SAN DIEGO, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- During a year when the economy was devastated by the pandemic, San Diego Gas & Electric sustained small and diverse suppliers by buying more than 40 percent in goods and services from them, according to the company's newly released 2020 supplier diversity annual report.

"As one of the largest employers in the region, we recognize our supplier diversity program can be leveraged to help create a more inclusive economy and more equitable economic recovery," said SDG&E CEO Caroline Winn. "Small and diverse businesses are job creation engines. When they flourish, our entire region flourishes."

Overall, SDG&E injected more than $2 billion into the economy last year, the highest level of expenditures on goods and services in the company's 140-year history. The company invested $872 million on small and diverse suppliers, representing 41.6% of the total expenditures – far exceeding the 21.5% goal set by the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC). Last year also marks the eighth consecutive year that SDG&E's supplier diversity spending surpassed 40%. (Videos of some of SDG&E's diverse suppliers: A.M. Ortega Construction, Patriot General Engineering)

Year after year, SDG&E's supplier diversity program has grown, paving the way for many subcontractors to become prime contractors and add jobs to the local economy.

To encourage large local employers to follow suit, SDG&E recently partnered with the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. (EDC) on a new study that analyzes the impact of increased local procurement on quality job creation, and includes recommendations for large employers to support small businesses by buying local. Along with the study, SDG&E also sponsored the EDC's "Right Recovery Town Halls."

Here is a breakdown of SDG&E's 2020 spending by diverse business categories:

• Minority Business Enterprise: $455.4 million or 21.7%
• Women Business Enterprise: $285.9 million or 13.6%
• Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise: $120.5 million or 5.7%
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Business Enterprise: $10.4 million or 0.5%

Diverse suppliers support many of SDG&E's key functions including electric engineering and construction, gas operations, clean transportation, sustainability/environmental services and wildfire mitigation/vegetation management. Early in the pandemic, SDG&E even partnered with a Vista-based whiskey distillery to refocus production on hand sanitizers for its field crews.

SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by providing its electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; supporting numerous non-profit partners; and, investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region's infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). For more information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.    

SOURCE SDG&E