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Registration for the EDAM Forum is now closed. If you wish to attend, we welcome you to join us virtually.

The California ISO, Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC), NV Energy, PacifiCorp, and Southern California Edison are co-hosting the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) Forum on Aug. 30, 2023, at the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The forum’s panel discussions will allow a broad spectrum of utility and thought leaders to delve into the potential benefits and outstanding questions regarding EDAM participation, its evolution and how it could transform and optimize energy delivery in the future. It will bring together experts from segments across the energy industry including utilities, government agencies and environmental associations, regulators and public power entities who will share their perspectives on EDAM, critical decisions under consideration, and the regulatory landscape.

It will also feature a discussion on the Brattle EDAM Benefits study and EDAM interoperability with Resource Adequacy programs.

Those planning to attend the event in person are invited to a networking reception the evening of Aug. 29 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Allē Lounge on 66, Resorts World Las Vegas. In person attendees can book their hotel room at the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World at a special discounted rate for meeting attendees.

 
 

AGENDA

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Welcome reception

Allē Lounge on 66, Resorts World Las Vegas

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30 - All activities will be held in the Blossom Ballroom.See the property map.

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Continental breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Welcome & opening remarks

Doug Cannon, President and CEO, NV Energy
Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO, California ISO

9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

CEO roundtable

Discussion and perspectives on the opportunity of an Extended Day-Ahead Market across the West, its benefits, road blocks and key individual decisional factors.

Panelists:
Stefan Bird, President and CEO, Pacific Power
Doug Cannon, President and CEO, NV Energy
Lisa Grow, President and CEO, Idaho Power
John Hairston, Administrator and CEO, Bonneville Power Administration
Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO, California ISO
James Shetler, General Manager, Balancing Authority of Northern CA
Jacob Tetlow, Executive Vice President, Operations, Arizona Public Service

Moderator: Steven Powell, President and CEO, Southern California Edison

10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.

Featured remarks

Hayley Williamson, Chair, Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
Dwayne McClinton, Director, Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy

11:10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

A regulators point of view

Regulators will share their thoughts on current and anticipated market performance in the West from the WEIM to an expanded day ahead market, governance, and how best to foster the largest consumer benefit of market expansion.

Related Document: West-Wide Governance Pathway Initiative

Panelists:
Gabriel Aguilera, Commissioner, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
Milt Doumit, Commissioner, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
Alice Reynolds, President, California Public Utilities Commission
Letha Tawney, Commissioner, Oregon Public Utility Commission
Kevin Thompson, Commissioner, Arizona Corporation Commission
Hayley Williamson, Chair, Public Utilities Commission of Nevada

Moderator: Stacey Crowley, Vice President External Affairs, California ISO

12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Lunch

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Featured Presentation: The Brattle Study – The benefits of EDAM participation

Speaker: John Tsoukalis, Principal, The Brattle Group

Presentation slides

2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

EDAM and Resource Adequacy

How to achieve maximum benefits through coordinated harmonization of resource adequacy programs and the Extended Day-Ahead Market.

Panelists:
Sarah Edmonds, President and CEO, Western Power Pool
Pete Skala, Director of Electricity Supply, Planning, and Costs, CPUC
Mike Wilding, Vice President Energy Supply Management, PacifiCorp

Moderator: Mark Rothleder, SVP and COO, California ISO

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Evolving markets in the West – a stakeholder perspective

As the generation fleet in the west aggressively adopts new technology, and the level of coordination amongst industry sector groups evolves, panelists will share their perspectives on how EDAM can help facilitate low cost, reliable, and innovative technology to the benefit of customers across the region.

