Gov. Newsom Reappoints Green Power CEO to CA Grid Operator Board

Gov. Newsom recently re-appointed Angelina Galiteva to the Board of Governors of the California power grid operator – Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) – even though she is CEO of a solar systems company and advocates “the end of cheap energy.” 

On March 3, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Angelina Galiteva to a third consecutive term on the Board of Governors of the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO). 

Cal-ISO is a non-profit coordinator of the state electricity grid system. Cal-ISO was created in 1998 as part of the so-called deregulation restructuring of the state’s bulk (wholesale) electric power system. Its functions were previously performed by regulated monopoly electric utilities in their respective service areas.

Galiteva, an attorney, is presently president of NEOptions, Inc, a design-build renewable energy implementation service. NEOptions’ gallery of projects includes:

• Solar voltaic (PV) roof panels on parking structure in Roseville, California
• 135 kilowatt (kW) solar PV roof panels in California
• 100 kW solar PV shading structure as part of a multistory building in Los Angeles
• 40 kW solar PV shade structure in Hemet, California
• 230 kW solar PV shade parking structure in California

Previously, Galiteva was the Executive Director of Strategic Planning, for the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), overseeing the utility’s renewable energy program. Ms. Galiteva, is an attorney with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree (JD) and Masters’ of Law Degrees in International, and Energy Law.

Selection Policy

Cal-ISO’s policies for selection of board candidates are:

“The search firm shall not consider candidates who are employed by or provide consulting services to any person or entity that is:

• engaged in the generation, transmission, marketing, trading or distribution of electricity within the geographic area of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council
• affiliated with any actual or potential participant in any market administered by the ISO, as required by Section 337 of the California Public Utilities Code;
• hold any financial interest that would be prohibited by 18 C.F.R. section 35.34(j)(1)(i); or
• have another actual or perceived conflict of interest that would be prohibited by the Code of Conduct & Ethical Principles and that could not be resolved before the candidate becomes a member of the Board.

“However, the search firm may consider a candidate who has an otherwise prohibited relationship or financial interest if he or she commits to promptly end any prohibited relationship after being appointed and before exercising the duties of the office, and to dispose of any prohibited financial interests within six months after appointment.”

Galiteva advocates “end of cheap energy”

Galiteva is one of the proponents of the “end of cheap energy.” Her company designs and installs commercial and residential rooftop solar-voltaic (PV) systems that are 2-to-5 times more costly than solar farms in the desert, according to the non-partial California Legislative Analyst. 

Recently, the City of Sacramento balked at having to comply with the new state rooftop PV mandate for all new home construction because of the high installation and operation cost of rooftop solar PV systems. The California Public Utilities Commission granted the Sacramento Municipal Utility District permission to install a cheaper solar farm in the desert.

Galiteva is heard on a 2012 video quipping about how she lives in a neighborhood where a “crazy neighbor” spends $300,000 per year to animate sixteen neighbors’ houses with yard decorations on Halloween.  She reported the theme was “fairy tales” with a twist where the three-little pigs were roasting the wolf.  Galiteva said this was a narrative of what is going on in renewable energy with the “end of cheap energy.”