Overview
Lilly McKenna, an attorney in Stoel Rives’ Energy group, leverages her deep experience in state energy and utility regulation to guide clients through complex proceedings involving rate design, power procurement, transportation, and other matters regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Lilly helps clients comply with and advocate for improvements to state energy and regulatory matters. Lilly regularly appears before the CPUC, and Lilly has also appeared pro hac vice to advocate for clients in beneficial electrification cases in several other jurisdictions across the country. Lilly’s advisory role extends to ensuring compliance and staying abreast of regulatory developments within the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the California Air Resources Board, and limited matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
While attending law school, Lilly was a judicial extern for the Honorable Jacqueline S. Corley of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and a law clerk for the California Public Utilities Commission, Legal Division.
Education
University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D., 2014; USF Law Review
Middlebury College, B.A., Political Science/minor: Spanish, 2008
Admissions
California
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Languages
- Spanish
Experience
- Advise load-serving entity on compliance obligations relating to power procurement, including RPS proceedings, resource adequacy reporting, greenhouse gas emissions reporting, and integrated resource planning.
- Litigated pipeline and water utility rate cases.
- Negotiated favorable terms for electric vehicle (EV) charging tariff in utility rate proceeding and advocated for transportation electrification policies in various state proceedings addressing beneficial electrification.
- Counseled autonomous vehicle company on CPUC and DMV regulations, in addition to regulatory transportation policy developments, particularly related to zero-emission vehicles.
- Represented several independent power developers in integrated resource plan proceedings and resource adequacy proceedings.
- Advise clients on policies relating to distributed energy resources, including interconnection disputes, net metering tariffs, battery storage resources, and EVs.
- Counseled clients regarding consumer protection laws and other compliance requirements for solar leases and PPAs.
- Counseled clients in energy efficiency rulemaking proceedings.
- Represented coalition of community choice aggregators (CCAs) in utility rate proceedings.
- Counseled clients on FERC compliance obligations for market-based rate authority applications and for small power production and cogeneration facilities.
- Negotiated and drafted energy service contracts on behalf of CCA and managed vendor contract renewals.
Insights
Insights & Presentations
- Frequent contributor to Stoel Rives’ Renewable + Law® blog and weekly Energy Regulatory Alert
- Moderator, “Transportation Electrification -- Implications for California’s Clean Energy Requirements,” California Clean Energy Procurement Summit, May 21–23, 2024
- “CPUC Considers How to Implement Income-Based Fixed Charges for Residential Electric Utility Service” (co-author), Daily Journal, July 13, 2023
- “States Address EV Charging Infrastructure” (co-author), POWER magazine, February 1, 2023
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Press Releases
Special Reports
Multimedia
Lilly McKenna, Partner in the Energy Development Group, outlines a major obstacle for energy developers in California: regulatory lag. Speaking from her experience before the California Public Utilities Commission, McKenna explains how delays in permitting and interconnection—especially with utilities like PG&E—can stall even well-planned projects, particularly those aiming to meet fleet electrification mandates.
Recognition
- Included in The Best Lawyers in America® (Energy Law), 2026
- Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (California) by Chambers USA (Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation), 2025–present
Affiliations
Professional
- Conference of California Public Utility Counsel, Member
Civic
- San Anselmo Town Council, Climate Action Commission, Vice Chair (2022-2025)
- Volunteer, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR)—serve as pro bono counsel for clients seeking asylum
Videos
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Lilly McKenna, Partner in the Energy Development Group, outlines a major obstacle for energy developers in California: regulatory lag. Speaking from her experience before the California Public Utilities Commission, McKenna explains how delays in permitting and interconnection—especially with utilities like PG&E—can stall even well-planned projects, particularly those aiming to meet fleet electrification mandates.