California Water Service Reaffirms Support of Disabled-Veteran Businesses Upon Start of National Military Appreciation Month

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Water Service (Cal Water) marked National Military Appreciation Month by reaffirming its commitment to doing business with disabled veterans through its supplier diversity program.  Cal Water procured $6.6 million in goods and services from disabled veteran-owned enterprises in 2017, tripling its spending compared to 2016.  

The results were reported in the utility’s 2017 Supplier Diversity Report to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in accordance with the CPUC’s General Order 156. These purchases represented 2.75% of all discretionary spending, surpassing the CPUC’s goal of 1.5%, according to Cal Water President and CEO Martin A. Kropelnicki.

“Disabled veteran-owned businesses have been a reliable and valuable partner for us, as they have brought values such as leadership, self-direction, motivation, and a strong work ethic to the table with their operations,” Kropelnicki said. “This enables us to operate more efficiently, which in turn benefits our customers and communities and helps us continue fulfilling our commitment to provide quality, service, and value.”

California Water Service serves about 2 million people through 484,900 service connections in California. The utility has provided water service in the state since 1926. Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com. 

Released May 1, 2018