Debra L. Reed
President and CEO
Michael R. Niggli
Chief Operating Officer
James P. Avery
Senior Vice President, Power Supply
J. Chris Baker
Senior Vice President – Shared Services and Chief Information Officer
Matt Burkhart
Vice President, Electric and Gas Procurement
Pamela J. Fair
Vice President, Environmental, Safety and Facilities
David L. Geier
Vice President, Electric Transmission and Distribution
Margot A. Kyd
Vice President, Supply Management
J. Bret Lane
Vice President, Gas Transmission and Distribution
Patrick Lee
Vice President, Sunrise Powerlink Project
Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell
Regional Vice President, External Affairs
Richard M. Morrow
Vice President, Customer Services
Michelle M. Mueller
Vice President, Customer Operations
Lee Schavrien
Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Finance
Robert M. Schlax
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Controller
Dan Skopec
Vice President, California Regulatory Affairs
Anne Shen Smith
Senior Vice President, Customer Services
W. Davis (Dave) Smith
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Hal Snyder
Vice President, Customer Solutions
Lee M. Stewart
Senior Vice President, Gas Operations
Patti Wagner
Vice President, Informational Technology
Vicki L. Zeiger
Vice President, Human Resources
Debra L. Reed is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.5 million consumers through 5.7 million gas meters.
Reed became president of SDG&E in July 2000. In January 2002, she also became president of SoCalGas and chief financial officer (CFO) of both SDG&E and SoCalGas and became president and COO of both companies in May 2004. In October 2006, she became president and CEO of both companies.
Previously, Reed served as president of energy distribution services at SoCalGas, overseeing the company’s operations for residential, small-commercial and industrial customers. From 1995 to 2000, she served as senior vice president of SoCalGas.
From 1984 to 1994, Reed held leadership positions with SoCalGas, including vice president of human resources, vice president of administrative services, manager of environmental engineering and manager of personnel relations. In 1983, she served as area market services manager after five years of working in marketing. Reed joined SoCalGas in February 1978 as an energy systems engineer and, in 1988, became the first female officer appointed at the company.
Reed serves on the board of directors of UCSD’s Jacobs School of Engineering and for Halliburton Company; the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation; the American Gas Association; and the Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency at Stanford University. She is a member of The Trusteeship, an affiliate of the International Women’s Forum. Previously, Reed served on the board of directors of Genentech, Dominguez Services Corporation, and the University of Southern California Board of Councilors.
In 2006, Reed was inducted into the Junior Achievement San Diego Business Hall of Fame. In 2004, she was awarded “Woman of the Year” from the California Science Center and was named one of San Diego Magazine's “50 People to Watch.” Reed received the 23rd Annual Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Award from the YWCA of San Diego County in 2002. She was a recipient of the League of Women Voters Glass Ceiling Award in 2000. Reed was featured on the cover of the July 2002 issue of Gas Utility Manager magazine for an article on making mergers work.
Reed graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
Michael R. Niggli is the chief operating officer (COO) of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
Niggli was named COO in 2006. Previously, from 2000 to 2006, Niggli was president of Sempra Generation where he was responsible for the operation and maintenance of merchant power plants and energy infrastructure throughout North America. Sempra Generation operates power plant assets in Nevada, California, Arizona and Mexico.
Prior to joining Sempra Energy in 2000, Niggli was chairman and chief executive officer of Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Resources. He contributed to a successful merger of the two companies that doubled their size and strength. He also guided the company through the deregulation process in Nevada and achieved the highest customer satisfaction rating of any electric utility in the western United states (as reported by J.D. Powers and Associates).
From 1988 to 1996 Niggli served as a senior executive with Entergy Corporation, where he had significant corporate responsibilities for strategic planning, customer service, fuels acquisition, marketing and sales. He began his career in 1971 at San Diego Gas & Electric, where his management responsibilities included electric and gas operations, fuels acquisition, project management and customer service.
Niggli holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from California State University in Long Beach and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from San Diego State University. He founded the graduate program in power engineering at San Diego State University and lectured there for five years. He has also participated in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
During his career, Niggli has provided expert testimony on electric and gas utility matters before numerous legislative committees, public service commissions and city councils at the federal, state and local levels. Niggli has also authored at least a dozen articles on issues pertinent to the electric, gas and telecommunications industries.
