Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 18 Octubre 2019 NegociosNow NegociosNow I n July, the National Asso- ciation of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) adopted two historic reso- lutions that expanded the encouragement for strategic partnerships to foster talented and diverse professionals in the utility industry and engage- ment of diverse financial and professional service providers by investor-owned utilities. The resolutions were spear- headed by NARUC's Sub- committee on Supplier & Workforce Diversity (SSWD) through the leadership of Illi- nois Commerce Commissioner Sadzi Oliva who serves as the subcommittee's chair, and the Strategic Resolutions for Increasing Supplier and Workforce Diversity in the Energy Sector By Illinois Commerce Commission, Commissioner Sadzi Martha Oliva and Legal & Policy Advisors, Gerardo J. Delgado and Janel Haretoun District of Columbia Public Service Commission Chairman Willie Phillips who serves as its vice-chair. NARUC is a non-profit orga- nization dedicated to repre- senting the state public service commissioners who regulate electricity, gas, and water utili- ties and telecommunications and transportation industries. The organization serves as a platform in which information and ideas are exchanged and collaboration is supported. Through its committees, regu- lators and other industry par- ticipants address sector-spe- cific issues and offer resources and training on best practices. A critical issue that SSWD has been addressing with its mem- bers is the increasing workforce gap caused by the rapid rate of retirements in the energy industry, which is reported to increase exponentially over the next ten years. The loss of institutional knowledge and subject matter expertise could result in not only limited train- ing capabilities but also eco- nomic ramifications. To bridge the retirement epidemic and need for greater inclusion in the industry, SSWD proposed that NARUC expand its support of long-term strategic partner- ships between utilities, com- missions, and other interested stakeholders and academic and professional institutions that serve underrepresented com- munities. A critical issue that SSWD … Moreover, the resolu- tion champions the collabora- tion with America's Minority- Serving Institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, Asian- and Native American Pacific Islander-serv- ing institutions, and women- and veteran-serving institu- tions. Strategic cultivation of the next generation of utility professionals will ensure a reli- able and sustainable workforce. SSWD collaborated with the Hispanic Association of Col- leges and Universities (HACU), Hispanics in Energy and Cali- fornia Public Utilities Commis- sioner Emeritus Timothy Alan Simon in drafting this resolu- tion. The SSWD also aimed to encourage change in the underrepresentation of vet- eran, women, and racial and ethnic minority financial and professional service provid- ers across all utility sectors. Because financial and profes- sional services, such as invest- ment and legal, play a critical role in various aspects of the regulatory model, it is imper- ative that investor-owned utilities utilize diverse suppli- ers to achieve equitable and economic performance. By increasing the participation of diverse firms, there is greater potential for growth and via- bility of women, veteran, and minority-owned businesses, savings to ratepayers, and job creation in underrepresented communities. Accordingly, the subcommittee expanded upon an existing resolution that sup- ported supplier diversity in financial services to include all professional services because it believes that the American economy improves when there is equitable access and partici- pation by all industry partici- pants. The NARUC Board of Direc- tors adopted both resolutions on July 24, 2019, which can be found on NARUC's website under the Resolutions Index. In addition to the resolutions, SSWD continues to encour- age diversity and inclusion in the utility industry through its rich programming and collab- orative initiatives. The sub- committee will meet again in November at the NARUC Annual Meeting in San Anto- nio, TX. OCT 17 6:30 RECEPTION 8:00 CONCERT $40 TICKETS WITH PROMO CODE NETWORK PIAZZOLLA &VIVALDI LATINO ALLIANCE THE FOUR SEASONS In Partnership with Artists, prices and programs subject to change. Special offer excludes box seats. Your ticket purchase is your reservation for the reception. Tickets subject to availability. Offer cannot be applied to previously purchased tickets. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. CSO.ORG/LATINOALLIANCE | 312-294-3000 Official Airline of the CSO Media Sponsors CHICAGO National Association of Hispanic Nurses NAHN I L L I N O I S TM

• Cover