47 The energy business is different depending on where you are along the value chain. We adopt the manage- ment approach that's right for our business at each individual segment. That's why our organization con- sists of functional entities (which are managed centrally) as well as regional entities (which are managed de- centrally). We take a functional approach to managing those of our businesses--like renewables, natural gas production, power-plant construction, and energy trading--where knowledge transfer and optimization across national boundaries are key success drivers. At the other end of the value chain--our network and retail businesses, for example--success depends more on understanding local needs. That's why we operate these businesses through regional entities that are close to their markets, customers, and communities. Our markets and competitive environments are always changing. To sustain our success into the future, we regularly analyze our organizational structure to ensure that it has the right fit for our markets. Whether we manage a business functionally or regionally, our objec- tive is always to have the best possible structure in order to remain attractive for our nearly 30 million customers. Attractive means that the power and gas we supply is not only secure and climate-friendly but also affordable. Our Structure