Press Release

PUC Updates Policy Statement on Diversity at Utilities; Begins Rulemaking Process for Utility Reporting of Diversity Information

Published on 2/6/2020

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted 5-0 in support of a motion by Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille intended to “reinvigorate the Commission’s efforts to promote and implement effective diversity programs at our major jurisdictional utility companies.”             

Today’s action launches a two-stage process to enhance information-gathering about utility diversity programs – initially updating and clarifying the PUC’s existing Policy Statement on Diversity at Major Jurisdictional Utility Companies (adopted in March 1995), which recommends that utilities provide certain diversity information to the Commission; and also beginning a rulemaking process which would require regular diversity reporting by utilities.

As noted by Chairman Dutrieuille in her motion, the current policy statement encourages utilities to file annual diversity reports and recommends the inclusion of certain information about their programs – but different interpretations of those recommendations can result in utilities sometimes including too little information, too much information or unnecessary information.

Revisions to the PUC Diversity policy statement proposed today 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 brief 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 motion adopted today by the Commission directs the PUC’s Law Bureau to develop an amended policy statement on diversity, to be issued by March 31, 2020 – which will be followed by a 45-day period for comment from utilities and other concerned parties.

Additionally, today’s motion directs the PUC’s Law Bureau to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for diversity reporting requirements by December 31, 2020.

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.: L-2020-3017284

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov