PSEG Wins Top Honors for Developing Programs That Increase Job Opportunities for Minorities

U.S. Department of Labor gives company prestigious EVE Award for college degree programs that are preparing a diverse group of people for careers in the energy industry

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) today took top honors at a ceremony in the nation’s capital for its development of programs that are providing job opportunities for a diverse group of Garden State residents in the face of an impending workforce shortage in the utility industry.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) gave PSEG an Exemplary Volunteer Effort (EVE) Award for programs developed in partnership with New Jersey schools: Passaic County Community College, Essex County College, Middlesex County College, Mercer County Community College and Thomas Edison State College.

The EVE Award is one of the most prestigious awards given by the Department of Labor, and it celebrates businesses that take voluntary efforts to ensure equal opportunity in the workplace. Past EVE Award winners include Goldman Sachs, IBM, Xerox, Chrysler, Eli Lily and Dell.

“We place an enormous amount of importance on workforce development, and it is gratifying to have our efforts recognized at this level,” said Peggy Pego, PSEG’s senior vice president of human resources. “There is no doubt that having a pipeline filled with a diverse group of skilled employees will be critical to our continued success. This award validates our investments and confirms that we are on the right track. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

PSEG’s degree programs are designed to help create a pool of technically skilled and educated workers to fill critical entry-level positions at a time when the utility industry is facing a looming workforce shortage. A 2005 study by the Utility Business Education Coalition estimated that approximately half of the utility workers employed at that time, about 300,000 workers, would retire within15 years.

PSEG’s degree programs combine classroom training with hands-on technical apprentice level training. Qualified graduates are offered positions at PSE&G and PSEG Power.

“We have a record of delivering reliable service. As Baby Boomers retire, maintaining that level of performance will be a challenge. We’ll need qualified people to fill their shoes,” said Ralph LaRossa, president and COO of PSE&G, the electric and gas utility subsidiary of PSEG. "These programs are helping to address this challenge..”