GO 156 Reporting for California Utilities: How Astute Transforms Manual Processes
What Is CPUC GO-156 Reporting?
Into Faster, Audit-Ready CPUC Reporting. Public utilities in California operate in one of the highly regulated environments. Reporting under CPUC General Order 156 (GO-156) is a comprehensive process that demands accuracy, consistency, careful interpretation of regulatory guidelines and coordination across teams.
While it may seem like a straightforward spreadsheet-based exercise, the process requires greater effort when internal controls and preparation are limited.
What is GO-156 reporting?
GO-156 reporting is a mandatory annual submission required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that tracks supplier diversity spend by regulated utilities. Reports must be accurate, auditable, and aligned with CPUC-defined classifications and formats.
Why GO-156 Reporting Is So Challenging for California Utilities
The process often requires:
- extracting information from multiple ERP systems and data sources,
- data cleansing and review
- manpower
- heightened compliance awareness
- timely execution
Teams must also contend with delayed or inaccurate data, all while working against tight reporting deadlines.
These challenges rarely feel urgent until deadlines approach, numbers don’t reconcile, or CPUC audit reviews trigger deeper scrutiny into the underlying data.
How Astute Transforms GO-156 Reporting into an Audit-Ready Process
Astute assists utility companies deliver audit ready GO 156 reports to CPUC 
Astute brings a proven success story from our GO 156 reporting framework with San Jose Water Company (new name), where we have transformed complex, manual reporting into a simplified, structured process.
GO-156 Reporting Case Study: San Jose Water Company
Astute helped San Jose water shift from reactive compliance to a process-driven, audit-ready approach to GO-156 reporting.
We developed a custom Reporting Tool, specifically aligned with GO-156 reporting formats. Using Astute’s Tool has reduced report preparation time from 28 working days to just 2 days, while significantly improving accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
Astute worked with procurement, accounts payable, and supplier diversity teams to map existing workflows, identify gaps, and standardize how subcontractors spend data collected and reviewed. We then implemented a customized reporting tool and supporting processes that converted raw ERP data into GO-156-ready reports, improving accuracy, consistency, and reporting timelines.
Is Your Utility Ready for the Upcoming GO-156 Deadline?
With the GO-156 deadline quickly approaching, if your team feels stuck, behind, or unsure Whether your data and processes will stand up to an audit, now is the time to act.
Astute is ready to help you regain control, meet CPUC expectations, and submit with confidence.
Contact Astute today to discuss your GO-156 readiness.
