CPUC supplier expo: utilities outline contracting paths, common barriers and where to register

SAN FRANCISCO — Officials from multiple utilities and CPUC staff used a California Public Utilities Commission supplier expo session to outline how small and diverse businesses can find and compete for contracts with investor‑owned utilities.

Panelists directed attendees to two primary sources of procurement intelligence: utilities’ annual reports (which show what companies bought in the prior year) and the General Rate Case (GRC), a public, multi‑year process that lays out planned investments. "If you write one thing down, that's: www.cpuc.ca.gov," a panel moderator said, and then walked the room through finding annual reports and GO 156 supplier‑diversity filings on the CPUC site.

Why it matters: Annual reports reveal recurring purchases — for example, meters, installation and construction — that suppliers can target. The GRC is forward‑looking and, panelists said, shows categories where utilities will invest across the next three to four years, including wildfire mitigation, undergrounding, conductor replacement, vegetation management, reliability upgrades, EV charging infrastructure, energy storage and IT modernization.

Panelists discussed supplier‑diversity rules and goals. The…