Panelists:
Brian George, US Federal Lead, Global Energy Market Policy and Development, Google
Kelsie Gomanie, Advocate, Sustainable FERC Project
Greg Patterson, Director, Arizona Competitive Power Alliance
Scott Ranzal, Director Portfolio Management, PG&E
Josh Robertson, Director, Energy Market Strategy, Salt River Project
Mary Wiencke, Executive Director, Public Generating Pool

Moderator: Robert Kondziolka, Western Energy Imbalance Market Governing Body Member

4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Next steps and closing remarks

Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO, California ISO

WEIM transfer ties

 

BIOS

Gabriel Aguilera

Gabriel Aguilera, Commissioner, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission

Commissioner Gabriel Aguilera joined the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission in January 2023, following over 15 years of experience at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Commissioner Aguilera’s expertise focuses on electric transmission, interconnection, and Western U.S. electric issues.

Back to agenda.

 

Stefan A. Bird

Stefan A. Bird, President and CEO, Pacific Power

Stefan A. Bird, 57, is president and CEO of Pacific Power, a division of PacifiCorp serving 800,000 customers in 243 communities across Oregon, Washington and California.

In his role, Bird also oversees the planning and optimization of PacifiCorp’s 17,000-mile transmission system, which is the largest privately held grid in the West, and its diverse resource portfolio spanning 10 states. Bird also oversees PacifiCorp’s renewable resource operations, which include the largest regulated owned wind fleet in the West, and multiple Portland, Oregon-based corporate teams serving 2 million customers in the Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power service areas.

Under his leadership, the company is making historic investments in renewable energy, transmission and storage infrastructure needed to transition the West to a sustainable energy future. PacifiCorp is also leading the development of innovative energy markets to modernize the way these resources are optimized across the West to deliver maximum customer benefits.

Bird led the company’s partnership with the California ISO in 2014 to develop a transformative Western U.S. energy market that maximizes renewable energy, increases grid reliability and lowers customer energy costs. Since its inception the market has saved customers across the West over $4.2 billion while simultaneously reducing emissions and increasing reliability. For PacifiCorp customers, market participation has delivered more than $658 million in energy savings to customers so far.

Bird joined Berkshire Hathaway Energy in 1998, serving as vice president of acquisitions and development, president and CEO of CalEnergy Generation U.S., and senior vice president, commercial and trading for PacifiCorp. Earlier in his career he served in various energy and international financial sector positions.

Bird serves on several nonprofit and public service organizations including as chairman, PacifiCorp Foundation; chairman, STEM Investment Council; chairman, CTE-STEM Employer Coalition; director, Oregon Business Council; and member of the board of trustees, Oregon Institute of Technology.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University.

Back to agenda.

 

Douglas A. Cannon

Douglas A. Cannon, President and CEO, NV Energy

Douglas A. Cannon, 47, serves as president and CEO of NV Energy where he leads the company’s daily operations and oversees NV Energy’s commitment to deliver low-cost energy, expand its renewable energy portfolio and maintain industry-leading reliability for its customers.

NV Energy delivers electricity to nearly 1.4 million customers and over 56 million tourists annually throughout its nearly 46,000-mile service territory in the state of Nevada. The company also provides natural gas to 200,000 customers in the Reno-Sparks, Nevada area.

Cannon left private law practice in Nevada and joined the Berkshire Hathaway Energy family of business in 2011 working as an attorney for PacifiCorp Energy in Salt Lake City. In 2013, Cannon was the lead attorney in obtaining the regulatory approvals necessary for NV Energy to join Berkshire Hathaway Energy. At the end of 2013 with the closing of the NV Energy merger, Cannon joined the NV Energy team as senior vice president general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer and has served in various management roles with NV Energy. In his various roles Cannon has set and executed on the strategic direction of the company and managed all legal, regulatory, compliance, legislative and public relations functions for the company and its subsidiaries.

Cannon earned a juris doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law and a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Colorado. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental geoscience from Weber State University.

Cannon serves on the board of trustees for the Desert Research Institute.

Back to agenda.

 

Stacey Crowley

Stacey Crowley, Vice President, External Affairs

Stacey Crowley is the Vice President of External Affairs for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). She is responsible for delivering the organization’s communications strategy, developing strategic partnerships and overseeing governmental relations at the state, regional and federal levels. She also manages coordination with the EIM Governing Body and its committees to facilitate quality engagement and dialogue with stakeholders on a variety of western energy issues.

