PBN Diversity Equity & Inclusion 2024
UTILITY: Rhode Island Energy
ALONG WITH PROVIDING sustainable energy solutions throughout the Ocean State, Rhode Island Energy is being proactive in fostering a diverse and equitable environment both within the Providence-based company and the community it serves.
Cindy Vargas, Rhode Island Energy’s diversity, equity and inclusion manager, says the company is a new brand introducing itself to the community after Pennsylvania-based PPL Corp. acquired Narragansett Electric Co. from National Grid in 2022. She says the company is striving to continue building relationships and partnerships in the community by regularly supporting initiatives that help individuals build essential skills for job readiness and ensuring they have access to resources and training that enhance their career prospects.
“Internally, we focus on fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered through our business resource groups,” Vargas said. “We also provide a variety of professional development opportunities to support our employees’ professional growth.”
The company provides essential energy services to nearly 800,000 customers across the state through the delivery of natural gas and electricity. These efforts include bringing sustainable offshore wind generation to the state, the rollout of smart metering to its customers and its investment in the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which provides financial assistance to households unable to meet their energy expenses. While doing so, it has maintained diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of its priorities.
Rhode Island Energy abides by five diversity commitments. The company seeks to attract, develop and retain a high-performing, diverse workforce; increase diverse representation in leadership roles; maintain a workplace culture of equity and inclusion; foster partnerships and support the growth and vitality of the diverse communities the company serves; and develop and sustain relationships with diverse suppliers, vendors and service providers.
Company officials say female representation in leadership roles at Rhode Island Energy has increased from 23.8% in 2022 to 36% in 2024. Also, the number of ethnic and racially diverse employees in leadership positions increased from 8.6% to 17% in that time.
Included among Rhode Island Energy’s DEI development initiatives are building college co-op programs, as well as apprenticeship programs for line workers, craft workers and electricians. The company also teams up with community organizations, high schools and technical colleges to recruit top talent.
For example, Vargas says Rhode Island Energy has partnered with the Connecting for Children & Families’ Northern Rhode Island Career Academy in Woonsocket. The academy, she says, helps local students gain the skills that employers are seeking. The program delivers relevant industry skills training, job readiness training, resume writing, interviewing techniques, job search assistance, and case management, Vargas said.
Also, this year Rhode Island Energy and PPL started a Brighter Futures scholarship program to support students pursuing degrees or technical certification in fields that impact the clean energy transition. Scholarship winners will be selected by a network of partner schools. The New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich and the University of Rhode Island are the local colleges Rhode Island Energy partners with on this program.
“Our goal is to expose the community to what a utility career can look like,” Vargas said. “We also do engagements with adults who are looking to rejoin the workforce or looking to change careers or try something new. We are driven by the belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed. Through our work, we strive to continue uplifting others and encouraging them to embrace their unique strengths and perspectives.”
The company also offers occupational training, leadership and development programs, mentoring programs, craftworker and line worker development programs, and tuition reimbursement for undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Angie M. McDonald, PPL’s vice president and chief DEI officer, said in a statement that the whole company, including Rhode Island Energy, sees diversity, equity and inclusion as a “continual learning journey.
“We continue our growth through purposeful – and sometimes difficult – conversations around diversity issues and engaging deeply with our workforce and communities to lift up those most at risk, foster understanding, promote unity and advance equity for all,” McDonald said.
