SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has earned a 100 score—the highest score possible—on the 2017 Disability Equality Index (DEI) and was named one of the “2017 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” The company was only one of four American energy enterprises that scored 100 on the survey, which was compiled by the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).

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“We value the important contributions that individuals with disabilities make to serving our customers. More broadly, we’re committed to diversity and inclusion, and to our workforce reflecting the communities we serve. We appreciate this recognition of our continued commitment and progress,” said Dinyar Mistry, PG&E senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer.

PG&E received a 100 score on the index for the third consecutive year. According to the USBLN and AAPD, there isn’t a right way to practice inclusion and that some practices may be more practical for some companies and industries than others. A score of 100 means a company is adhering to many of the leading disability inclusion practices featured in the DEI. Among those:

• Having recruitment efforts specifically aimed at hiring individuals with disabilities.
• Having an employee resource group dedicated to supporting employees with disabilities.
• Having a supplier diversity program and working with certified disabled-owned companies and certified service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.

PG&E, one of 68 American employers to record the top rating of 100, has shown its support of individuals with disabilities in various ways:

• The Arc San Francisco: For the last six years, PG&E has played host to interns from this non-profit organization through Project SEARCH. This national program pairs young adults who have developmental disabilities with business and education partners who provide training and employment opportunities in a real world, immersion setting. The company was the first in San Francisco to partner with The Arc and host a Project SEARCH program.
• Access Network Employee Resource Group: Formed in 2010, this ERG has more than 500 members. Access Network is dedicated to supporting, advocating and celebrating the inclusion of people with disabilities in PG&E’s workforce. The Access Network also provides support to customers and the community with disabilities. Since 2012, the ERG has awarded $77,000 in college scholarships to more than 30 students. In addition, Access Network has partnered with community-based disability organizations such as Canine Companions for Independence and Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
• Spend with Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises: PG&E’s spend with DVBEs rose 44.8 percent in 2016 ($223.9 million from $154.6 million in 2015—an increase of $69.3 million). This was part of the company’s record $2.8 billion spend with diverse suppliers in 2016.

Complete information on PG&E’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and diversity and inclusion can be found on PG&E’s careers web site.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

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