Ms. Crowley’s strength in developing partnerships and fostering consensus grew in her previous role as the Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy and advisor to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval. There, she helped define important energy opportunities in the state and worked to build enduring and effective regional partnerships. She implemented federal grant programs and economic incentive regulations for clean energy projects, served as Chair of the Western Interstate Energy Board and served on the board of the National Association of State Energy Officials.

She is also a former practicing architect who specialized in environmental sustainability and client engagement, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Michigan and Masters of Architecture from the University of New Mexico. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tahoe Fund, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the extraordinary environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Back to agenda.

 

Milt Doumit

Milt Doumit, Commissioner, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Milt was appointed to serve as a commissioner to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in September 2022.

Milt is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and International Resources and the Environment. Milt also serves on the Board of State Regulators for the Western Energy Imbalance Market.

Before the commission, Milt served as vice president of Pacific Northwest State Government Affairs for Verizon Communications. In this role, he worked on state laws and municipal ordinances, including policies relating to broadband deployment, and advocated issues before several public utility commissions in the Northwest and Mountain states.

Milt served as chief of staff in the Washington Attorney General's Office, held roles supporting and representing the Washington State Senate, including secretary of the Senate and Senate Counsel, and worked as a private practice attorney. 

Milt has his LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a Juris doctorate from the University of Notre Dame School of Law, and a bachelor's in political science from Washington State University.

Back to agenda.

 

Sarah E. Edmonds

Sarah E. Edmonds, President and CEO, Northwest Power Pool Corporation, doing business as the Western Power Pool (WPP)

Ms. Edmonds was selected in 2022 to be President and CEO of WPP.  WPP is a nonprofit corporation that helps coordinate electric grid operations for the western United States and Canada. The WPP supports the activities of the Northwest Power Pool, which includes major utilities, generators, and energy managers who together work for increased grid efficiency and reliability, including WPP’s administration of the regional resource adequacy program (WRAP), which seeks to enhance and increase reliability for entities across the footprint.

Prior to joining WPP, Ms. Edmonds spent nearly 11 years with PacifiCorp, starting as legal counsel, moving to director of transmission, before being named VP and general counsel. She moved to PGE in 2018 where she served as director of transmission and reliability. In these roles, she was responsible for development of strategy and policy recommendations relating to market expansion, regional resource adequacy development, emerging regional and national wholesale policy initiatives, and transmission expansion and cost recovery. 

Back to agenda.

 

Brian George

Brian George, US Federal Lead, Global Energy Market Policy and Development, Google

Brian is responsible for energy regulatory and policy engagement across the federal government, including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy. In addition, he is responsible for energy regulatory and legislative engagement across PJM and the mid-Atlantic region, where Google datacenters represent a large and growing commercial load. Brian has extensive experience in wholesale electricity market design and energy policy.

Prior to Google, Brian was the Senior Director for Strategy and Government Affairs at the Electric Power Supply Association where he led policy development and federal legislative engagement for a membership consisting of over 150,000 MW of competitive power generation across the US.

Brian started his career as an economist at FERC, serving in roles across multiple offices, including the Office of Enforcement and the Office of Energy Policy and Innovation. Brian capped his service at FERC as a technical advisor to former commissioner Rob Powelson, where he advised on significant issues impacting all of the organized electricity markets.

A native of West Virginia, Brian now lives in Maryland with his wife, son, and goldendoodle.

Back to agenda.

 

Kelsie Gomanie

Kelsie Gomanie, Advocate, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Kelsie Gomanie focuses on electricity market issues and opportunities in the Western region in support of a carbon-free electricity system. Prior to joining NRDC, she advocated for legislation at the state level across the Western region to support renewable energy development and decarbonization of the power sector. She holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and sustainable development from Lehigh University and a master's degree in environmental policy & management from the University of Denver. She is based in Denver, CO.

Back to agenda.

