Joseph Avila

Joseph Avila serves as Senior Director – Energy Policy & Strategy for Southern California Gas Company, the nation’s largest gas distribution utility. SoCal Gas employs over 8,000 men and women who are responsible for providing clean, reliable gas service to 22 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 500 communities located throughout the southern half of California. During his career, Mr. Avila has held various leadership positions in both the private and public sector primarily in the energy policy, power plant development and corporate finance areas.

Mr. Avila now leads SoCal Gas’ Energy & Environmental Policy areas to encourage and support sensible energy policies and regulations to help California achieve its environmental and greenhouse gas mitigation objectives. Prior to joining SoCal Gas, Mr. Avila spent more than 18 years working in the City of Los Angeles as Chief of Staff, Legislative Analyst and as Staff Assistant to LADWP’s General Manager. Mr. Avila also spent 10 years in the private sector as a corporate banker and consultant acquiring expertise in renewable and conventional electric power plant development and operations, enterprise-wide benchmarking, and project finance. The one exception to working in the energy and utility field was a 2-year stint working as Chief of Staff for a Los Angeles City Councilmember just prior to joining LADWP.

A native of Los Angeles, Mr. Avila holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor Arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles where he also competed on the only 2 Pac-10 Cross Country Championship teams in school history.

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