 2017, non-employee Directors were eligible to receive the following:

Footnotes:

In 2017, the Company reimbursed non-employee Directors for reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board and Committee meetings.

No person who served on both the Company Board and on the Board of its subsidiary, Con Edison of New York, and corresponding Committees, was paid additional compensation for concurrent service. Directors who are employees of the Company or its subsidiaries do not receive retainers, meeting fees, or annual equity awards for their service on the Board.

STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES

The Company has stock ownership guidelines for non-employee Directors which provide that, within five years of joining the Board, each Director should own, and continue to hold during his or her tenure on the Board, shares (including stock equivalents and restricted stock units) with a value (measured at the time the shares are acquired) equal to five times (increase in 2018 from four times) the annual retainer (not including committee and/or committee chair fees) paid to such Director during the previous fiscal year.

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

Non-employee Directors participate in the Company’s long term incentive plan. Pursuant to the long term incentive plan, each non-employee Director then serving was allocated an annual equity award of $135,000 of deferred stock units on the first business day following the 2017 Annual Meeting (increased to $150,000 effective April 1, 2018). If a non-employee Director is first appointed to the Board after an annual meeting, his or her first annual equity award will be pro rated.

Settlement of the 2017 annual equity awards of stock units was automatically deferred until the Director’s termination of

service from the Board of Directors. Each non-employee Director may elect to receive some or all of his or her 2017 annual equity awards of stock units on another date or to further defer any other prior annual equity award of stock units, including any related dividend equivalents earned on prior annual equity award of stock units.

Each non-employee Director may also elect to defer all or a portion of his or her 2017 retainers and meeting fees into additional deferred stock units, which are deferred until the Director’s termination of service.

Dividend equivalents are payable on 2017 deferred stock units in the amount and at the time that dividends are paid on Company Common Stock and are credited in the form of additional deferred stock units which are fully vested as of the date the dividends would have been paid to the Director or, at the Director’s option, are paid in cash.

All payments on account of deferred stock units will be made in shares of Company Common Stock. The long term incentive plan provides that cash compensation deferred into stock units, annual equity awards, and dividend equivalents granted to non-employee Directors that are credited in the form of additional deferred stock units, are fully vested, and payable in a single one-time payment of whole shares (rounded to the nearest whole share) within 60 days following separation from Board service unless the director elected to defer distribution to another date.

STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

Directors are eligible to participate in the stock purchase plan, which is described in Note M to the financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

At the Annual Meeting, as a matter of sound corporate governance, stockholders will be asked to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as independent accountants for the Company for 2018. If the appointment of PwC is not ratified, the Audit Committee will take this into consideration in the future appointment of independent accountants.

PwC has acted as independent accountants for the Company for many years. The Audit Committee considered PwC’s qualifications in determining whether to appoint PwC as independent accountants for 2018. The Audit Committee reviewed PwC’s performance, as well as PwC’s reputation for

integrity and for competence in the fields of accounting and auditing. The Audit Committee also reviewed a report provided by PwC regarding its quality controls, inquiries or investigations by governmental or professional authorities and independence. (See “Audit Committee Matters” on page 24.) Based on this review, the Audit Committee believes that the appointment of PwC as independent accountants for the Company for 2018 is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Representatives of PwC will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to appropriate questions.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Company’s Audit Committee is composed of four directors, all of whom meet the qualifications required by the New York Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors that is available on the Company’s website.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Audit Committee has also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Company’s independent registered public accountants, the matters required to be discussed under the rules adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding PwC’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Audit Committee has discussed with PwC its independence and qualifications. The Audit Committee also considered whether PwC’s provision of limited tax and non-audit services to the Company is compatible with PwC’s independence and concluded that it was.

Based on the Audit Committee’s review and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Audit Committee:

Vincent A. Calarco (Chair)

John F. Killian

Michael W. Ranger

L. Frederick Sutherland

FEES PAID TO PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Fees paid or payable to PwC for services related to 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

Footnote:

The Audit Committee, or as delegated by the Audit Committee, the Chair of the Committee, approves in advance each auditing service and non-audit service permitted by applicable laws and regulations, including tax services, to be provided to the Company and its subsidiaries by its independent accountants.

The Company values the opinions of its stockholders, and in accordance with Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the stockholders have the opportunity to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers (commonly referred to as a “say on pay” vote) as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) section of this Proxy Statement, the related compensation disclosure tables, and the narrative discussion that accompanies the compensation disclosure tables on pages 26 to 57. The Company currently conducts such votes annually. The Board recommends that the stockholders vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers. In 2017, the Company held a say on pay vote and 93.5% of the shares voted were voted “for” the proposal. Following this year’s say on pay vote, the next such vote will be at the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.

As discussed in the CD&A, the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to assist in attracting and retaining key executives critical to its long-term success, to motivate these executives to create value for its stockholders, and to provide safe, reliable, and efficient service for its customers. The Management Development and Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”), with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant, seeks to provide base salary and performance-based compensation, including target annual cash incentive compensation and target long-term equity-based incentive compensation, that are competitive with the median level of compensation provided by the Company’s compensation peer group to effectively link pay with performance.

The Compensation Committee believes that performance-based compensation should represent the most significant portion of each Named Executive Officer’s target total direct compensation and that most of the performance-based compensation should be in the form of long-term, rather than annual incentives, to emphasize the importance of sustained Company performance. Each year, the Compensation Committee evaluates the level of compensation, the mix of base salary, performance-based compensation and retirement and welfare benefits provided to each Named Executive Officer.