 

Lisa A. Grow

Lisa A. Grow, President and Chief Executive Officer, IDACORP and Idaho Power

Lisa Grow was appointed president and chief executive officer of IDACORP and Idaho Power in June 2020 and a director of IDACORP and Idaho Power Board of Directors in February 2020.

Lisa has dedicated her entire 36-year career to Idaho Power. She was the company’s second female engineer and is the first female CEO. Lisa’s career is grounded in operations. In addition to her history of designing, building and maintaining the grid, she’s also focused on caring for employees and leading the company through the beginnings of its transition to 100% clean energy.

Respected across the energy industry and beyond, Lisa has helped influence regional policies, grid reliability and the development of regional energy markets. She serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Salt Lake City Branch Board of Directors.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Idaho and a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University. Lisa and her husband live in Boise, Idaho, and have two adult children.

Back to agenda.

 

John Hairston

John Hairston, Administrator & CEO, Bonneville Power Administration

John Hairston was named administrator and CEO in January 2021. He is responsible for managing the nonprofit federal agency that markets carbon-free power from Columbia River hydroelectric dams and the region's one nuclear plant. BPA also operates most of the high-voltage power grid across the Pacific Northwest, distributing renewable energy to the region.

Hairston, who joined BPA in 1991, previously, served as chief operating officer where he oversaw Power Services; Transmission Services; Environment, Fish and Wildlife; Customer Support Services; and the Business Transformation Office.

Hairston also served as BPA’s chief administrative officer. In this role he provided policy and strategic guidance concerning BPA’s internal operations and oversaw Safety; Human Capital Management; Security and Continuity of Operations; Supply Chain; Workplace Services and Information Technology.

Hairston began his career at BPA as an economist in the Rates Forecasting and Rate Design organizations and served in various positions in Energy Efficiency until 2006 when he was named BPA’s chief compliance officer, leading the development and implementation of the Agency Compliance and Governance Organization, providing overall coordination and management of systems and processes established to assure agency compliance with regulatory rules and standards.

Hairston holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from The Southern University, a master’s degree in Urban Studies from Portland State University and a Juris Doctorate from the Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law.

Back to agenda.

 

Robert Kondziolka

Robert Kondziolka, Western Energy Imbalance Market Governing Body Member

Robert Kondziolka retired in 2019 after more than 40 years in the electric industry. At the time of retirement, he was the management consultant for Grid Resiliency and Security with Salt River Project. Throughout his career, Mr. Kondziolka served as Salt River Project’s director of Transmission Line Design, Construction & Maintenance, director of Power Delivery Engineering, director of Transmission & Generation Operations, executive manager of Transmission Planning and Development, manager of Transmission Line Design, project engineer for the Mead Phoenix Project, and supervisor for Transmission Line Structural and Geotechnical Engineering. He was also a senior engineer at Salt River Project and design engineer at Tucson Electric Power Company specializing in all aspects of transmission line design and development.

Mr. Kondziolka’s recent industry leadership includes chairman of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Member Advisory Committee; co-chair of the Joint North American Transmission Forum and INPO Nuclear Power Plant and Transmission Grid Interface Identification Group; chair of the Arizona Nuclear Power Project High Voltage Switchyard & Transmission System, Mead-Phoenix Project and Southwest Valley Project Engineering and Operating Committees.

Additionally, he served as chair of the Southwest Variable Energy Resource Initiative, chair of the Southwest Area Transmission Sub regional Transmission Group, representative to WECC Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee, lead on the development of and representative to the West Connect Planning Committee, chair of WECC Joint Guidance Committee, chair of the U.S. Department of Energy Western Congestion Analysis Task Force, vice-chair of the WECC Planning Coordination Committee, board member of the Arizona Independent Scheduling Administrator Association and board member of the Phoenix chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He initiated, led or was part of the formation team responsible for the development and implementation of many of the industry groups with which he has been involved.

Mr. Kondziolka graduated from the University of Arizona in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and is a registered professional Civil Engineer in the State of Arizona.

