About PANC

Originally founded in 1996 as the Power Association of Northern California, PANC amended its name and Bylaws in 2023 to become the Power Association of California. The organization’s mission is to promote a better understanding of the power industry in California through educating members on energy market activities that affect their businesses and agencies. Through the addition of online monthly events, PANC has been able to expand its reach, bringing in a wider range of stakeholders involved in the power industry throughout the entire state and beyond.

PANC’s goal is to educate our members on issues affecting their businesses and help them navigate the ever increasing complexity that is California’s energy market. PANC members include energy professionals from investor-owned utilities, independent power producers, power marketers, fuel suppliers, municipal utilities, energy customers, and regulatory agencies.

Board of Directors

Officers

Les Guliasi

PRESIDENT

University of California, Santa Cruz
Berkeley, CA
PH: 415.971.6463  –  lgg2@comcast.net

LES GULIASI currently serves as President of the Power Association Board.  He is a Research Associate with the University of California, Santa Cruz.  Following a lengthy career as an executive at Pacific Gas & Electric Company in San Francisco, Les most recently worked with Trans Bay Cable LLC and SteelRiver Infrastructure Partners, responsible for governmental & regulatory affairs and business development. He previously worked for Reliant/RRI Energy (now NRG Energy), and served as a senior consultant with Booz|Allen|Hamilton focusing on developing renewable energy projects on military installations. Les has worked with government agencies, independent energy producers, transmission owners, and various business enterprises in the energy sector on resource and strategic planning, business and renewable energy project development, generation and transmission project permitting and development, and governmental and regulatory affairs.  Les received his BA degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Santa Cruz.  He is currently a fellow at the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI), an affiliate of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).  Les has been a Board member of the Power Association since 2003, previously serving as Vice President.

Jane E. Luckhardt

VICE PRESIDENT

General Counsel
Northern California Power Agency
Roseville, CA
PH: 916.781.3636 –  jane.luckhardt@ncpa.com

JANE LUCKHARDT has been an instrumental player in California’s energy industry for the past 25 years, working both with established utilities and energy providers, as well as companies on the forefront of renewable and sustainable energy technologies. Her practice focuses on renewable and traditional energy, oil and gas, and offers an expanded litigation platform from which she can provide legal services to the energy industry.

Andrew Campbell

SECRETARY

Executive Director, Energy Institute at Haas
University of California Berkeley – Berkeley, CA
PH: 510.664.7496 – acampbell@berkeley.edu

ANDREW CAMPBELL is Executive Director of the Energy Institute at Haas at the University of California, Berkeley. Andy serves as a bridge between energy and environmental economists at Berkeley and business and policy leaders to shape the future of the industry. He also serves on the Governing Body of the Western Energy Imbalance Market. Andy has helped energy technology start-ups navigate the energy regulatory environment. He has also served as an advisor at the California Public Utilities Commission. Andy worked as an investment banker in Citigroup’s Global Energy Group and as a reservoir engineer with ExxonMobil. He earned a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and economics from Rice University.

Patrick Ferguson

TREASURER

Partner
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
San Francisco, CA
PH: 415.773.5762 – pferguson@orrick.com

PATRICK FERGUSON joined Orrick’s energy and infrastructure team in January 2022. Previously, he was a Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where he specialized in energy law.  Patrick represents utilities and independent power producers in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission, structures and negotiates power purchase agreements and other energy related contracts, and works to shape California energy policy and regulation. Patrick has a law degree from Columbia Law School and an undergraduate business degree from Georgetown University.

Sean Beatty

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Partner
BRB Law LLP
Oakland, CA
PH: 510.955.1083 – sean@brblawgroup.com

SEAN P. BEATTY is a founding partner of BRB Law LLP, where he counsels clients on regulatory and commercial matters.  Prior to BRB Law, Sean served for eight years as NRG Energy’s West Region General Counsel.  In that role, he supervised all legal matters associated with NRG Energy’s gas-fired generation fleet in California and Nevada.  During his tenure, NRG Energy placed three new power plants in operation, and Sean worked on all aspects of those projects, including permitting, financing, loan compliance, and commercial agreements related to the operation of those plants.  Prior to moving into the regional general counsel role, Sean served as Director, Regulatory Affairs for NRG Energy and predecessor entities acquired by NRG Energy from 2008-2012 where he represented the company’s interests before the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Independent System Operator, the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board.  Sean came to an NRG Energy predecessor in August 2008 from the San Francisco law firm, Cooper, White & Cooper LLP where he spent 13 years representing small and mid-sized telephone companies before the CPUC and the FCC. Sean graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a philosophy degree in 1988 and received his J.D. in 1991 from UC Hastings College of the Law.

