Description
This expert has 50 years’ experience in the electric utility industry including consulting, engineering, system operation, and management. He has had engineering and management assignments at virtually every level of the utility business from transmission and distribution design to being the head of the largest business unit at PG&E with over 15,000 employees. Is a recognized international expert in the area of electric transmission and distribution and has provided expert testimony for both litigation and regulatory proceedings. He is also an experienced Electric Utility Engineer, providing strategic and policy advice with respect to regional electrical power system operations and markets.
EXPERIENCE
2004 – Present: Is currently an independent consultant. His consulting practice includes expert witness engagements and other technical assignments associated with system operations and reliability. He has worked with utilities, Alberta Electric System Operator, California Energy Commission, DOE, CAISO, BPA, and National labs to address the reliability of the transmission grid. Currently he is involved with three legal cases involving electric transmission and substation issues.
Recently (2019) involved in the engineering of a 350-mile high-voltage transmission line in Afghanistan where he is providing distribution, substation and transmission line engineering oversight for the project. It involved the design of five high voltage substations and lines for US Army Corps of Engineers.
Virgil recently (2014) worked with an independent system operator in Canada as the Chairman of the international Technical Panel involved with the technical specification and procurement for the installation of a new 300-mile 500kV line.
2001 – 2004: Nexant’s senior vice president and director of energy delivery and management. As head of one of Nexant’s five divisions, he led their efforts in serving the North American utility market, with responsibility for a client base that included major electric and gas utilities, energy companies, energy service providers, and government agencies. Consulting assignments in his division spanned advanced power production technologies through T&D delivery to end-use energy management.
1995 – 2001: An independent consultant, providing a wide range of utility sector consulting services. He served as an expert witness on the operation of the western U.S. transmission system. Testimony included an assessment of risks, system operations, mitigation measures, and contingencies considerations. He had another major engagement as co-chairman, on an international oversight committee for Hydro-Quebec, providing opinions on risk management, reliability criteria, capacity increases, and other remedies associated with the severe ice storms of 1998 in Canada. He provided expert testimony to the Province of Quebec in support of the team’s written recommendations regarding upgrades to the 735 kV system.
1994 – 1995: Senior vice president for electric supply with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). As general manager of one of PG&E’s four utility business units, his responsibilities included power generation, high voltage transmission and substations (including 500 kV), power contracts, and system dispatch. He was a member of the Corporate Executive Management Committee that met weekly to set Company policy and strategic direction. Responsible for competitive positioning of the electric supply business in preparation for generation asset divestment and electric market restructuring. This included developing competitive models and restructuring the organization and cost structure to optimize asset valuation. He worked with the California Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Commission (FERC) to position the utility electric business including: the 1995 Open Access Tariff filing at FERC and California electric restructuring proposal.
1988 – 1994: As head of PG&E’s largest business unit, senior vice president of distribution, responsible for all transmission and distribution of electric and gas service with an annual budget of $800 million, including engineering, transmission and distribution systems, construction, marketing, metering, billing, and customer service. Led major initiatives to improve the utility business including: significant reduction of capital requirements for the new business process by leveraging asset utilization, reorganization of the regions and divisions to improve operating efficiency and service, and re-engineering service delivery processes to improve customer service. He was also the utility general rate case policy witness for two rate cases, spanning five years, testifying about engineering, operating, and management policies. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in Northern California, he directed PG&E’s corporate emergency response.
1985 – 1988: As vice president of electric operations, responsible for engineering design and operations support for PG&E’s electric system, including transmission, distribution, substations, and telecommunications. He also had a special assignment to a five-person executive team that reorganized PG&E into strategic business units.
1984 – 1985: Assistant to the VP, Electric Operations San Francisco, CA. He provided staff support to the Vice President and took lead responsibility for transmission, distribution, substations, and system protection for Electric Operations. During 1985, he was responsible for a $15 million special project to improve service reliability of the electric distribution system in Bakersfield, CA. He directed the corporate response to a severe, high profile service reliability problem where he led both the technical and public relations aspects of the project. Several innovations were employed to radically upgrade customer outage experience. He was frequently interviewed by the media and provided expert testimony.