Mr. Kondziolka was appointed to the WEIM Governing Body on February 1, 2020. He was reappointed July 1, 2021, for a term ending June 30, 2024.

Back to agenda.

 

Elliot Mainzer

Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO, California ISO

Elliot Mainzer is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Independent System Operator (ISO). He started in his new role at the ISO on September 30, 2020 following a successful 18-year career at the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) where he was at the forefront of transformational changes in the western electricity market.

Mr. Mainzer is committed to using leading-edge policies and new technologies to accelerate California’s drive towards the reliable decarbonization of its electric power grid. While serving as BPA’s administrator and CEO from 2013-2020, Mr. Mainzer effectively navigated the agency through a period of tremendous industry change and economic headwinds by improving the agency’s long-term cost competitiveness and financial resiliency, modernizing assets and system operations, and positioning BPA as a more responsive and agile business partner.

A native of San Francisco, Mr. Mainzer has an undergraduate degree in geography from U.C. Berkeley, and master’s degrees in Business Administration and Environmental Studies from Yale University.

Back to agenda.

 

Dwayne McClinton

Dwayne McClinton, Director, Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy

Dwayne McClinton – a proud United States Marine Corps veteran – has spent the past two decades working in renewables, utilities, and government affairs, amassing a wealth of multi-industry experience in the energy sector. In February 2023, his work ethic and knowledge of energy policy resulted in his appointment as Director of the Nevada Office of Energy by Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the Sr. Legislative Advisor for Southwest Gas Corporation, where he advised the company on federal, state, and local policies for the state of Nevada and California. McClinton was also Staff Project Manager and Manager of Operations for Granite Services, where he planned and executed all O&M and warranty activities and Regional Operations Manager for Gamesa North America, where he was responsible for the wind farm activity of over 500 megawatts and a multi-million-dollar annual budget.

In 2017, McClinton was appointed by former Governor Brian Sandoval to the Nevada Commission on Mentoring, and he currently serves on the board of the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (CREPC), Western Interstate Energy Board (WEIB), Western Regional Partnership (WRP), Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (WIRAB), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He is also a member of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) and 100 Black Men of Las Vegas. Dwayne is also a proud veteran of the United States Marines.

Back to agenda.

 

Greg Patterson

Greg Patterson, Director, Arizona Competitive Power Alliance and the New Mexico Independent Power Producers Association

Greg Patterson is the Director of the Arizona Competitive Power Alliance and the New Mexico Independent Power Producers Association. Greg is a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives, Director of the Arizona Residential Utility Consumer Office and member of the Arizona Board of Regents. He is a licensed attorney in both Arizona and New Mexico.

Back to agenda.

 

Steven D. Powell

Steven D. Powell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Southern California Edison

Steven Powell is president and chief executive officer of Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, safely delivering reliable, clean and affordable power to more than 15 million people in a 50,000-square-mile service area spanning Central, Coastal and Southern California. He is a member of SCE’s board of directors.

Previously, Powell served as executive vice president, Operations, where he led many of SCE’s operations groups — including Transmission & Distribution, Customer Service, Safety, Security, and Business Resiliency, and Operational Services.

Powell has held a variety of positions of progressing responsibility since joining the company in 2000, including senior vice president of Strategy, Planning and Operational Performance, where he developed SCE’s long-term strategy, identifying and executing strategic projects, prioritizing technology development, integrated resource planning and driving operational improvements. He has also held leadership positions in resource planning and strategy, gas and power procurement and SCE’s plug-in electric vehicle readiness efforts.

Powell serves as chair of the Research Advisory Committee for the Electric Power Research Institute, co-chair of the Edison Electric Institute Wildfire Task Force and is a representative for the Southern California Leadership Council, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Council, Western Electric Industry Leaders and is on the California Science Center Foundation board of trustees.

He has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles and received his MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Back to agenda.

