Nick Dominguez started out at Lassen Municipal Utility District in Susanville, California, over 10 years ago as the IT operations technician. He was later promoted to IT manager and then to business manager. In 2024, he briefly joined Central Coast Community Energy as the director of power supply resources, but came back to LMUD in November 2024 as the utility’s general manager. Dominguez joined NWPPA’s board earlier this year as an interim trustee and was elected to his first three-year term in May. In addition to serving on NWPPA’s board, he is also on the boards of the California Municipal Utilities Association and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems. Dominguez holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the University of California, Davis and a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Monterey Bay.
What are the current challenges at your utility?
Like many other small publicly owned utilities, we are navigating wildfire and how to mitigate the risks to our system and those we serve. We were awarded a multi-million-dollar FEMA grant to harden our transmission lines that run through a heavily forested, 23-mile stretch between our connection to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company Caribou Transmission line and Susanville. The end result, between improving our current transmission lines and completing the Skedaddle Substation, will mean a redundant feed for our community—achieving our strategic goal of providing safe and reliable power.
What do you see as the current challenges in the industry?
Balancing evolving legislation and state mandates with the needs and desires of our community. Keeping the power flowing to the homes and businesses we serve while addressing renewable portfolio standards, beneficial electrification, and resource adequacy requirements is a challenging task. Energy affordability is another pressing issue, particularly in California. Determining what that means to the state and our customers can be tricky. We are developing financial and strategic plans with the goal of providing long-term solutions to these issues.
How does NWPPA help your utility and the industry with these challenges?
NWPPA keeps us informed about issues on the regional and national levels. Their team of professionals takes a proactive approach both in their legislative efforts and educational offerings. Knowing that NWPPA is keeping an eye on topics that affect us now and into the future helps us confidently navigate what’s next.
Any hobbies outside of the public power world?
In 2013, not long after accepting the position at LMUD, I pursued my private pilot’s license. I’ve been flying for over 10 years now—it’s a great hobby and allows me to spend time with my family traveling all over California. In 2023, my passion for aviation led me to start building an experimental aircraft with my family. Last August, our aircraft went through the final Federal Aviation Administration inspection and was deemed airworthy. My family and I now use the plane to travel and visit our long-distance friends and family members.