Niggli has previously served on numerous boards, including the Edison Electric Institute, Electric Power Research Institute, National Coal Council, Electric Power Supply Association, and United Way of Southern Nevada. He currently is Chairman of the Board of the Great Basin National Park Foundation and is co-chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Engineering, California State University, Long Beach. He has also been closely involved in business and education partnerships in San Diego, New Orleans and Las Vegas.
James P. Avery is the senior vice president, power supply for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), one of Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
As senior vice president of power supply, Avery oversees the company’s generation, system planning, project development and electric procurement business unit operations.
Prior to joining SDG&E, Avery was a consultant with R.J. Rudden Associates, one of the nation’s leading management and economic consulting firms specializing in energy and utility matters. Avery has extensive experience in utility operations and management. He was the chief executive officer of the electric and gas operations at Citizens Utilities Company, a multi-service organization that provided electric, gas, telecom, water and wastewater services in 21 states across the nation. He also held various positions at American Electric Power.
Avery is a member of the board of directors of the California Power Exchange, a senior member of the Association of Energy Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and American Mensa. He has previously served on the board of directors of the Vermont Electric Power Company and RJ Rudden Associates.
Avery is a graduate of the executive management program at Dartmouth College and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Manhattan College. He is an expert in energy markets, electric production, transmission and distribution operations.
Chris Baker is senior vice president – shared services and chief information officer for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving 20.5 million consumers through 5.7 million gas meters.
In his current position, Baker oversees information technology, supply management, fleet services, and diverse business enterprises. He also manages operational excellence which is responsible for the design and implementation of new systems and procedures to improve the operating efficiency and customer experience at SDG&E and SoCalGas.
Baker served as Sempra Energy’s director of software development from 1997 to 2000, and as information management and security administration manager from 1995 to 1997.
Prior to joining Sempra Energy in 1995, Baker was a senior systems consultant with Logicon 4GT, where he worked with defense finance and accounting services. He also worked on analysis for several government entities, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Finance and Management and the U.S. Postal Service’s National Air and Surface System.
Previously, Baker held several positions in the banking industry, including serving as section manager of information management and executive information services at HomeFed Bank, a position he held from 1990 to 1993. Prior to 1990, he was employed with Home Savings of America, holding several different positions in their information technology division.
Baker is a board member of the Classroom of the Future Foundation. He is a cum laude graduate of California Polytechnic University at Pomona, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and business administration / computer information systems.
Matt Burkhart is vice president electric and gas procurement for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), one of Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
Previously he was vice president of audit services for Sempra Energy, and supervised the internal auditing practices of Sempra Energy and its subsidiaries.
Burkhart has also served as vice president of planning and development for Sempra Global, the umbrella organization for Sempra Energy’s businesses operating in competitive energy markets. In that position, he oversaw strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and investment analysis.
Burkhart also served as director of corporate economics for Sempra Energy from 1999 to 2000.
Prior to joining Sempra Energy in 1999, Burkhart was at Booz-Allen and Hamilton, a management consulting firm, where he provided strategy and organization counsel to major oil and utility companies. Prior to that, he was general manager, domestic crude supply at Unocal’s refining and marketing subsidiary, where he began his career and spent 14 years.
He is a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.
Burkhart holds a master’s degree in economics from the Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and Russian studies from Claremont McKenna College.
Pamela J. Fair is vice president of environmental, safety and facilities for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
In her current position, Fair oversees all environmental services, safety and emergency services, real estate, land management and facilities for both utilities.
Previously, Fair was vice president of customer operations for both SDG&E and SoCalGas from 2002 to 2007. She was vice president of customer services for SDG&E from 1998 to 2001 and was vice president of residential services for SoCalGas from 1995 to 1998. She previously held positions of increasing responsibility at SoCalGas in sales, marketing, regulatory affairs and human resources.
Fair is vice chair of the U.C. Davis Foundation Board of Trustees, serves as a member of the U.C. Davis College of Engineering Dean’s Executive Committee and is on the board of the Pacific South Coast Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She is a past member of the Boards of the Classroom of the Future Foundation, the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana and U.C. Davis External Research Advisory Board. Fair was a recipient of the Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) Award from the San Diego County YWCA in 2003.
