PG&E: Commitment to California

“For PG&E, giving back to our communities is really about caring for our customers and for the future of California. We apply the expertise we've gained over our 100 year history of serving Californians to provide support and opportunity for our neighbors who need it most."

Ezra Garrett 

PG&E Vice President of Community Relations and Chief Sustainability Officer

PG&E employees and volunteers pose outside of Bakersfield City Hall after planting flowers (April 2013).

To celebrate National Volunteer Month (NVM), PG&E announced that they aimed to contribute 50,000 employee volunteer hours to advance their three signature programs: education, the environment, and economic and community vitality. This tops the 48,000 employee volunteer hours logged in 2013.

NVM corresponds to PG&E's Month of Service. During April, the company organized over 100 activities across Northern California, including food distribution, neighborhood emergency training, and installation of solar panels on Habitat for Humanity homes. Employee volunteers will also work on clean-up and restoration projects at selected California State Parks, marking the 13th year of partnership with the California State Park Foundation.

Employee volunteer planting native plants atMontaña de Oro State Park

The kick-off activity for the company's second Month of Service had employee volunteers help prepare and service meals at The Mission at Kern County, a homeless shelter in Bakersfield. Other groups made no-sew blankets for babies in homeless shelters across the San Francisco Valley.

Addressing a group of volunteers assembled to help clean-up and beautify Bakersfield's downtown, Mayor Harvey Hall remarked, “The Power of Blue is very evident." After removing litter, painting a mural as well as traffic control boxes, PG&E employees were recognized as Volunteer Group of the Year.

“I have fun when I do it. I get to meet people and really connect with the community,” affirmed Yolanda Montejano PG&E Contact Center Operations Safety Lead, of the Fresno division. Rich Garcia, energy solutions and service manager for the Yosemite division, noted, “[I]t gives you a sense of pride to know that PG&E is part of the community and is making a difference.”

Affirming the importance of the Month of Service, Tony Earley, PG&E’s chairman, CEO and president, was present for some events and even literally got his hands dirty at a cleanup event in Golden Gate Park. Information reporting the events was included on the company blog, Currents. I imagine that internal communications, and possibly signs, tables, or other special events promoted Month of Service activities.

Employee volunteerism, during the Month of Service and throughout the year, is only one aspect of PG&E's community contributions. Grants are given through the PG&E Foundation to organizations impacting PG&E's three signature areas. Mentors for New Academy Schools commit eight months to support students. New Academy Schools also receive funding for equipment and classroom enhancements.With the American Red Cross, PG&E supports the Ready Neighborhood initiative to prepare communities for natural disasters and emergencies. Some customers experiencing unexpected finacial hardship can be eligible for a one-time energy credit through REACH.

Best practices of PG&E's community activities include:

• targeted signature areas related to the company's mission and core competencies
• top management commitment
• strong communication about employee participation

These are three characteristics that can benefit any company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. PG&E's already strong CSR might be enhanced by providing employees with more opporutnities for skills-based volunteering.

On a side note, when I was researching this blog entry, I looked at the PG&E Foundation Board of Directors and was taken aback. Is there anything you notice about them that might be problematic?

PG&E Press Release
2014 Month of Service Blog Entries