"As a senior transactions and regulatory attorney for PG&E, I have worked with Shirley Eshbach on contract negotiations, settlement negotiations, and contract disputes. Her good judgment and advice have been unfailingly invaluable.  She gets to the heart of issues and develops solutions that are fair and contribute to maintaining good customer relationships. Knowing she is part of our team allows me to approach critical issues with confidence that we are on sound footing."

Lawrence Witalis, Attorney, Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Key Accomplishments

In more than 25 years of electric industry experience, Shirley Eshbach has:

  • Directed a BPA division with 120 employees responsible for negotiating and administering sales contracts, establishing prices, and developing and implementing marketing strategies, resulting in numerous multimillion dollar sales contracts.
  • During the West Coast energy crisis of 2000-2001, led separate negotiations with the CAISO and with PG&E’s wholesale transmission customers to ensure that excess energy supply from these customers would be made available to meet the state’s emergency supply shortages.
  • Represented PG&E's interests as a member of team that resolved, in a FERC settlement forum, a multi-party dispute among PG&E, PacifiCorp, BPA, CAISO, and the California PUC over the future operation of the California-Oregon AC Intertie.
  • Managed the development of BPA’s wholesale power and transmission rates that safeguarded two billion dollars in annual revenue.
  • Represented PG&E's interests as a member of team that restructured critical long-term business relationship between PG&E and the City and County of San Francisco.
  • Orchestrated the development of BPA’s first business plan for its newly established transmission business unit with an asset base of five billion dollars.
  • As a member of PG&E's negotiating team, secured a comprehensive settlement with the Western Area Power Administration that restructured the business relationship between the parties, thereby eliminating $50 million in future subsidies. This settlement replaced a 35-year-old commercial arrangement with one fully compatible with the new California market structure.