Janisse Quiñones is Leaving Her Role as LADWP CEO and Chief Engineer
Quiñones to Depart LADWP for Puerto Rico’s Electric Grid Development
Janisse Quiñones will resign from her position as CEO and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) later this month, effective March 27. The announcement, made by the City of Los Angeles on Wednesday, highlights Quiñones’ new endeavor to aid in the development of Puerto Rico’s electric grid.
Quiñones, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, will assume a leadership role focused on the modernization and transformation of the island’s energy infrastructure, as confirmed by a statement from Mayor Karen Bass’s office.
Details regarding interim leadership at LADWP are expected to be announced soon by the mayor.
Quiñones was nominated by Bass to lead LADWP, the largest publicly owned water and power utility in the United States, taking on the role in 2024. Prior to her appointment, she served as an executive at Pacific Gas and Electric for many years.
Under Quiñones’ leadership, LADWP faced scrutiny last year for its management during the January 2025 Palisades Fire, particularly for leaving a crucial water source empty. The Santa Ynez Reservoir was drained for maintenance for nearly a year, a decision that hindered firefighting efforts. Officials noted that depleted water hydrants during the crisis were a result of heightened demand.
In response to the incident, LADWP initiated an investigation into the empty reservoir and launched enhanced measures to safeguard its infrastructure during emergencies.
