*This news release was originally published and distributed by the Office of Mayor Karen Bass
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2024
Contact: lamayornews@lacity.org
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass applauded the unanimous confirmation of Janisse Quiñones, PE to serve as the new CEO and General Manager/Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and lead the department through the transition toward 100% clean energy by 2035.
Janisse Quiñones brings more than 25 years of leadership experience as a senior executive in utility and engineering industries where she managed large-scale operations in order to deliver reliable service to customers, prioritized the safety of workers on the job 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 thank the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Los Angeles City Council for their unanimous confirmation of Ms. Quiñones and look forward to working with Janisse to deliver for the people of Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “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.”
“With this confirmation, I am honored and ready to serve as the next General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and I look forward to continue to get to know the LADWP family and supporting those that work so hard to deliver for the people of Los Angeles,” said Confirmed CEO and General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Janisse Quiñones. “I know the vital role LADWP plays for Angelenos, especially in times of crisis which Los Angeles has endured recently with record rains and winds and 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 will achieve our transformational goals and shore up our systems to fight climate change and deliver for the people of Los Angeles.”
“The Board of Water and Power Commissioners is excited to welcome Janisse to her new role. The wealth of knowledge she brings from her past career endeavors will be invaluable and I, along with the rest of the Board, look forward to collaborating with her on various Department projects and initiatives,” said Board of Water and Power Commissioners President Richard Katz.
Janisse Quiñones most recently served as Senior Vice President of Electric Operations at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), one of the largest utility companies in the United States providing natural gas and electric service to approximately 16 million people in northern and central California. At PG&E, Quiñones was responsible for the territory’s electrical system operations and the power generation fleet as well as the management of electrical assets that support the California Independent System Operator. Prior to that role, Quiñones served as Senior Vice President of Gas Engineering for PG&E and as the Vice President of Gas Systems Engineering for National Grid, Vice President of Operations for Cobra Acquisitions and Director of Design, Planning, Construction & Vegetation Management as part of her 9 years of work at San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) which she started immediately after leaving full time military service. At SDG&E, Quiñones managed the majority of the company’s gas and electric Distribution Capital Construction. Read more here.
Following a nationwide search, Mayor Karen Bass announced last month her recommendation of Janisse Quiñones, PE to serve as the new CEO and General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and lead the department through the transition toward 100% clean energy by 2035. Quiñones will assume her role in full capacity beginning today May 14, 2024. During her first year, Mayor Bass secured hundreds of millions of dollars which were secured through locking arms with state and federal partners as Los Angeles continues to urgently lead on climate. Building on the work of former Mayors Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric Garcetti, Mayor Bass has been able to deliver progress toward building a greener Los Angeles.
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