National Utilities National Utilities Diversity CouncilDiversity Council

(NUDC)(NUDC)

A Proposal: A Proposal: Taking UMAP To The Next Taking UMAP To The Next

LevelLevel

By Jose L. Perez, Cynthia Marshall, Tom OliverBy Jose L. Perez, Cynthia Marshall, Tom Oliver

NUDCNUDC

BackgroundBackground Rapidly changing demographics – 110 million Rapidly changing demographics – 110 million

minorities – one in three consumersminorities – one in three consumers Utilities represent a significant part of the US Utilities represent a significant part of the US

economy and affects the quality of life for all economy and affects the quality of life for all AmericansAmericans

NARUC represents the public sector’s regulatory NARUC represents the public sector’s regulatory arm for utilities for all fifty states including arm for utilities for all fifty states including assuring consumers get a good return on their assuring consumers get a good return on their investments – rate payers!investments – rate payers!

UMAP works to promote supplier diversity from UMAP works to promote supplier diversity from within the NARUC but not without challengeswithin the NARUC but not without challenges

NUDCNUDC ObservationsObservations

UMAP is an ad hoc committee of NARUCUMAP is an ad hoc committee of NARUC UMAP sunsets in January 2008UMAP sunsets in January 2008 UMAP does not have dedicated staff and UMAP does not have dedicated staff and

resources to do research on issues of diversityresources to do research on issues of diversity UMAP does not have the capacity to develop UMAP does not have the capacity to develop

and implement strategies to address the needs and implement strategies to address the needs identified by minorities, women and service identified by minorities, women and service disabled veteransdisabled veterans

UMAP is unable to support state UMAP is unable to support state commissioners who are interested in commissioners who are interested in furthering diversity effortsfurthering diversity efforts

NUDCNUDC

Proposal in development since January of Proposal in development since January of 20072007

Vetted out with various commissioners, Vetted out with various commissioners, utilities, minority, women and service utilities, minority, women and service disabled veterans business owners, disabled veterans business owners, advocacy groups, and government advocacy groups, and government officialsofficials

Overwhelming support for this proposal Overwhelming support for this proposal and its immediate adoption and and its immediate adoption and implementationimplementation

NUDC – The ProposalNUDC – The Proposal

Create a 501 (c) (3), non-profit Create a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization called the National organization called the National Utilities Diversity Council to overcome Utilities Diversity Council to overcome the barriers faced by UMAPthe barriers faced by UMAP

Diversity will be benchmarked by Diversity will be benchmarked by formal data from the US Census Bureauformal data from the US Census Bureau

The definition of diversity will include: The definition of diversity will include: governance, procurement, employment, governance, procurement, employment, philanthropy and customer service philanthropy and customer service (language access)(language access)

NUDC – The Proposal NUDC – The Proposal (Cont.)(Cont.)

Governed by 25 members representing Governed by 25 members representing a diverse group comprised of a diverse group comprised of commissioners, industry and business commissioners, industry and business groups, and consumer and labor groupsgroups, and consumer and labor groups

Housed in Washington DCHoused in Washington DC Have a strong relationship with NARUC Have a strong relationship with NARUC

including working in tandem for including working in tandem for logistical activities (board meetings, logistical activities (board meetings, events, etc.)events, etc.)

NUDC – The Proposal NUDC – The Proposal (Cont.)(Cont.)

MissionMission

To voluntarily act as a resource that promotes To voluntarily act as a resource that promotes the inclusion of women, racial and ethnic the inclusion of women, racial and ethnic minorities and service disabled veterans and minorities and service disabled veterans and other organized groups that add to the other organized groups that add to the diversity of the Council in utility corporate diversity of the Council in utility corporate governance, philanthropy, employment, governance, philanthropy, employment, procurement, language access/customer procurement, language access/customer service; and, to promote diversity in the service; and, to promote diversity in the federal and state governments that perform federal and state governments that perform related regulatory tasks with utility companies.related regulatory tasks with utility companies.

NUDC – The Proposal NUDC – The Proposal (Cont.)(Cont.)

NUDC will have an annual meeting to NUDC will have an annual meeting to report on accomplishments in report on accomplishments in diversity and on the continuing diversity and on the continuing challenges in coordination with the challenges in coordination with the NARUC leadershipNARUC leadership

NUDC will seek foundation and NUDC will seek foundation and government grants to operate and will government grants to operate and will host events to generate revenues to host events to generate revenues to sustain the NUDC and its missionsustain the NUDC and its mission

NUDC – The Proposal NUDC – The Proposal (Cont.)(Cont.)

Government LiaisonsGovernment Liaisons The White HouseThe White House Department of EnergyDepartment of Energy Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission Environment Protection AgencyEnvironment Protection Agency Nuclear Regulatory CommissionNuclear Regulatory Commission Senate Majority LeaderSenate Majority Leader Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House And others as appropriateAnd others as appropriate

NUDC – The Proposal NUDC – The Proposal (Cont.)(Cont.)

Standing CommitteesStanding Committees GovernanceGovernance ProcurementProcurement EmploymentEmployment PhilanthropyPhilanthropy Customer Service/Language Access & Customer Service/Language Access &

MarketingMarketing State Utility Diversity Council RelationsState Utility Diversity Council Relations

NUDC – The Proposal NUDC – The Proposal (Cont.)(Cont.)

Provide support for existing State Provide support for existing State diversity programs in California, diversity programs in California, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and othersand others

Encourage the creation of state Encourage the creation of state diversity councilsdiversity councils

NUDC – The Proposal NUDC – The Proposal (Cont.)(Cont.)

Membership is open to:Membership is open to: Utility commissionersUtility commissioners ConsumersConsumers Labor groupsLabor groups Business/trade associationsBusiness/trade associations UtilitiesUtilities SeniorsSeniors VeteransVeterans OthersOthers

NUDCNUDC

Request UMAP’s adoption todayRequest UMAP’s adoption today

Request UMAP recommend for Request UMAP recommend for adoption by NARUC’s Board of adoption by NARUC’s Board of Directors for a November launchDirectors for a November launch