1983 – 1984: As Division Electric Superintendent, technical line manager of electric utility operations in San Francisco division for transmission, distribution, substations, control centers, and telecommunications. His responsibility also included the design, construction and operation of San Francisco’s unique underground network system. He also directed the corporate response to a PCB fire incident at a high-rise building in the financial district of San Francisco. He led all activities required to restore the electric distribution network and reopen the building over a nine-month period, including technical innovations, state-of-the-art Furan contamination testing, working with city officials, scientists, hazardous waste contractors, attorneys, building owners, and the news media.
1982 – 1983: As Assistant to the President, was responsible for recommending major project expenditures and tracking company-operating performance.
1980 – 1981: As Superintendent of Electric Operations at PG&E, he was the technical line manager of electric utility operations in San Jose division for transmission, distribution, substations, control centers, telecommunications, and protective relaying.
1978 – 1980: As Division Electric Engineer, he was the chief electrical engineering manager for San Jose division, which included transmission and distribution line and substation planning, and design for 300,000 customers, including Silicon Valley high tech industry.
1977 – 1978: As Transmission Engineer, he evaluated transmission studies for the PG&E system and developed corporate procedures for maintaining and operating the 60 to 500 KV transmission system.
1974 – 1977: As Substation Engineer, he recommended substation additions, evaluated substation operating practices, evaluated substation designs, and audited switching centers.
1969 – 1974: Various engineering positions at PG&E, he planned distribution system additions, recommended distribution protection schemes, and evaluated equipment applications.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
- Expert witness in three separate legal cases involving electric transmission and substation issues in support of Plaintiffs. (2021 current cases)
- Expert witness for the Plaintiff regarding an electrical contact with a 12,000-volt line while installing rain gutters on a duplex. Assignment included an expert report submitted on February 18, 2014 and resulted in no required deposition. (Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, Case Number 1216-CV26541)
- Expert witness for the Plaintiff regarding a US Navy helicopter crash resulting from an air strike of a utility’s static wire on a 230 kV transmission line including a deposition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Deposition was taken on September 12, 2012 at the offices of Snell & Wilmer, LLP.
- Expert witness for the Plaintiff regarding an electrical contact in southern California including a deposition and trial testimony in California. (Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Diego, Negligence and Premise Liability, Case Number 37-2008-00095892-CU-PO-CTL, testified on June 13, 2012, Courthouse at 330 W Broadway, San Diego, CA.)
- Expert witness for the Plaintiff regarding electric transmission and distribution lines related to 2007 wild fires in California included testimony in London including report and testimony before Tribunal in London. (High court of Justice, London Tribunal Arbitration Case, claim No. 2010, testified January 26, 2012 in London)
- Expert for the Defendant involving generation interconnection dispute involving the 500 kV substation design with an eastern utility and provided expert opinion without deposition (2010).
- Expert for the Plaintiff involving transmission market power investigation of Southern California power markets by the Department of Justice without deposition (2003).
- Expert on Canadian ice storms and provided opinions related to: risk management, reliability criteria, capacity increases, and other remedies. Provided expert testimony to the Province of Quebec in support of team’s written recommendations (1998).
- Expert witness for a utility (Defendant) concerning firm electric transmission rights in the Northwest including deposition (1996).
- Numerous depositions as a friendly witness for Pacific Gas and Electric Company regarding electric operations (1986- 2000).
- PG&E policy witness for two general rate cases including testimony before the California Public Utilities Commission (1988-1994).
- As a seasoned Electric Utility Engineer, he has been actively involved in providing expert witness services and consultancy regarding electric systems.
PROFESSIONAL
Senior Member since 1979, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Registered Electrical Engineer since 1972, CA, #7811
Past Director, CIRED Directing Committee, (International Conference on Electric Distribution)
Past Member, Engineering Advisory Board, Fresno State University
Past Chairman of the Board, Beacon Power Corporation
Past Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Electric Light and Power
Member of Sigma Tau and Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Societies
COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
Past Chairman, National Parks and Conservation Association
Past Director, YMCA of San Francisco
Past Member, President’s National Development Council, Fresno State University
Past Board Member, Leavey School of Business (Santa Clara University)