LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) today announced it will receive the Utility Market Access Partnership Utility Leadership Award Nov. 14 at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' (NARUC) annual conference in Palm Springs, Calif.
California Public Utilities Commission President Michael R. Peevey cited the following examples of The Gas Company's diverse business program and leadership as a basis for the award:
-- The utility is an active supporter of the original Department of Energy/NARUC Minority Business Roundtable;
-- The number of diverse businesses serving The Gas Company has grown to more than 20 percent of the utility's supplier base since 1993;
-- The utility pioneered the first full-scale diverse business natural gas program;
-- The Gas Company created a $1 billion funds transfer agreement to support diverse business suppliers; and,
-- The utility consistently has provided overall leadership in promoting diversity objectives.
"Supporting a diverse supply chain makes good business sense, plus it's the right thing to do, reflecting the communities we serve," said Debra L. Reed, president and chief operating officer of The Gas Company.
"With exemplary management, The Gas Company has become a recognized national leader in supplier and workforce diversity," said Peevey.
"Since the inception of the Department of Energy's Minority Business Roundtable in 1994, through the initiative's evolution into today's access partnership, The Gas Company has promoted diverse business objectives. In fact, the utility's parent company, Sempra Energy consistently ranks among the top five on Fortune magazine's annual list of 'America's 50 Best Companies for Minorities.'"
In 2004, NARUC passed a resolution and standards to promote utility procurement with women, minority and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, or diverse suppliers. The Gas Company helped formalize the volunteer supplier diversity program nationwide by authoring the national utility supplier diversity policy adopted by the organization.
"We are serious about mentoring and development of diverse suppliers nationwide and are proud of spending 24 percent -- or nearly $200 million in goods and services and another $400 million in natural gas purchases in 2004 -- of our total expenditures with diverse suppliers," said Frank Urtasun, director of diverse business enterprises for The Gas Company.
NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889. Its members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate the activities of telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC's mission is to serve the public interest by improving the quality and effectiveness of public utility regulation.
The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19.5 million consumers through 5.5 million meters. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California. The Gas Company strives to provide exceptional customer service to enhance the quality of life in the community. The Gas Company is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.socalgas.com.