Directors

Karin Burns

Chief Executive Officer
San Diego Community Power
San Diego, CA
PH: 888.382.0169 – kburns@sdcommunitypower.org

KARIN BURNS is currently the Chief Executive Officer of San Diego Community Power, the second largest community choice aggregator in California, serving nearly a million customers. Under her leadership, she is responsible for ensuring sufficient and reliable clean power procurement and developing and executing the organization’s strategic plan. A veteran clean energy executive and environmental champion, Burns is a passionate leader for innovation and clean energy investment. Previously she was the Regional VP and VP of Corporate Strategy for Franklin Energy and the Chief Executive Officer of Build it Green (BIG), where she oversaw a portfolio of energy programs across California. Karin speaks several languages, was a Fulbright Scholar in India, and spent several years overseas in emerging markets from Brazil to China in international finance. She holds Certificates in Energy Innovation and Innovation & Entrepreneurship from the Stanford School of Engineering, an MPA in International Development from Harvard University, an MBA in Finance from Edinburgh Business School, and a BA from Duke University. Karin currently serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the California Community Choice Association and on the Advisory Boards of In Good Company, Apis & Heritage Capital Partners, Climate Wells, and on the Sustainability Committee of the North San Diego Business Chamber of Commerce.

Eric Eisenman

RETIRED
Former Director, FERC & ISO Relations
Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
Oakland, CA
PH: 415.254.8733 – exe3ee@gmail.com

ERIC EISENMAN has been Director of FERC & ISO Relations since 2004. His group is responsible for PG&E’s overall relationship with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). This includes developing PG&E’s positions on policy issues being debated at the CAISO, advocating PG&E’s positions on policy issues to the CAISO Board and management, and managing PG&E’s participation in CAISO stakeholder processes. FERC & ISO Relations is also responsible for developing PG&E’s positions in CAISO proceedings at the FERC, and in rulemakings and various other FERC proceedings.

Mike Florio

Principal
Florio Consulting
Oakland, CA
PH: 415.202.4071 – mikeflorio@rocketmail.com

MICHAEL PETER “Mike” FLORIO was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in January of 2011 by Governor Jerry Brown, and served a full six-year term that ended January 1, 2017. Since the end of his term, he has worked as an independent consultant, and is also consulting part-time as a Senior Fellow with Gridworks, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that works to facilitate the deployment of distributed energy resources in a cost-effective manner.. Prior his CPUC appointment, he served for over 30 years as an attorney for The Utility Reform Network (TURN), the leading utility consumer advocate group in California. In this role he also testified as an expert witness on a wide variety of issues including: utility long-term procurement planning, natural gas and electricity market structures, utility revenue requirements, cost allocation and rate design.   Commissioner Florio also served on the governing board of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) from May of 1997 through early 2005, and on the board of the California Power Exchange from May of 1997 until January of 2001.  Commissioner Florio received a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a Masters of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in 1978. He was admitted to the California State Bar that same year.

Jeremiah F. Hallisey

Senior Partner
Hallisey and Johnson
San Francisco, CA
PH: 415.433.5300 – jfhallisey@gmail.com

JERRY HALLISEY has served as a Regent of the University of California for twelve years and as a member of the California Transportation Commission for eight years. Mr. Hallisey has played major roles in many statewide election campaigns of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor Gray Davis, Controller John Chiang, Controller Steve Westly, President Barack Obama, and many others. Jerry has also served as Chairman Oversight Committee of The U.S. Department of Energy Laboratories at Berkeley, Livermore and Los Alamos. U.S. Department of Energy Q Security Clearance. He received his J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley.

Rand Havens

Senior Manager, Business Development
Constellation Energy
Berkeley, CA
PH: 510.631.2404 – rhavens7263@gmail.com

RAND HAVENS has been employed in the energy industry since 1980, and has held various roles. His longest tenure was at Shell for 20 years from 1998-2018 where he held several positions, including General Manager of Commercial and Industrial Energy Marketing, Manager of Northern California, Senior Originator, West Region and Senior Originator, National C & I. Rand currently works as a Senior Business Development Manager for Constellation New Energy, West Region, located in Danville, CA. Rand has also had other energy positions in his career, such as Energy Economist, Natural Gas Pipeline Contract Administrator and Vice President and Manager, Oil and Gas Sales. Rand graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and also holds a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas- Austin.

Dan Hopper

Director, Portfolio Planning & Analysis
Southern California Edison
Rosemead, CA
PH: 626.484.7734 – daniel.hopper@sce.com

DAN HOPPER is the managing director of Regulatory Policy at Southern California Edison. In this role, Dan leads an organization responsible for policy design and analysis of energy markets and integrated resource planning; climate policy and customer programs; and rate design, load research and revenue reporting. Under Dan’s leadership, the Regulatory Policy teams lead SCE’s engagement in proceedings across various state and federal agencies.

With over 20 years of energy and engineering experience, Dan’s has held leadership roles in SCE’s Energy Procurement & management, Strategic Planning, and Customer Service organizations with a focus throughout his career on decarbonizing California’s energy mix; improving grid reliability and resiliency; and promoting clean and efficient energy use. Prior to SCE, Dan was an engineering manager at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, a master’s degree in economics from California State University, Fullerton, and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Avis Kowalewski

Dir, Western Regulatory Affairs
Calpine Corporation
Dublin, CA
PH: 925.479.6640 – kowalewskia@calpine.com

AVIS KOWALEWSKI is Vice President of Western Government and Regulatory Affairs of Calpine Corporation with responsibility for advocating Calpine’s position before state regulatory agencies in California and other western states on electricity, natural gas and environmental policies. She began her professional career at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, working on gas pipeline regulatory issues, electric transmission access issues, revenue and load forecasting and other strategic planning initiatives regarding utility gas and electric procurement.