Fair holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California at Davis.
David L. Geier is vice president of electric transmission and distribution for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), one of Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
Geier was named vice president of electric transmission and distribution for SDG&E in 2004. In this role, Geier oversees the planning of SDG&E’s distribution and transmission system, and bulk power substations, design and engineering for new and existing distribution, transmission and substation facilities, including civil and structural engineering and licensing of new facilities. Preceding his current role, Geier served as director of electric grid services for SDG&E. Other roles have included director of electric distribution services, manager of direct access implementation and manager and supervisor at several of SDG&E’s operations and maintenance facilities. Geier began his career at SDG&E in 1980 and previously worked for Wisconsin Electric Power Company in Milwaukee from 1977 to 1980.
Geier also serves on the distribution committee of the Edison Electric Institute.
He serves on the board of directors of Faith Lutheran Church and is a member of the San Diego Chapter of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and a past chairman of the IEEE power engineering society of San Diego.
Geier holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and power engineering curriculum from the University of Illinois at Urbana and a master’s of science degree in electrical engineering and computer engineering curriculum from San Diego State University. He is also a registered professional engineer in the state of California.
Margot A. Kyd is vice president of supply management and fleet services for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
In her current position, Kyd oversees supply management, fleet services and diverse business enterprises.
Previously, Kyd was senior vice president of business solutions and chief environmental officer. She was also vice president of human resources for Enova Corporation and its principal subsidiary, SDG&E. Kyd served as vice president of marketing and customer service for SDG&E from 1996 to 1998.
Kyd was named vice president of administrative services for SDG&E in 1988 after serving as treasurer since 1986. In 1985, she served as manager of financial services and assistant treasurer. She joined the company in 1980 as a financial analyst.
Kyd is on the Board of Trustees of the University of San Diego, Chairman of the Board for the Women’s Resource Committee, and currently a board member for the Los Angeles Urban League and the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Kyd is a former member of the University of San Diego’s BusinessLink, the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico and the San Diego United Way and the Arthritis Foundation.
Kyd graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in business. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky.
Bret Lane is vice president of gas transmission and distribution for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy's California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and 830,000 gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers including 5.6 million gas meters.
As vice president of gas transmission and distribution, Lane is responsible for gas transmission and distribution operations for the more than 6.2 million customers within the SDG&E and SoCalGas service territories.
Previously, Lane was vice president of environmental, safety and facilities and chief environmental officer for SDG&E and SoCalGas. Other executive assignments have included vice president of labor relations, director of human resources, director of labor relations and manager of environmental services. He has also held leadership positions in building and real estate operations, field operations and public affairs. Lane initially joined the company in 1982 in the transmission operations division.
Lane holds a bachelors of science degree in petroleum engineering from Oklahoma State University. Lane also served as an officer in the civil engineering corps of the United States Navy Reserve.
Patrick Lee is vice president of the Sunrise Powerlink project for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), one of Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
As vice president of Sunrise Powerlink, Lee will lead the engineering, procurement, and construction of the largest infrastructure project in the utility’s history. The Sunrise Powerlink will help battle climate change and also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by connecting San Diego to clean, renewable energy supplies located in the Imperial Valley. It will also improve electric reliability and reduce the need to run old and inefficient power plants within San Diego.
Prior to his current position, Lee was vice president of Energy Supply for Sempra Generation, which operates power plants for the competitive market in North America. He was responsible for power supply obligations, marketing the output of Sempra Generation’s power plants, arranging for fuel supplied to the power plants and optimizing the generation portfolio through short-term, day-ahead operations, as well as long-term transactions.
Previously, Lee held a number of director positions at SDG&E. His past responsibilities included construction, maintenance and operations of transmission, substation and distribution systems in the San Diego region, skills and compliance training, business processes support and performance management.
Before joining SDG&E in 1991, Lee worked for Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the Electric Department at the City of Roseville in California. His utility experience includes electric system planning, engineering standards, transmission and substation construction and maintenance, electric reliability, system automation, smart meters, engineering data integration and business process re-engineering.