The Compensation Committee chooses performance goals under the annual incentive plan and the long term incentive plan to support the Company’s short- and long-term business plans and strategies. In setting targets for the short- and long-term performance goals, the Compensation Committee considers the Company’s annual and long-term business plans and certain other factors, including pay-for-performance alignment, economic and industry conditions, and the practices of the compensation peer group. The Compensation Committee sets challenging, but achievable, goals for the Company and its executives to drive the achievement of short- and long-term objectives.

For the reasons indicated and more fully discussed in the CD&A, the Board recommends that the stockholders vote in favor of the following advisory resolution:

“RESOLVED, That the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative discussion that accompany the compensation disclosure tables is hereby approved.”

INTRODUCTION

This section of the Proxy Statement provides an overview of the Company’s 2017 executive compensation program (the “executive compensation program”) and an analysis of the decisions made with respect to the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers (as identified by the Company under Securities and Exchange Commission rules). The executive compensation program covers the Company’s Named Executive Officers. For 2017, the Company’s Named Executive Officers were:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to assist in attracting and retaining key executives critical to its long-term success, to motivate these executives to create value for its stockholders, and to promote safe, reliable, and efficient service for its customers. Each year, the Management Development and Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) evaluates the level of compensation, the mix of base salary, performance-based compensation, and retirement and welfare benefits provided to each Named Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of its independent compensation

consultant, seeks to align pay to performance and provide base salary and performance-based compensation, including target annual cash incentive compensation and target long-term equity-based incentive compensation that are competitive with the median level of compensation provided by the Company’s compensation peer group companies. (See “Executive Compensation Philosophy and Objectives—Competitive Positioning—Attraction and Retention” on page 28 and “Executive Compensation Actions—Compensation Peer Group” on page 32.) The Compensation Committee believes that performance-based compensation should represent the most significant portion of each Named Executive Officer’s target total direct compensation to motivate strong annual and multi-year Company performance.

Additionally, the Compensation Committee believes that most of the performance-based compensation should be in the form of long-term, rather than annual, incentives to emphasize the importance of sustained Company performance.

Key Features of the Executive Compensation Program

Key Compensation Governance Practices

The Company is committed to maintaining strong compensation governance practices to support the pay-for-performance philosophy of the executive compensation program and align the executive compensation program with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders:

Stockholder Engagement and Say on Pay

The Company proactively engages with stockholders and accepts invitations to discuss matters of interest to them. Throughout the year, the Company discussed numerous issues with stockholders including, disclosure practices, corporate governance, political spending and lobbying practices, and environmental, health, and safety matters. The Company shares with the Board the feedback it receives from institutional investors and stockholders. The Company’s engagement with institutional investors resulted in the Board’s

adoption of proxy access, which enables certain stockholders of the Company to include their own director nominees in the Company’s Proxy Statement and form of proxy along with candidates nominated by the Board if the stockholders and the nominees proposed by the stockholders meet the requirements set forth in the Company’s By-laws.

In 2017, the Company held its annual say on pay vote to approve named executive officer compensation, as set forth in the 2017 proxy statement, and 93.5% of the shares voted were voted “for” the proposal. In addition, in 2017, the Company held a stockholder vote on the frequency of future say on pay votes. Consistent with the recommendation of the Board, 85% of shares voted were voted in favor of holding annual say on pay votes. The Company intends to hold an annual say on pay vote unless stockholders advise the Company to change the frequency of the vote at the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES

The Compensation Committee’s philosophy and objectives governing the development and implementation of the executive compensation program are to provide competitive, performance-based compensation. There are no material differences in the Company’s compensation policies for each Named Executive Officer.

Competitive Positioning—Attraction and Retention

The executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain key executives critical to the Company’s long-term success. The Compensation Committee seeks to align pay to performance and provide base salary, target annual cash incentives, and target long-term equity-based incentives that are competitive with the median level of compensation provided by the Company’s compensation peer group companies. The Company also seeks to provide retirement and other benefits that are competitive with those provided by the industry and to provide limited and specific perquisites.

Pay-for-Performance Alignment and Pay Mix

The executive compensation program is designed to motivate the Company’s key executives to create sustainable stockholder value and promote safe, reliable and efficient service for its customers. The Compensation Committee seeks to balance the target total direct compensation of each Named Executive Officer between base salary (fixed compensation) and annual cash incentive compensation and long-term equity-based incentive compensation (performance-based compensation).

The Compensation Committee believes that fixed compensation should recognize each Named Executive Officer’s individual responsibility and performance. The Compensation Committee believes that performance-based compensation should represent the most significant portion of each Named Executive Officer’s target total direct compensation and that most of the performance-based compensation should be in the form of long-term, rather than annual, incentives to emphasize the importance of sustained Company performance.

Target annual cash incentive and target long-term equity-based incentive awards reflect the Compensation Committee’s desired balance between these elements, relative to the base

salary paid to each Named Executive Officer. Awards under the Company’s annual incentive plan are based on the achievement of financial and operating objectives for which the Named Executive Officers have individual and collective responsibility. Awards under the Company’s long term incentive plan are based on the achievement of financial and operating objectives critical to the Company’s business plans and strategies and the achievement, over a three-year period, of the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return relative to the total shareholder return for the Company’s compensation peer group companies.

For 2017, the mix of target total direct compensation for the Named Executive Officers meets the Compensation Committee’s objectives by being weighted heavily toward performance-based compensation, with the largest portion delivered in long-term incentives. The target total direct compensation mix of the Named Executive Officers is in line with that of the Company’s compensation peer group companies (except that the Company does not provide non-performance-based incentive compensation). (See “Executive Compensation Actions—Compensation Peer Group” on page 32.)