Leslie Padilla, Senior manager, Transmission & Interconnectivity

Leslie Padilla serves as Candela’s Senior Manager, Transmission and Interconnection, supporting strategic transmission assessment and interconnection process management in target markets across the United States. This includes new market analysis and all transmission-related topics, including tariffs, planning, and overall interconnection process, as well as providing strategic, commercial, and technical input to the Development and Origination team in support of project development.

Leslie brings a breadth of power industry experience, including 14 years as an Operations Planning and Transmission engineer for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).  Upon deregulation in April 1998, Leslie also operated in the unregulated side of Sempra Energy as the Director of Transmission & Interconnection within the Sempra Resources business unit for 20 years. Leslie was one of the pioneers that interconnected ~2,400 MW of combined-cycle plants into CAISO prior to FERC’s standardized interconnection process (Order No. 2003). In 2006, Leslie was responsible for the interconnection process and onboarding of Sempra’s Copper Mountain Solar 1, Copper Mountain Solar 2, and Mesquite Solar 1, 2 & 3 projects. Leslie’s interconnection experience outside WECC includes SPP, PJM, ERCOT, MISO, HECO, and Southern Company.

Prior to engineering school, Leslie was an Apprentice Electrician for the City of San Diego.  She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University.