PUC to create annual report on utilities’ diversity initiatives

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently voted to adopt a joint motion directing PUC staff to compile and publish an annual report regarding utilities’ diversity initiatives.

The report will not identify individual companies but will contain statistics and will identify trends in the collective information and data utilities provide. Utility companies will include electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater providers.

Utility diversity reporting will involve the collection of demographic data regarding diverse employment in various job classifications, training on diversity initiatives in employment and in the contract of goods and services, corporate policies for improving diversity in the workplace and procurement process, involvement with organizations promoting diversity, and a description of diversity recruiting, promotion, and retention efforts.

The report also will include a summary of diverse-owned businesses the company contracts with for goods and services. The summary will include the percentage of dollars spent with diverse-owned businesses versus nondiverse businesses.

In 1995, the PUC instituted regulations encouraging diversity reporting. In 2020, the regulations were updated to include minorities, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ community, and veterans.

The first report will be published on the PUC’s website by May 31. Subsequent reports will be compiled and published annually by May 31.