Elisa M. Rivas

Elisa Rivas is an energy development attorney who advises clients on utility asset transfers or encumbrances, applications for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, Permit to Construct, transmission projects, and the California Environmental Quality Act. She has represented client interests before the California Public Utilities Commission in electric and natural gas General Rate Cases, Section 851 and 854 applications, wildfire proceedings, and other administrative litigation.

Before joining Stoel Rives, Elisa was an associate and summer associate with two business law firms. While attending law school, she was an advisory legal fellow and a law clerk with the California Public Utilities Commission, Legal Division, whose attorneys she supported in matters related to battery energy storage systems, water acquisition rulemakings, FERC protests, and the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment.

Education

University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D., 2024; Environmental Law Section of the California Lawyers Association Legal Fellow; staff editor, USF Intellectual Property and Technology Law Journal

San Francisco State University, B.A., International Relations, 2017

Admissions

California

Languages

• Successfully defended interest of large industry energy users in various proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission, including general rate cases and wildfire proceedings
• Advised California vineyard owners through regulatory hurdles in challenging an electric utility’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and participation in the CEQA phase of the proceeding

Publications

Special Reports

Professional

• Conference of California Public Utility Counsel, member, 2024–present