In May 1988, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued General Order 156 (GO 156) and the Supplier Clearinghouse was created. Under GO 156, the CPUC requires all investor-owned electric utilities, gas utilities, water utilities, wireless telecommunications service providers, telephone utilities, and electric service providers with gross annual California revenues in excess of $15 million (as well as their regulated subsidiaries and affiliates) to develop and implement programs to increase the utilization of diverse businesses (WBEs/MBEs/LGBTBEs/PDBEs/DVBEs).
Procurement goals of 5% for women business enterprises and 15% for minority business enterprises were initially established. GO 156 was later expanded to include a goal of 1.5% for California-based service-disabled veteran business enterprises and 1.5% for LGBT business enterprises. A goal for Persons with Disabilities business enterprises has not been established yet. The certification process was designed with eligible suppliers in mind, making it easy for participating utilities to find and utilize WBEs, MBEs, DVBEs, LGBTBEs, and PDBEs.
Today, the Supplier Clearinghouse continues to be a Commission-supervised entity whose primary purpose is to audit and verify the status of WBE, MBE, LGBTBE, PDBE, and DVBEs on behalf of the individual utility companies. We maintain an accurate and reliable database of WBE, MBE, LGBTBE, PDBE, and DVBEs certified firms that is accessible to the CPUC and participating utilities for procurement-related outreach and opportunities.
In May 1988, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued General Order 156 (GO 156) and the Supplier Clearinghouse was created. Under GO 156, the CPUC requires all investor-owned electric utilities, gas utilities, water utilities, wireless telecommunications service providers, telephone utilities, and electric service providers with gross annual California revenues in excess of $15 million (as well as their regulated subsidiaries and affiliates) to develop and implement programs to increase the utilization of diverse businesses (WBEs/MBEs/LGBTBEs/PDBEs/DVBEs).
Procurement goals of 5% for women business enterprises and 15% for minority business enterprises were initially established. GO 156 was later expanded to include a goal of 1.5% for California-based service-disabled veteran business enterprises and 1.5% for LGBT business enterprises. A goal for Persons with Disabilities business enterprises has not been established yet. The certification process was designed with eligible suppliers in mind, making it easy for participating utilities to find and utilize WBEs, MBEs, DVBEs, LGBTBEs, and PDBEs.
Today, the Supplier Clearinghouse continues to be a Commission-supervised entity whose primary purpose is to audit and verify the status of WBE, MBE, LGBTBE, PDBE, and DVBEs on behalf of the individual utility companies. We maintain an accurate and reliable database of WBE, MBE, LGBTBE, PDBE, and DVBEs certified firms that is accessible to the CPUC and participating utilities for procurement-related outreach and opportunities.
