LA Utility CEO, Once Committed to Energy Transition and Equity, Faces Lawsuit Against Her Department

Janisse Quiñones, the visionary CEO and chief engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), has found herself under intense scrutiny recently. Known for her strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as climate initiatives, Quiñones has been at the helm of the department since 2024.

With a hefty $750,000 salary, her promise was to bolster the systems to combat climate change, while the LADWP was eager to highlight her commitment to promoting policies led by equity. However, the department is now embroiled in a significant lawsuit for allegedly mismanaging the city’s water systems, which left fire hydrants dry during the devastating Los Angeles fires.

Before her tenure at LADWP, Quiñones served as a senior vice president at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), from April 2021 to December 2023. PG&E itself has faced challenges with infrastructure maintenance, notably when energized conductors ignited the 2021 Dixie Fire.

In an interview from December 2024, Quiñones highlighted her extensive experience across operations, engineering, customer service, and various energy efficiency projects. Her compensation package at LADWP is nearly double that of her predecessor, a move by city officials to attract top talent from the private sector.

Despite her impressive credentials, the ongoing fires have posed a formidable test for the LADWP under Quiñones’s leadership. A major point of contention is the empty Santa Ynez Reservoir, a crucial part of Los Angeles’s water supply system.

The lawsuit claims that the department chose not to repair the reservoir’s cover in a timely manner, leaving it drained and non-functional when it was desperately needed. This decision, allegedly made as a cost-saving measure, resulted in fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades running dry, exacerbating the fire disaster.

Palisades residents and business owners, who lost their properties to the fires, have filed the lawsuit. Independent journalist Michael Shellenberger reported that, according to a former utility professional with decades of experience, the reservoir should not have been out of commission. Given the known risks of wildfires in Southern California, the reservoir should have been kept full for emergencies.

Reports have also surfaced suggesting that LADWP was aware of malfunctioning fire hydrants before the fires erupted but failed to act swiftly. However, LADWP has refuted these claims, asserting that any suggestion of pre-existing issues with the hydrants is misleading.

They maintain that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had to be taken offline to comply with safe drinking water regulations. A spokesperson directed inquiries to a YouTube video explaining the hydrant failures.

Quiñones has consistently emphasized her dedication to DEI initiatives at LADWP. In a July 2024 interview, she discussed her approach to viewing the department’s work through an “equity lens.” Upon her appointment, LADWP became notably involved in a $2 million climate campaign with Los Angeles radio station KBLA, aimed at minority communities.

Documents and past news stories shed light on Quiñones’s priorities. A June 2024 Los Angeles Times article highlighted her focus on enhancing the local electric grid to support cleaner technologies like electric vehicles and induction stoves.

An August LADWP document outlined the qualities sought in a Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer (CSSO), emphasizing the department’s leadership in the clean energy transition and commitment to sustainable, equitable growth.

The fires have claimed at least 27 lives as of Friday, according to CBS News, with destruction reaching unprecedented levels. While the situation remains dire, the focus on climate and equity at LADWP under Quiñones’s leadership remains a crucial aspect of the department’s long-term strategies. It highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing infrastructure needs with ambitious climate and equity goals in an era where both are increasingly vital.

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