 

Scott Ranzal

Scott Ranzal, Director Portfolio Management, Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation

Scott Ranzal is the Director, Portfolio Management at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In his role, he oversees management of the wholesale power portfolio for PG&E, one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States.

Scott joined PG&E in 2007 and has held various roles in the Energy Policy and Procurement and Finance organizations. Scott holds a master’s degree in finance from San Jose State University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from University of Colorado.

Back to agenda.

 

Alice Reynolds

Alice Reynolds, President, California Public Utilities Commission

Alice Busching Reynolds was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as President by Governor Gavin Newsom on Nov. 22, 2021, effective Dec. 31, 2021. She was confirmed as a CPUC Commissioner by the State Senate on August 17, 2022.

Prior to her appointment, President Reynolds served for three years as Governor Gavin Newsom’s senior advisor for energy. From 2011 to January 2019, she served in the administration of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., most recently as the Governor’s senior advisor for climate, the environment and energy and previously as chief counsel and deputy secretary for law enforcement at the California Environmental Protection Agency. During her time at CalEPA, she coordinated statewide multi-agency environmental enforcement actions and led the creation of the agency’s environmental justice task force and refinery safety task force. President Reynolds began her public service career in 2002, serving approximately 10 years as a deputy attorney general in the California Attorney General’s Office, where she litigated cases involving protection of public trust lands, coastal resources and public access, and other environmental issues. Prior to entering public service, President Reynolds was a lawyer in private practice in San Francisco.

President Reynolds holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a juris doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law where she graduated magna cum laude.

Back to agenda.

 

Josh Robertson

Josh Robertson, Director, Energy Market Strategy, Salt River Project

Josh Robertson is the Director of Energy Market Strategy with the Salt River Project (SRP) in Phoenix, Arizona. In his current role he is responsible for the development and implementation of SRP’s enterprise-wide strategy for participation in new energy markets and regional transmission organizations. Josh has held various positions at SRP, the most recent of which was in the public affairs space where he oversaw state, regional and federal regulatory policy at SRP. Josh has a background in Resource Planning where he led SRP’s economic modeling team as well as the due diligence assessments and asset purchase negotiations for plant acquisitions. Prior to joining SRP, Josh was a Policy Advisor with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. He holds an M.A. in Economics from New Mexico State University with a specialization in Public Policy and Regulation.

Back to agenda.

 

Mark Rothleder

Mark Rothleder, Senior Vice President and COO, California ISO

Mark Rothleder is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the California Independent System Operator, leading a cross-functional team including policy, planning, operations and technology. Before being named to his current position, he served as the Vice President of Market Policy and Performance.

In spring 2009, Mr. Rothleder led the design and implementation of market rules and software modifications for the ISO’s Market Redesign and Technology Upgrade (MRTU). During his 23-year career at the ISO, Mr. Rothleder has worked extensively to develop and incorporate the approved market rules for California’s competitive wholesale energy and reserves markets.

Mr. Rothleder is a registered Professional Electrical Engineer in the state of California and holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the California State University, Sacramento. He has taken post-graduate coursework in Power System Engineering from Santa Clara University and earned an M.S. in Information Systems from the University of Phoenix.

Back to agenda.

 

Jim Shetler

Jim Shetler, General Manager, Balancing Authority of Northern California

James R. Shetler was appointed as General Manager of BANC in December 2013. He oversees the operations of BANC and is active in BANC’s engagement with market development in the West, which included the efforts for BANC to join the CAISO WEIM market and its evaluation of day ahead market options. He is also actively engaged in issues that impact the West, including at Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and Western Electricity Industry Leaders (WEIL).

From December 2011 – December 2013 he served as a part-time executive advisor to SMUD on hydro relicensing issues and WECC matters. Prior to his retirement in December 2011, he served SMUD for over 26 years, holding various positions including assistant general manager of Energy Supply, assistant general manager of Customer Services, deputy assistant general manager of Operations, and Assistant General Manager, Nuclear Support Services at Rancho Seco.