Lee received a Chairman’s Team Award in 2004 from Sempra Energy for expanding and improving SDG&E’s Miguel Substation using Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS) technology, and in 2001, he led the team to achieve the best electric reliability performance in company history. Lee has written articles in electric trade publications and presented papers at electric industry and technology conferences.
Lee has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from California State University, Sacramento. He is a registered professional electrical engineer in California.
Mitch Mitchell is regional vice president for external affairs for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
Mitchell was hired as regional vice president, external affairs for SDG&E and SoCalGas in October 2005 and is responsible for the community relations and public affairs activities for both companies.
From December 1999 to October 2005, Mitchell served as vice president, public policy and communications at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce where he worked with the Chamber’s members and diverse volunteer base to develop a public policy agenda that is favorable to the business climate and standard of living in San Diego. He was also in charge of representing the Chamber and its members’ public policy positions to local, state and federal officials.
From 1997 to 1999, Mitchell worked for two years as director of governmental relations for American Medical Response, the nation’s largest ambulance transportation firm. From 1996 to 1997, he served as assistant director of governmental relations for the San Diego Mayor’s Office under Mayor Susan Golding, overseeing the city’s legislative priorities and advising the mayor on policy issues. Prior to working at the mayor’s office, Mitchell was the director of governmental relations for the San Diego City Fire Fighters Local 145 IAFF, one of the city’s largest labor unions.
In addition to his active professional life, Mitchell is an exceptionally active member of his community. He has served for several years on the board of directors for the San Diego Opera and Burn Institute. Mitchell is also a governor’s appointee to the Little Hoover Commission.
Mitchell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from University of Redlands. He is married with two children.
Richard M. Morrow is vice president of customer services for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
Morrow is responsible for the delivery of programs and services across all customer segments.
From 2002 to 2007, as vice president of customer service – major markets, Morrow was responsible for the utilities’ largest customers, including electric generators, wholesalers and large commercial and industrial customers, including the natural gas vehicle market. Together, these customers account for about 65 percent of total system gas deliveries on the combined-utility systems and 38 percent of SDG&E’s electricity demand. He also was responsible for managing the company’s pipeline and storage-capacity products, technology development, delivery of energy-efficiency programs to commercial and industrial customers and energy-services provider relations.
Previously, Morrow was vice president of customer services and marketing in the energy transportation services business unit of SoCalGas from 1998-2002.
Morrow began his career with SoCalGas in 1974 as an engineer and has held various positions in engineering, gas supply planning and acquisition, transmission and storage, distribution and customer operations, and marketing.
Morrow is the past chair of the American Gas Cooling Center and CALSTART. He is on the executive board of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and a member of the board of directors of the Orange County Business Council.
Morrow holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from California State Polytechnic University and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California at Davis. He is a registered petroleum engineer.
Michelle M. Mueller is vice president of customer operations for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving 20.1 million customers through 5.6 million natural gas meters.
As vice president of customer operations Mueller is responsible for billing, credit and collections, remittance processing, and meter reading as well as customer segmentation and strategy.
Previously, Mueller was vice president of customer services, and before that was director of customer service for SDG&E and SoCalGas, where she managed the commercial and industrial customer service department.
Prior to joining SDG&E in 1999, Mueller held management positions in customer service, marketing and administration at Qualcomm, a global wireless communications company and Torrey Communications, a telecommunications company. From 1990 to 1996, Mueller worked for The Titan Corp., a company specializing in national security products. She has also held management positions at M/A-COM Linkabit, a world leader in satellite communications, and E.F. Hutton Life Insurance Company.
She is currently a board member for Leadership California and Junior Achievement, as well as a board advisor for the Community Resource Center.
Mueller received the “Outstanding Alumni Award” from Eastern Michigan University in 2007, the “Tribute to Women in Industry Award” from the San Diego County YWCA in 1994, and the “Public Relations Society of America Outstanding PR Professional Award” in 1993. Previously she received the “Thomas W. Sefton Outstanding Young Citizen" award from the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1988 and the “Outstanding Young Californian” award from the California Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1990.
Mueller has a master’s degree in marketing from Syracuse University, a master’s degree in mass communications from Morehead State University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Eastern Michigan University.
Lee Schavrien is senior vice president of regulatory and finance for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.3 million consumers through 5.7 million gas meters.
