Press Release
PUC Adopts Regulations Requiring Diversity Reporting by Major Public Utilities in Pennsylvania
Published on 4/14/2022
Filed under: Electric Gas Transportation and Safety Water and Wastewater
Annual Diversity Reports Mandatory for Major Electric, Natural Gas, Water, and Wastewater Public Utilities
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted 3-0 to adopt regulations requiring regular reporting on diversity programs and efforts by major public utilities under the Commission’s jurisdiction.
Today’s action is the final step in an initiative launched in 2020 by PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille to revisit and update the Commission’s diversity reporting policy statement to “reinvigorate the Commission’s efforts to promote and implement effective diversity programs at our major jurisdictional utility companies.”
It is incumbent on major jurisdictional utilities to have a diverse workforce as this is an essential element of success for all businesses.
Rulemaking on Diversity Reporting
The final rulemaking order adopted today by the Commission requires regular diversity reporting for major jurisdictional utilities providing electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater services.
The regulations build on the PUC’s earlier policy statement which encouraged diversity reporting, which was initially adopted in 1995 and updated in 2020 with expanded diversity reporting guidelines to include minorities, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ and veterans.
Keeping apprised of major jurisdictional utilities’ diversity provides the PUC with insight into how utilities are able to operate effectively and ensure that they are capable of reasonably operating continuously and without unreasonable interruptions or delay.
The PUC rulemaking standardizes the definitions and format for utility diversity reporting to collect the following information:
- Corporate policies for improving diversity in the workplace and procurement process.
- Training on diversity initiatives in employment and in the contract of goods and services.
- Demographic data regarding diverse employment in various job classifications.
- A description of diversity recruitment, promotion and retention efforts.
- 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 final rulemaking order approved by the Commission today will now be submitted to the legislative standing committees, the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission, the Office of Attorney General and the Governor’s Budget Office. Following those reviews, the regulations 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.: L-2020-3017284
Contact:
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Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
Press Secretary
717-418-2701
nhagen-fre@pa.gov
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