Press Release

PUC Revises Policy Statement on Diversity at Utilities

Published on 12/4/2020

Filed under: Consumer Education Electric Gas Motor Carrier Pipeline Rails Telecommunications Transportation and Safety Water and Wastewater

Updates utility diversity reporting guidelines to include minorities,
women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ, and veterans.

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has voted 4-0 to adopt a revised public statement on diversity at utilities.

The revised policy statement provides guidelines identifying the information major jurisdictional utility companies should report to describe their efforts to employ and contract with members of diverse groups.  It also encourages utility companies to use a common form to file annual diversity reports with the Commission.

In February of this year, PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille initiated an effort to reinvigorate the Commission’s efforts to promote and implement effective diversity programs at our major jurisdictional utility companies. 

“Earlier this year, I set a goal of revising the Commission’s 25-year old Statement of Policy on Diversity at Major Jurisdictional Utility Companies,” noted Chairman Dutrieuille. “Little did I know that the Commission’s action of revising and refreshing the Policy Statement would coincide with a national and worldwide movement for racial equity and a push for diversity in workplaces and institutions.”

The visibility given to the topic of diversity at our jurisdictional utilities
will serve to strengthen their community ties and expand utility
workforce talent pools in a time of increased employee retirements.

The updated policy statement adopted today addresses public comment received in response to the Chairman’s motion and builds on the PUC’s previous policy on diversity, which was initially adopted in 1995.

Revised Policy Statement on Diversity at Major Utilities

Revisions to the PUC Diversity policy statement include:

• Updating the definition of diversity to include minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ, and the disabled.
• A standardized reporting form with the goal of collecting the following information:
  • A copy of any corporate policy committed to improving diversity in the workplace and in the procurement process.
  • A description of any training implemented on diversity initiatives in employment and in the contract of goods and services.
  • A standardized format to account for diverse employee numbers.
  • A description of any diversity recruiting strategies.
  • A description of any diversity promotion efforts.
  • A description of any diversity retention efforts.
  • A brief description of any involvement with organizations promoting diversity.
  • A summary of diverse owned businesses the company contracts with for goods and services, including the percentage of dollars spent with diverse-owned businesses versus non-diverse businesses.

The PUC’s updated policy statement on diversity at utilities will become effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket No.: M-2020-3018089

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-783-6152
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov