September 16, 2002

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Sept. 16, 2002-For the fourth consecutive year, Southern California Edison (SCE) ranks as one of the "top 50 best companies for Hispanic women to work for in the U.S.," according to LATINA Style magazine's annual survey evaluating corporate America's responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of Latinas.

SCE, an Edison International company, was among 600 U.S. corporations evaluated as part of the survey, which did not numerically rank those on the list.  SCE was one of three electric utilities to make the list.

"We appreciate being honored again by LATINA Style magazine for our efforts to respond to employee needs, such as work-life balance, dependent child care support, and educational and leadership opportunities," said Frank Quevedo, SCE vice president for equal opportunity.  "While we have made significant gains and achievements in this area, we're committed to building on these efforts.  We'll continue to strive to meet the needs of all our employees."

The magazine's evaluation was based upon issues identified by LATINA Style as most important to its readers, among them a company's number of Latina executives, mentoring programs, educational opportunities, dependent/child care support, benefits, and women's issues.

Being recognized again by LATINA Style as one of the best places for ethnic minorities to work is only the latest distinction earned by SCE for its diversity efforts within and outside the workplace.  SCE's other diversity accolades include:

  • 2002: For the fifth consecutive year, Fortune magazine named SCE one of the top companies for ethnic minorities in America, ranking the utility seventh overall in its most recent survey.
  • 2001: A coalition of organizations led by the Greenlining Institute, a leading multi-ethnic, public policy center based in San Francisco, identified SCE as having one of the most successful supplier diversity programs in America.
  • 2001, 2000: NEXT STEP magazine ranked SCE among the top companies in America for workplace diversity.
  • 1999: A. Magazine recognized SCE for providing one of "the best work environments for Asian Americans," and named the utility as one of the nation's top five Fortune 500 companies for Asian Americans.

At SCE, one of the nation's largest electric utilities, ethnic minority employees make up almost 43% of the company's total work force, and 27% of its officials and managers.  Minority representation on the board of directors is 18%.

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An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 11 million via 4.3 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.  For more information on the California electricity market, see www.sce.com.