In his position, Schavrien is responsible for all regulatory proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on behalf of SDG&E and SoCalGas as well as the financial affairs of both utilities.
Since 1979, Schavrien has been involved in every SDG&E rate case as well as the merger of Enova and Pacific Enterprises that formed Sempra Energy. He has also been involved in numerous SoCalGas rate cases for more than four years. Schavrien was the co-author of the groundbreaking new way for California regulators to establish utility rates, a methodology known as Performance Based Ratemaking.
Schavrien currently serves on the wrestling advisory committee of the California Interscholastic Federation-San Diego Section. He is a past board member of the San Diego Arthritis Foundation, the Poway Wrestling Foundation and the San Diego Imperial Kids’ Wrestling Association. Schavrien holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from National University.
Robert M. Schlax is chief financial officer (CFO), vice president and controller of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.3 million consumers through 5.7 million gas meters.
Schlax joined the company in 2005 as vice president and controller of the utilities. In October 2008, he was appointed CFO in addition to his current role. In this expanded position, Schlax oversees all of the financial planning and budgeting, energy risk management, financial reporting, debt management and affiliate compliance for SDG&E and SoCalGas.
Preceding his current role, Schlax served as chief financial officer, treasurer and vice president of finance at Mercury Air Group, Inc. from 2002 to 2005. From 1977 to 2001, he held various management positions within the accounting and finance departments at Unocal Corporation.
Schlax holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University. He is a member of the Orange County Chapter of Financial Executives International.
Dan Skopec is vice president of California regulatory affairs for Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
Based in San Francisco, Skopec is the primary representative of SoCalGas and SDG&E before the California Public Utilities Commission.
Prior to joining SoCalGas and SDG&E in January 2008, Skopec served as Undersecretary for the California Environmental Protection Agency from Mach 06 to July 07.
Skopec has extensive experience dealing with environment and energy policy issues. As a former deputy cabinet secretary for Governor Schwarzenegger, Skopec served as a liaison between the governor’s office and the California Environmental Protection Agency, Resources Agency, and Department of Food & Agriculture California Public Utilities Commission and the governor’s Washington D.C. office.
In 2001, Skopec directed the Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs in Washington D.C. As the lead consultant on energy issues, he held numerous energy-related hearings, involving the California electricity crisis, natural gas, Federal Energy Regulation Commission and gasoline markets.
Prior to 2001, Skopec served as the legislative director for U.S. Rep. Doug Ose (R-CA), where he oversaw legislative strategy and was responsible for pursuing the congressman’s legislative goals. Skopec also worked as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Jack Quinn (R-NY) where he advised the congressman how to vote on various issues including foreign affairs and agriculture.
Skopec holds a master’s degree in international Economics from George Washington University, Washington D.C. and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and European History from the University of California, San Diego. He is married with five children.
Anne Shen Smith is senior vice president of customer services for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
Smith oversees all customer-related activities for SDG&E and SoCalGas, including call centers, in-home appliance services, revenue cycle services, energy efficiency and demand-reduction programs and special customer assistance programs. Smith also oversees the Gas Acquisition department at SoCalGas, which is responsible for procurement of natural gas for all the residential and small business customers. Smith currently leads a team of more than 5,000 employees.
Previously, Smith served as vice president of support services and vice president of environment and safety for SoCalGas. Smith started her career with SoCalGas in 1977 and held management positions in public affairs, strategic planning, demand forecasting and market research.
Smith has served on numerous advisory boards, committees and commissions, including the Public Advisory Committee of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission and as the vice president of the Los Angeles City Environmental Affairs Commission. Currently, Smith serves on the board of directors for the Coalition for Clean Air and as an executive advisory board member of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.
Smith is a native of Taiwan and immigrated to the United States in 1964. She received her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan and has a master’s degree in industrial engineering and operations research from the University of California at Berkeley.
W. Davis (Dave) Smith is currently vice president and associate general counsel for Sempra Energy and senior vice president and general counsel for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
In his current position, Smith is responsible for regulatory, litigation and labor matters pertaining to Sempra Energy, and all legal matters pertaining to SDG&E and SoCalGas. Smith has worked for Sempra Energy for twenty three years in a variety of legal positions, including litigation, regulatory and corporate. He has represented the company before the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state and federal courts. Additionally, he was chief counsel for the oil and gas pipeline subsidiaries and has been lead counsel for major asset acquisitions for both domestic and international.
