Supplier Clearinghouse

In 1989, General Order (GO) 156 of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) mandated the establishment of the Women Minority Business Enterprise Clearinghouse (WMBE Clearinghouse) to implement guidelines designed to encourage, recruit, and utilize Women- and Minority-owned Business Enterprises (WMBEs). All investor-owned electric, gas, water and telecommunication utility companies with gross annual revenues in excess of $25,000,000 (and their regulated subsidiaries and affiliates) are required to participate in the supplier diversity program, and to develop and implement programs designed to increase the utilization of WMBEs in their procurement activities. Procurement goals of 5% for women and 15% for minorities were initially established, and later augmented to include a 1.5% goal for disabled veterans. In December 2003, the name of the WMDVBE Program at the CPUC was changed. It is now called the Utility Supplier Diversity Program and the Clearinghouse is called the Supplier Clearinghouse.

ASIAN, Inc. is contracted by the CPUC to operate the Supplier Clearinghouse through its northern California office. The function of the Clearinghouse is to verify that applicant firms are truly WMBEs, and provides the utilities with a current database of all qualified WMBEs. Qualified suppliers must demonstrate their majority ownership of the company, significant involvement in executive management activities including the primary business operations and control of executive policies and decisions. See eligibility standards here. The verification process is performed quickly, at no cost to applicants. Please use the link Application Form for submittal details. MBE, WBE, or WMBE verification is valid for three years if obtained directly from the Clearinghouse. Comparable agency verification (using a certificate from another approved agency) is also available but generally is valid for a shorter period of time. However, as a quality control measure, effective February 26, 2004, the CPUC has given the Clearinghouse permission to refrain from automatic acceptance of a CAV if there is reason to believe that it may not meet Clearinghouse standards. The certification program helps WMBE businesses to participate in the following Utility Companies' procurement programs:

List of Participating Utility Companies:
AT&T/AT&T Wireless
California Water Service Company
California American Water
Citizens Communications/Frontier
Comcast
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
PacificCorp
Pac-West Telecomm
Park Water Company
Qwest Communications
San Gabriel Water Co.
San Jose Water Company(SJ Water Co.)
Sempra Energy
  San Diego Gas & Electric Company
  Southern California Gas Company
Sierra Pacific Power Company
Southern California Edison Company
Golden State Water, a subsidiary of AWR
Southwest Gas Corporation
Sprint Communications Company
Suburban Water Systems (Southwest Water Co)
Surewest Company
Verizon(GTE)/Verizon Wireless
Wild Goose Storage

Supplier Clearinghouse Contact Info

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