“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>When attorney Robert Kenney joined the Missouri Public Service Commission, he brought with him a background of promoting inclusion and diversity in the workplace – from serving as chief of staff in Attorney General Chris Koster’s office to working in private practice. “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I became most interested in the possibility of strengthening economic development opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses as I began to realize the amount of goods and services that utilities procure,” he said, who “font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>was appointed to the commission in 2009 by Governor Jay Nixon “font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>. “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>On April 14, Kenney announced that the commission opened a voluntary docket to gather feedback about the benefits and concerns utility companies encounter when seeking goods and services from diverse suppliers. “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The commission is seeking information about a number of topics including: “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>∙What goods and services do utilities procure from outside suppliers;
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>∙Which utilities already have supplier diversity programs in place;
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>∙What incentives might encourage utilities to procure goods and services from diverse suppliers;
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>∙What barriers exist that might discourage utilities from procuring goods and services from diverse suppliers;
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>∙What barriers exist for diverse suppliers seeking to work with regulated utilities;
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>∙Are there “best practices” that can be adopted to facilitate and encourage procurement of services from diverse suppliers? “font-family: Verdana;”>
Overall,
commissioners aim to highlight the issue of supplier diversity and
to affirm its significance among utility
companies.
“At the
end of the day, we hope to do our part to maximize the economic
development opportunities for traditionally disadvantaged
business,” he said.
“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
The idea
for opening the docket came out of discussions Kenney had
with commissioners from California and Maryland, both of whom have
been leaders in working with their regulated entities to promote
supplier diversity.
“font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-family: Verdana;”>Missouri “font-family: Verdana;”>’s commission has not done anything like this before regarding diversity, but it has opened various investigatory dockets to examine other unrelated issues, he said. The docket format is the vehicle the commission uses to keep track of documents and comments related to a specific issue.
“I
envision that, once we have received comments from interested
parties, we will convene workshops to discuss what we have received
and discuss the next steps,” he said.
“font-family: Verdana;”>
Kenney
said the process is also important because the commission has an
obligation to ensure the safe, reliable delivery of utility
services and reasonable cost.
“font-family: Verdana;”>
“We also
have a duty and obligation to act in the public interest,” he
said. “The public interest also includes, in my opinion, making
sure that the people who pay for utility services are given a fair
opportunity to compete for business opportunities with those
utility providers.”
“font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Any person or entity with an interest in this case is invited to view documents and is encouraged to submit comments or documents without counsel. This is not a contested case; therefore, intervention requests to participate are unnecessary. “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The public is invited to submit comments by forwarding electronic communications through the Public Service Commission’s electronic and information system (EFIS) or by mailing documents or written comments.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Electronic comments can be submitted at the Commission’s website at http://www.psc.mo.gov. When at the website, click on the EFIS/Case filings on the left side of the page. Scroll down and click on the public comment link. Please refer to the case number (AO-2011-0332).
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Written comments may be mailed to the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102. Please reference the case number (AO-2011-0332).
Documents
and comments must be sent to the Commission by
“mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;”>May 13, 2011
