Exelon, Pepco tout merger plan as boon for D.C. small-business diversity

Exelon Corp. and Pepco Holdings hosted a joint-supplier roundtable this week that attracted approximately 160 small, female- and minority-owned businesses in the Washington, D.C., area.

The roundtable was held to present the potential opportunities that exist for these businesses with a proposed merger of the two energy companies.

During the roundtable, Exelon Vice President of Corporate Affairs Melissa Sherrod noted the company’s support of community vendors and said approximately $1.3 billion was spent with female- or minority-owned vendors in 2015. Sherrod also said that should the merger be approved by D.C.'s Public Service Commission, the companies would be able to pursue more vendor options.

"The combined resources of Pepco and Exelon and their commitment to invest locally will be beneficial to local and diverse contractors and the communities we serve," Pepco Region President Donna Cooper said. "We're supportive of every effort to drive jobs and economic development in the District, and our merger with Exelon will continue that support."

Cora Williams, co-founder and president of female- and minority-owned Ideal Electrical Supply Corp., which has been working with Pepco for nearly 30 years, said she's "excited about the possibilities this merger opens for us and look forward to it moving forward."