HispanicBusiness Magazine Ranks PG&E the Top Company Nationwide for Supplier Diversity

SAN FRANCISCO, April 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has been recognized as the leader among the 25 best companies nationwide for supplier diversity by HispanicBusiness Magazine, a leading business publication for the Hispanic market.

"PG&E continuously demonstrates its strong focus on incorporating supplier diversity into its procurement process, so it was no surprise for them to top the list this year," said Mike Caplinger, research supervisor at HispanicBusiness Inc., the magazine's parent company. "Their efforts to achieve a diverse supplier base have clearly paid off."

The magazine screened Fortune 1000 companies for their commitment to supplier diversity, including management involvement, outreach efforts, and procurement from minority suppliers. According to the magazine, PG&E and the other 24 companies on its list went well beyond traditional supplier diversity initiatives and implemented successful strategies to increase business with minority- and Hispanic-owned suppliers.

PG&E recently announced that it achieved an all-time high of $1.61 billion in spending with diverse suppliers in 2011, accounting for 36.6 percent of its total procurement budget. PG&E's total spend on Hispanic-owned business enterprises also reached an all-time high of $409 million, an increase of $153 million over 2010.

"PG&E is committed to work with diverse businesses to provide safe and reliable gas and electric services to our customers," said Joan Kerr, the utility's director of supplier diversity and supplier development. "It's an honor to receive this recognition as we continue to provide opportunities to Hispanic-owned businesses and help foster the growth of the local economy."

For more than three decades, PG&E has been committed to diversity and inclusion. The company has developed one of the state's leading programs to support economic development and job creation in the communities it serves. PG&E partners with diverse suppliers to generate innovation and increase competition while contributing to their revenue growth.  In addition, the utility has played an important role by providing small businesses with technical assistance training.

For information on PG&E's supplier diversity program or to learn how to apply to become a certified diverse supplier, visit www.pge.com/supplierdiversity/.

About HispanicBusiness Magazine

HispanicBusiness magazine, the flagship publication of HispanicBusiness Inc., has established itself as the premier business publication for the Hispanic market. With a BPA-audited primary circulation of 265,000 and a total audience of more than one million readers, HispanicBusiness reaches CEOs, business owners, corporate decision makers and professionals in all sectors, including business, law, accounting, healthcare, government and engineering.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/about/newsroom/ or www.pgecurrents.com.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)