Before coming to SMUD, Shetler was employed for ~13 years at Babcock and Wilcox (B&W) – Nuclear Division, holding various positions.

Shetler served on various industry boards and commissions, including Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC), Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC), Central Valley Project (CVP) Corp., and Western Energy Institute (WEI).  He was also SMUD’s executive representative to Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and the California Transmission Planning Group (CTPG). He served as a WECC affiliated director from 2011-2014 and was instrumental in the bifurcation effort at WECC. He served as Chair of the WECC Member Advisory Committee (MAC) from June 2013 - June 2014. He was elected as a Class 1 representative to the Peak MAC in 2016 and served as Peak MAC Chair from 2017-2019.

Shetler holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Clarkson University (Clarkson College of Technology), in Potsdam, New York.

Back to agenda.

 

Pete Skala

Pete Skala, Director of Electricity Supply, Planning, and Costs, CPUC

Pete has been with the Commission since 2001, and he is currently the Director of Energy Division’s Office of Electric Supply, Planning, and Costs. In this role, Pete oversees the work of the Division related to integrated resource plans, transmission planning, resource adequacy, renewable and conventional resource procurement, Phase 1 GRCs for electric utilities, CEQA and FERC issues, the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC), and a number of other energy policy programs. He also oversees ED’s Tariff Unit and budget authorization related efforts.

Back to agenda.

 

Letha Tawney

Letha Tawney, Commissioner, Oregon Public Utility Commission

Letha Tawney was appointed to the Oregon Public Utility Commission by Governor Kate Brown in June 2018. Commissioner Tawney represents Oregon on the Electricity and the Critical Infrastructure committees for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). She also serves on the Energy Trust of Oregon Board of Directors, and as Chair of the Energy Imbalance Market Board of State Regulators (EIM-BOSR), engaging closely on Western electricity market development in several forums.

Prior to her appointment, Commissioner Tawney was an expert on electric utility business models, state regulation, clean energy development, and large customer buying strategies for World Resources Institute (WRI). As the WRI Polsky Chair for Renewable Energy, she propelled innovation in business and regulatory models in the power sector. Commissioner Tawney has a deep understanding of the constraints and interests driving both utilities and their customers as technology creates large-scale change in the sector.

Commissioner Tawney holds a Master’s of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

First Term: June 18, 2018 – May 31, 2020

Second Term: June 1, 2020 - May 31, 2024

Back to agenda.

 

Jacob Tetlow

Jacob Tetlow, Executive Vice President, Operations

Jacob Tetlow oversees safe, reliable and efficient operations of the company’s non-nuclear generation and power delivery systems. His team also includes resource management, supply chain, corporate safety, enterprise security, sustainability, customer to grid solutions, facilities, transportation and environmental services.

Tetlow has a wealth of experience in both transmission and distribution operations and fossil generation at Arizona Public Service. He previously served as senior vice president of Operations, vice president of Transmission and Distribution, and general manager of T&D Operations. Prior to that, he spent 11 years in Fossil Generation, working his way up the ranks from boiler inspector to roles such as director of Gas and Oil Generation, director of Coal Generation and in various frontline and leadership positions at the Four Corners and Cholla power plants.

He serves on various boards and committees for regional organizations and industry-related groups, including the Electric Power Research Institute’s Research Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors for the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for The Nature Conservancy Arizona Chapter.

Tetlow earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from ASU.

Back to agenda.

 

Kevin Thompson

Kevin Thompson, Commissioner, Arizona Corporation Commission

Commissioner Kevin Thompson has more than 30 years of combined utility, regulatory, and public service experience. He served as a twice-elected Mesa City Councilman and is a United States Air Force combat veteran, serving in Operation Desert Storm. As a councilmember, Kevin’s commitment to economic development helped bring in over $8 Billion in capital investment and the creation of over 5,000 jobs to Mesa’s District 6 and the region, making it the fastest growing area in the Southeast Valley. 