Matt Lecar

Principal, FERC & ISO Relations
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Oakland, CA
PH: 415.861.9948 – matt.lecar@pge.com

MATT LECAR is a Principal in PG&E’s FERC and ISO Relations team within Regulatory Affairs, where he is responsible for coordinating company policy and external relations across transmission, reliability and wholesale market design initiatives. He serves as Liaison to the Western Energy Imbalance Market Regional Issues Forum, representing the CAISO Participating Transmission Owner Sector. During a 30-year career in the energy industry, Matt has held leadership roles in consulting, new product development, and international corporate venture with three different utilities. Prior to rejoining PG&E in 2015, he served as a Principal Consultant with GE Energy Consulting, where he consulted on smart grid and power economics to the global utility community. Matt is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and holds a BA with high honors in Physics and Political Science from UC Berkeley.

Nancy Ryan

Partner
eMobility Advisors
Oakland, CA
PH: 510.504.2889 – neryanbiz@gmail.com

NANCY RYAN is an economist with over two decades of experience in energy and environmental policy. Dr. Ryan comes to E3 from the California Public Utilities Commission where she held several high-level appointed positions including Deputy Executive Director for Policy and External Relations (2011-2013), Commissioner (2010-2011), and Chief of Staff to President Michael R. Peevey (2007-2009). During her tenure at the CPUC, Dr. Ryan guided development of California’s cutting edge policies in renewable energy, smart grid, energy storage, electric transportation and long term planning and procurement. She also worked closely with senior officials from the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, the California ISO and the Governor’s Office to devise strategies to achieve California’s ambitious Greenhouse Gas reduction targets and develop regulations implementing California’s cap and trade program for the electric sector.

Stephen St. Marie

Policy Advisor (Retired)
California Public Utilities Commission
San Francisco, CA
PH: 415-244-3168 – stephenstmarie@sbcglobal.net

STEPHEN ST MARIE is an Economist and Policy Advisor, recently retired from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). He was an Advisor to two commissioners, Catherine J.K. Sandoval and John A. Bohn. He also served in the CPUC’s Divisions of Water, Policy & Planning, and Energy. Previously, he held positions at Navigant Consulting, NERA, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He earned a PhD in Economics from the George Washington University and a BA in Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Steve served as President of the Power Association from 2003 to 2011.

Beth Vaughan

Executive Director
California Community Choice Association
Concord, CA
PH: 925.408.5142 – beth@cal-cca.org

BETH VAUGHAN is Executive Director of the trade association representing Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs).  CalCCA advocates for community choice at the legislature and in regulatory forums, and develops best practices to support the expanding number of local governments forming CCAs.  Ms. Vaughan has experience in public policy, strategic planning, project management, public relations and information technology. She has consulted with government agencies, non-profits, and private sector interests, on energy and environmental public policy issues. Ms. Vaughan has extensive international experience and served five years in the New Zealand parliament as senior advisor to the Environment and Conservation Cabinet Ministers.

Dawn Weisz

Chief Executive Officer
MCE
San Rafael, CA
PH: 415.464.6020 – dweisz@mcecleanenergy.org

DAWN WEISZ is the CEO for MCE and she coordinated efforts to explore, develop and launch MCE as the first Community Choice Aggregation program in California. Under her watch MCE has launched service to over 450,000 customers in 33 communities, entered into power supply agreements that have doubled the amount of renewable energy purchased in the region, initiated numerous local renewable generation projects, and achieved greenhouse gas reductions though energy efficiency and by exceeding state requirements for renewable and carbon-free energy supply. Ms. Weisz has more than 25 years of experience developing and managing renewable energy and energy efficiency programs while working for leading public agencies in the field. Before joining MCE Ms. Weisz managed energy and sustainability initiatives for the County of Marin, served as the Executive Director for Sustainable North Bay, and was a labor and environmental justice organizer in Los Angeles. Ms. Weisz has been a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and for the National American Planning Association. She has also received awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Power Association of Northern California. She currently serves as President of the California Community Choice Association.

Michael Woods

Attorney at Law
Sonoma, CA
PH: 707.996.1776 – mwoods@mrwlawcorp.com

MICHAEL WOODS is an attorney in private practice and provides legal support to the development and operation of large-scale energy infrastructure projects, including transmission and generation. He has structured public-private partnerships in both land development and energy contexts. His practice has emphasized local government, land use and planning law, and the California Environmental Quality Act. Michael has been involved with legal, regulatory and organizational issues concerning the gas and electric industries and the development of new utility enterprises, while providing general and special counsel services to development companies, cities, water districts and consulting firms.

About PANC

The Power Association of California (formerly of Northern California) is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the power industry and all of its component parts.

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Jeff Shelton, Administrator

356 Montserrat Drive
Redwood City, CA 94065

Telephone: (650) 591-7262
Email: info@panc.org

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