The last thing Arizona families are thinking about as inflation soars and they struggle to pay their fuel and other energy bills is the ethnicity, gender, or veteran status of the people behind the pump or meter. However, for Arizona Corporation Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson, “supplier diversity” is a top priority.
Márquez Peterson, along with her fellow commissioners, announced they will hold a “Supplier Diversity Summit” on December 14, 2021, at 10 a.m. to review existing supplier diversity programs and learn how regulated utilities promote economic opportunities to local woman-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses in Arizona.
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“There are many economic opportunities in our state’s energy sector,” said Márquez Peterson. “Arizona’s energy sector is a $15 billion dollar industry which boasts over 20,000 jobs in our state. I am thrilled to host a summit that will advance these important opportunities and consciously support our local and diverse business communities in Arizona.”
The Commission has confirmed participation from over a dozen utilities across the state, including Arizona Public Service Company, Tucson Electric Power Company, CenturyLink, and Southwest Gas, among others.
“Whether it’s minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or veteran-owned businesses, I believe our workforces and supplier relationships are made stronger when they represent the diversity of our state,” said Márquez Peterson. “I look forward to fostering an economy of inclusiveness for Arizona.”
Commissioner Márquez Peterson sits on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Subcommittee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity and is a member of the national organization Hispanics in Energy.