Yuba Water Agency Executive Advisor Mike Kline is retiring this month after 10 years with the agency and more than 40 years working in hydroelectric operations and engineering.
Kline was recognized during Yuba Water’s April 20 board of directors meeting for his service and instrumental role in guiding the agency through the expiration of its 50-year power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 2016.
Specifically, Kline helped prepare the agency’s organization and hydroelectric assets to successfully transition to the wholesale electric market for the benefit of Yuba County. This included leading infrastructure changes to prepare for 24/7 control room operations and separating communications systems and other equipment from PG&E that had been comingled for 50 years. Kline also led organizational changes, including development and staffing of new internal compliance and engineering functions. He was also a key member of the team that negotiated the agency’s current power purchase agreement with Shell Energy North America.
“The agency’s power systems operations would not be what they are today without Mike Kline’s innovation, experience and forward-looking vision for the agency,” said General Manager Willie Whittlesey of Kline’s contributions.
Kline served as Yuba Water’s power systems manager from 2011-2019 before transitioning to an executive advisor role ahead of his retirement. Earlier in his career, Kline spent 23 years working for PG&E in both the utility and the unregulated generation affiliate during early electric deregulation. With PG&E, he progressed through various hydroelectric management and engineering roles throughout Northern California and New England. In 2009, Kline moved to Ketchikan, Alaska, to oversee the city’s public utility generation, distribution and transmission systems before joining Yuba Water in 2011.