SoCalGas Announces First Renewable Natural Gas Contract Approved Under California Program
Mar 15, 2022
Minority, women-owned, service-disabled veteran, and LGBT-owned business get largest share of SoCalGas' spending ever, breaking record for the 29th consecutive year
LOS ANGELES, March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced today the company achieved another record year of spending with over 570 diverse business enterprises in 2021-at $972.6 million, the highest in company history. SoCalGas exceeded the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) goal of 21.5% for the 29th consecutive year by procuring over 42% of total goods and services from women, minority, service-disabled veteran, LGBT, and small disadvantaged businesses, and increased spend with African American vendors by 49%. Over the last five years, SoCalGas has spent $3.9 billion with diverse business enterprises.
"SoCalGas is proud to have worked with over 570 diverse suppliers in 2021," said Jeff Walker, chief administrative and diversity officer, and senior vice president at SoCalGas. "Earlier this year, we released our Sustainability Strategy, which includes achieving 45% spend with diverse business enterprises by 2025. In partnership with diverse firms and community partners, we can help California implement clean energy solutions at scale and achieve our ASPIRE 2045 sustainability goals, which includes achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations and delivery of energy by 2045."
SoCalGas has also made a commitment to increase African American supplier participation and growth over the next five years. Key to these efforts will be working with organizations such as the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAAACC), which advocates for African American-owned business enterprises and provides a variety of programs and services to assist in their growth and development.
"SoCalGas creates pathways for underserved small businesses that have not traditionally had access to opportunities," says Gene Hale, chairman of GLAAACC. "They also help guide us in removing obstacles and challenges small businesses face."
Despite 2021's global health and economic crisis, SoCalGas increased its focus with community-based organizations to promote its supplier diversity. In addition to spending with diverse enterprises, SoCalGas also invests in the development of these firms. Development opportunities include business boot camps, mentoring events, business assessment programs, entrepreneurship courses, organizational and operation strategy programs, mentorship, and technical assistance. The programs are designed to help diverse suppliers enhance their operations and help ensure success in their business partnerships.
"SoCalGas has been an important wind under our wings and our ability to employ more people," said Christine Halley, president of Cornerstone Engineering, a woman-owned firm that supports SoCalGas on several engineering projects. "It's impressive how purposeful the company is in its outreach to minority businesses. They take it seriously. The feeling we walk away with is SoCalGas is invested in our success. When others in the marketplace hear we're a trusted supplier of SoCalGas, it heightens our reputation."
"Congratulations to SoCalGas for another record-breaking year in diverse, business contracts," says Elizabeth Martinez, vice president of business development at Meruelo Enterprises Inc. "As someone who works at a Latino-owned firm, I am continuously impressed by SoCalGas' commitment to diversity. SoCalGas' supplier diversity team holds themselves accountable to exceed goals, which translates to tangible opportunities for diverse businesses that are providing needed services. "
"Of all the companies I've seen, SoCalGas is the most committed to supplier diversity," says Christine Keith, president of Elite Auto Network, an African American-owned firm, which provides auto purchasing services to SoCalGas. "The Supplier Diversity department gives us updates and invites us to educational and networking events," adds Todd Keith chief executive officer of Elite Auto Network. "Without them, I don't know if we would've been able to get these contracts. They have a huge impact."
"Congratulations to SoCalGas for a record year of spending with Minority, women-owned, disabled veteran and LGBT-owned business. Your continued commitment to supplier diversity helps businesses to thrive and grow, but there is much to be done to improve equity" said California State Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena).
Other 2021 highlights include:
- $640 million spent with minority-owned businesses (category includes both minority men and women-owned)
- 42.42% total purchases with diverse suppliers
- 105 new diverse partners added
- 13 firms among the top 25 SoCalGas suppliers are diverse firms
- 91% of suppliers are based in SoCalGas' home state of California
In addition to its supplier diversity efforts, SoCalGas supports social impact by aiming to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and the communities it serves. The utility is positioned to be an industry leader in racial and ethnic diversity representation in leadership roles and is taking actions to enhance the presence of women in leadership roles and the overall workforce by 2025.
SoCalGas also plans to invest $50 million to positively impact diverse and underserved communities over the next five years.
Last month, SoCalGas announced its proposal for the Angeles Link, which aims to be America's largest green hydrogen infrastructure system. The utility plans to continue its best practices in supplier diversity and identify opportunities for diverse suppliers as it looks to achieve its net zero goals and advance California's clean energy and climate goals. More information on the company's mission and strategic priorities can be found at socalgas.com/mission.
More information about SoCalGas' commitment to supplier diversity can be found in the newly released 2021 Supplier Diversity Annual Report. SoCalGas invites diverse businesses to engage and learn more about the Supplier Diversity Program at socalgas.com/for-your-business/supplier-diversity.
About SoCalGas
SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States, serving more than 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Our mission is: Safe, Reliable, and Affordable energy delivery today. Ready for tomorrow. SoCalGas is a recognized leader in the energy industry and has been named Corporate Member of the Year by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for its volunteer leadership in the communities it serves. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading North American energy infrastructure company. For more information, visit SoCalGas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on social media @SoCalGas.
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Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: decisions, denials of cost recovery, audits, investigations, inquiries, ordered studies, regulations, denials or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions, including the failure to honor contracts and commitments, by the (i) California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S. and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein where we do business; the success of business development efforts and construction projects, including risks related to (i) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (ii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, (iii) obtaining third-party consents and approvals and (iv) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments; changes to our capital expenditure plans and their potential impact on rate base or other growth; litigation, arbitration and other proceedings, and changes (i) to laws and regulations, including those related to tax, (ii) due to the results of elections, and (iii) in trade and other foreign policy, including the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. and foreign countries; cybersecurity threats, including by state and state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems or the systems of third parties with which we conduct business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure; the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources and our ability to borrow money or otherwise raise capital on favorable terms and meet our obligations, which can be affected by, among other things, (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, and (iii) fluctuating interest rates and inflation; the impact on affordability of our customer rates and our cost of capital and on our ability to pass through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in inflation, interest rates and commodity prices and (ii) the cost of meeting the demand for lower carbon and reliable energy in California; the impact of climate policies, laws, rules, regulations, trends and required disclosures, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and uncertainty related to emerging technologies; weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events, such as work stoppages, that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; the availability of natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the pipeline and storage systems or limitations on the injection and withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.
These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that the company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on Sempra’s website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.
Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.