California PUC Contracting Goal Could Bring Millions to LGBT Businesses
State agency unanimously approved voluntary 1.5% procurement target in outreach to LGBT-owned contractors as part of a utility supplier diversity program
The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a voluntary procurement goal for the state's privately owned utilities that will further support issuing contracts to certified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender businesses enterprises (LGBTBEs).
As part of its Utility Supplier Diversity Program (General Order 156), the state regulatory agency announced on April 7 that it set a 1.5% aspirational goal for LGBT-owned companies over three years that applies to contracts from California-based privately owned telecommunications, electric and natural gas companies, such as AT&T, PGE and Southern California Edison Co. Aadditional aspirational CPUC goals include 15% for minority business enterprises (MBE), 5% for women business enterprises (WBE) and 1.5% for disabled-veteran business enterprises (DVBE).