The City of Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP), announced that Manuel Pineda has been appointed as the new Chief Electric Utility Officer. For the past six months, Pineda has served as the interim Chief Electric Utility Officer.
According to an SVP press release, “After an extensive nationwide search, [Pineda] has been appointed to the position permanently.”
Since 2017, Pineda has been the Assistant City Manager for the City of Santa Clara with functional oversight of Silicon Valley Power, the Water and Sewer departments, Parks and Recreation, Community Development and Public Works. In his new role as Chief Electric Utility Officer for Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility, Pineda will also continue to serve as an Assistant City Manager for Santa Clara.
“In his interim role at SVP, Manuel has been instrumental in the City’s commitment to purchase 100 percent renewable energy for all City facilities and moving forward implementation of the utility’s newly-adopted Strategic Plan,” said SVP in the press release. “Manuel has also been key to managing the PG&E bankruptcy, completing the utility’s budget, and helping maintain Silicon Valley Power’s leadership role in Public Power.”
Pineda holds a Civil Engineering degree from San Jose State University. Prior to his work in Santa Clara, he has over 22 years of public sector experience, including serving as the Deputy Director in San Jose’s Department of Transportation, where he managed the City’s $300 million transportation capital budget and some of the city’s largest projects such as the BART extension and the reconstruction of four freeway interchanges.
Pineda also served as the Director of Public Works in the City of Sunnyvale, where he managed city maintenance and operations and the City’s 20-year billion-dollar capital program. He has worked on major utility construction and relocation projects including sanitary and storm sewers, water, gas, and electrical.
My son who needs consistent power to charge his wheelchair and other medical devices installed aTesla solar system last year. Despite repeated attempts he has been unable to get the Santa Clara power utility to give permission to turn his system on. Do you have any advice for him?