Jose E. Guzman, Jr.

Biography

Jose (“Joe”) Guzman, Jr., Of Counsel, has practiced public utility regulatory and business transactions law for more than 35 years. His practice focuses on regulatory and legislative matters and on business transactions involving the water, energy, telecommunications, and transportation industries. His experience includes representation of clients before a wide variety of local, state and federal regulatory agencies, and legislative bodies, including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California legislature, Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and the federal Surface Transportation Board (and its predecessor, the Interstate Commerce Commission).

Prior to joining Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan, Mr. Guzman was a partner with Nossaman LLP in San Francisco for twenty-one years, representing individuals, corporations and other business entities, and public agencies, including cities, local and state transportation agencies and special purpose districts. He previously held the positions of Acting General Counsel, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, and General Corporate Counsel with Sprint Communications Company from 1983-1987.

In the area of water law, Mr. Guzman has represented the investor-owned water utility industry on regulatory, ratemaking, and rulemaking matters before the CPUC and before the California legislature, including matters related to the current and past droughts, water conservation, conservation pricing of water, water supply, water infrastructure, mergers and acquisitions, toxic tort issues, and the adoption and establishment of water quality standards for drinking water. Much of this work was performed as counsel to the California Water Association, the association of investor-owned water utilities regulated by the CPUC. Mr. Guzman has also represented California-American Water Company on mergers and acquisitions and on ratemaking and rulemaking matters before the CPUC.

In the area of energy law, Mr. Guzman is familiar with solar and other types of renewable energy, including the California Solar Initiative, the CPUC’s adoption of renewable portfolio standards, and the CPUC’s adoption of “feed-in” tariffs which established uniform prices for energy produced by renewable technologies and sold to investor-owned energy companies, as well as issues related to direct access and community choice aggregators. He has represented a wide variety of clients in energy-related matters before the CPUC, the CEC, and the California legislature, including:

• Duke Energy – Represented large power generator during the 2000-2001 California energy crisis with respect to investigations by the CPUC, California legislature, and California Attorney General.
• City of Irvine and City of Industry – Represented municipalities before the CPUC in connection with issue of payments to reimburse the California Department of Water Resources for purchases of power on behalf of investor-owned energy utilities during the 2000-2001 California energy crisis (DWR surcharge), the payment of competitive transition charges (CTC surcharge), and jurisdiction of the CPUC over municipally-owned electric systems. Filed writs of review of CPUC decisions before the California Supreme Court.
• Poseidon Resources, Inc. – Represented owner and operator of sea water desalination plants on direct access issues related to electricity supply to the company’s desalination plants.
• Clarus Energy – Represented distributed generation company before the CPUC on inter-connection and cost and pricing issues.
• Chateau Energy – Represented renewable energy company before the CEC in connection with its eligibility for renewable energy subsidies and credits.
• Sempra Energy – Represented third largest energy utility in California in connection with its certification as a telecommunications provider utilizing fiber optic cables installed on its gas pipeline system.

Mr. Guzman currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Conference of California Public Utility Counsel (CCPUC), President of the Board of Directors of the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club Charitable Foundation, President of the Board of Directors of the Scotlan Youth and Family Center, Inc. (Oakland Youth First). He previously served on the Council of the Section of Science & Technology Law of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Guzman earned his J.D. from University of California Berkeley Boalt Hall Law School and is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley. He is admitted to practice in California.

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

• University of California, Berkeley School of Law, J.D.
• University of California Berkeley, B.A., History
  

Bar Admissions

• California

In the News

• 7/8/2013 - GSH Welcomes Joe Guzman