Electricity and Gas

Pacific Gas & Electric - San Francisco, CA
San Diego Gas & Electric - San Diego, CA
Southern California Edison - Rosemead, CA
Southern California Gas Company - Los Angeles, CA

Cable Entertainment and Telecommunication

AT&T California
Comcast California
Sprint
Verizon California

Water

Company members of the California Water Association:

• California Services Water Company
• Golden State Water Company
• San Jose Water Company
• California American Water Company
• San Gabriel Valley Water Company
• Suburban Water Systems
• Valencia Water Companies

Water Utilities Take On A Major Role

In April 2004 the six largest Class A Water Utilities signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) to voluntarily implement a utility supplier diversity program within the water industry. Since then the Water Utilities have become committed to the principles of supplier diversity in order to promote women, minority and disabled veteran business enterprise procurement.

By their very nature, Water Utilities are local businesses with fragmented territories. Water is far smaller than most of the other industries that have been participating in the California Public Utilities Commission’s USDP program. Water’s MOI considered that Water Utilities would need time to start up their USDP programs, to evaluate and quantify diversity procurement challenges and to design USDP programs appropriate for their industry. There are now signs of success, and greater success to come. In 2006, only a little over 2 years into the program, Water’s diversity procurement spend reached $19.2 million.

Water Utilities have significant officer involvement, designated program staff, high employee awareness and education, as well as ongoing workshops and seminars. The California Water Association has shepherded Water’s extensive outreach efforts, participating in every one of the CPUC’s Small Business Expo’s.

In 2007 Water Utilities stepped up to become fully participating members of the California Utility Diversity Council and now provides financial support on a level equal to that of other utility segments that are far large. Water has also stepped up in the area of philanthropy, committing $75,000 over the next three years to the pipeline project Parent Institute for Quality Education.