Janisse Quiñones has been nominated to lead the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. (photo courtesy of Janisse Quiñones)

Following a nationwide search, Mayor Karen Bass has recommended Janisse Quiñones to serve as the new CEO and general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and lead the department through the transition to 100% clean energy by 2035.

Quiñones brings more than 25 years of leadership experience as a senior executive in utility and engineering industries, where she managed large-scale operations to deliver reliable service to customers, prioritized the safety of workers and directed improvements that made electrical infrastructure more resilient.

“The Department of Water and Power has made important progress toward embracing clean energy, meeting its decarbonization goals, modernizing its infrastructure to be more resilient, getting to a reliant and resilient water future and ensuring vulnerable communities have access to affordable utilities. I look forward to working with Janisse to deliver for the people of Los Angeles,” Bass said. “This is a transformational period for the department as we make decisions that will build toward the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035, and I am confident that Janisse’s experience overseeing large scale organizational operations, improving safety outcomes for workers and restoring and reconstructing electrical systems following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico equip her to lead the department. I want to thank outgoing general manager Marty Adams for his contributions to these outcomes and decades of leadership to the people of Los Angeles.”

“I am honored to be appointed as the next general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and I look forward to getting to know the LADWP family and supporting those that work so hard to deliver for the people of Los Angeles,” Quiñones said. “Throughout my career, I have worked to make sure that communities have access to reliable, clean, safe and sustainable utilities, and I will continue with that same dedication in this role. I look forward to working closely with Mayor Bass, the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the committed employees of the department as we move towards our commitment of 100% clean energy by 2035. Together, we can achieve our transformational goals and shore up our systems to fight climate change and deliver for the people of Los Angeles.”

Quiñones most recently served as senior vice president of electric operations at Pacific Gas and Electric. She also previously worked for San Diego Gas and Electric, managing a majority of the company’s gas and electric distribution capital construction.

The salary for the new CEO and general manager has been reported to be approximately $750,000 per year. The recommendation has been referred to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners for consideration, and will be sent to the Los Angeles City Council’s Energy and Environment Committee before a confirmation vote by the full City Council.