Smith has served on the board of directors for Public Counsel, Dispute Resolution Services and is currently a board member of the Constitutional Rights Foundation – non-profit organizations dedicated to using the law to address social issues. He is also a board member of the Civil Justice Association of California.
Davis graduated from Loyola Law School in 1976. He has a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and holds a master’s degree in business administration from California State University, Dominquez Hills.
Hal Snyder is vice president of customer solutions for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
As vice president of customer solutions, Snyder is responsible for the utilities’ customer programs promoting energy efficiency, sustainability and low-income assistance.
From 2004 through 2007, Snyder was vice president of gas storage, transmission and distribution, managing operations serving more than 6.2 million SDG&E and SoCalGas customers.
From 1998 to 2004, Snyder served in increasingly responsible management positions for Sempra Pipelines & Storage, which develops and operates North American natural gas pipeline and storage facilities, and holds stakes in several South American distribution utilities. Snyder also led Sempra Pipelines & Storage’s development efforts in Canada.
Prior to 1998, Snyder held a variety of management positions in business development, operations, marketing, engineering and project management for SoCalGas.
Snyder holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from California State University Long Beach, and a master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University.
Lee M. Stewart is senior vice president of gas operations for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility serving 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters.
As senior vice president of gas operations, Stewart is responsible for the engineering of all gas systems and the operation of the transmission, storage and distribution facilities at SDG&E and SoCalGas.
Stewart served as senior vice president of transmission and storage facilities at SDG&E and SoCalGas from December 2001 to September 2005, president of SoCalGas’ energy transportation services division (ETS) from July 1998 to December 2001, and senior vice president of ETS from January 1995 to July 1998.
He was SoCalGas’ vice president of engineering and operations support from 1993 to 1994, and its vice president of transmission and storage operations from 1990 to 1993. Stewart joined SoCalGas in 1967 and has served in a variety of positions in distribution, transmission, gas supply and engineering.
Stewart is chairman of Pipeline Research International Council (PRCI), a member of the board of directors of the Gas Technology Institute, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the North American Energy Standards Board (formerly Gas Industry Standards Board), the California Hospital Medical Center, and the United Way. He is a member of the Fair Judicial Election Practices Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Stewart holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles and attended the executive program at the University of Michigan. He is a registered professional engineer.
Patti Wagner is vice president of information technology for San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving 20.5 million consumers through 5.7 million meters in more than 500 communities.
In her current position, Wagner is responsible for corporate information technologies, vision and operational oversight including applications development and maintenance, information security, IT infrastructure engineering, data center operations, network and telecommunication services, and IT strategy and planning.
Previously, she was the vice president of operational excellence and before that, the director of the program management office for operational excellence.
From 2000 to 2005, Wagner served as the director of mass markets and has also held director positions in gas distribution for the region and customer programs at the utilities.
Prior to joining the company in 1995, Wagner held management positions at Fluor Daniel, one of the world's largest, publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance services companies. She also worked for McGaw Laboratories and Allergan Pharmaceuticals.
Wagner has a master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Vicki L. Zeiger is vice president of human resources for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Sempra Energy’s California regulated utilities. Sempra Energy is a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.
SoCalGas is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving 20.1 million customers through 5.6 million natural gas meters.
In her current position, Zeiger is responsible for developing and implementing the human resources policies impacting the employees of SDG&E and SoCalGas. This organization includes Employee Organization and Development, HR Staffing, HR Business Partner, HR Operations and Human Resources. Zeiger is also responsible for all labor relations aspects of SDG&E and SoCalGas including all collective bargaining obligations with the unions at each of the respective utilities.
Zeiger has been with the company for more than 30 years, during which time she has held a variety of positions in Customer Service and Human Resources.
Zeiger is a past recipient of the Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Award from the YWCA of San Diego County that honors women in business, a graduate of the LEAD San Diego program and has served on various committees and boards with the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army. The San Diego Business Journal also recently named her as a finalist for the Women Who Mean Business Award.
Zeiger holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University.