Kevin previously worked for Southwest Gas for more than 17 years, serving as the Manager of New Business Development, responsible for all new business engineering including the sale, design, and installation of billions of dollars of natural gas pipelines for residential, multi-family, retail, and commercial development. Later he worked in government relations for the company, working with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs on Emergency Management, Utility Emergency Response, and natural disaster response planning.

Kevin has served as President of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA), currently serves on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Electricity Committee, and as a member of the Western Energy Imbalance (WEIM) Body of State Regulators (BOSR).

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions, including the United Food Bank Service Award, recognition as a Champion for the Southeast Business Group, and was awarded the Mesa Veteran Appreciation Award, to name a few. Kevin and his wife, Donna, have been married for over 33 years and have two children.

Back to agenda.

 

John Tsoukalis

John Tsoukalis, Principal, The Brattle Group

Mr. Tsoukalis has broad experience helping clients respond to a range of issues related to wholesale power markets. He is an expert in electric market modeling, analyzing regional market participation, transmission benefit-cost analysis, transmission rate design, market design, detection of market manipulation and damages analyses, and strategic planning.

Mr. Tsoukalis has assisted electric utilities, cooperatives, public power authorities, transmission developers, generation owners, and ISOs/RTOs to model the power system and assess, the benefits of participating in wholesale power markets, the benefits of new transmission infrastructure, and the value generation assets.

Back to agenda.

 

Mary Wiencke

Mary Wiencke, Executive Director, Public Generating Pool

Mary joined PGP in 2022. Prior to joining PGP, Mary was the Vice President of Market, Regulation, and Transmission Policy for PacifiCorp where she developed and provided strategic direction on PacifiCorp’s environmental, transmission and market policies. Ms. Wiencke held various roles at PacifiCorp including Senior Attorney and Director, Environmental Policy at PacifiCorp. Ms. Wiencke is a graduate of Barnard College and Lewis & Clark Law School.

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Mike Wilding

Mike Wilding, Vice President, Energy Supply Management, PacifiCorp

As Vice President, Energy Supply Management, Mike Wilding has been employed by PacifiCorp since 2014 and is currently responsible for directing PacifiCorp’s front office organization in commercial and trading activities. Energy Supply Management is responsible for commercially managing PacifiCorp’s diverse generation portfolio. This includes the electric and natural gas hedging, term and day-ahead trading, real-time trading and system balancing. Mr. Wilding also oversees the company’s regulatory net power cost filings.

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Hayley Williamson

Hayley Williamson, Chair, Public Utilities Commission of Nevada

Hayley Williamson was reappointed Chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in 2023 by Governor Lombardo. She was first appointed Chair in 2020 by Governor Sisolak.  

Previously, Chair Williamson served as a Commissioner and as Senior Assistant General Counsel and Acting General Counsel for the PUCN. As a Commissioner, Chair Williamson has been responsible for developing rules to implement many important pieces of legislation, including Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, renewable natural gas requirements, and Natural Disaster Protection Plans. Chair Williamson has worked at the PUCN since 2013 and has more than a decade of public utility law experience. As an attorney for the PUCN, Chair Williamson represented the agency before Nevada district courts and the Nevada Supreme Court, and she appeared on behalf of the agency at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

In addition to her role at the PUCN, Chair Williamson is a member of the Nevada Transmission Task Force, and she also serves as Vice Chair of the Body of State Regulators, having been elected in 2020 by Commissioners across the western United States. Chair Williamson is also the Vice Chair of Board of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, a bistate agency leading the regional effort for Lake Tahoe’s conservation and restoration. Additionally, Chair Williamson was elected by her national peers to serve on the Board of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in 2022.

Chair Williamson graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, where she earned her bachelor’s degree; and magna cum laude from Vermont Law School, where she earned her juris doctorate. At Vermont Law School, Chair Williamson was an editor of the Vermont Law Review. She also holds a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge, where she wrote her master’s thesis on renewable energy and land use issues on the West Coast.

Chair Williamson lives in Stateline, Nevada, in the Lake Tahoe area with her family.

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