Howard V. Golub
Former Senior Counsel for PG&E brother of Judge Joel Golub former traffic commissioner Walnut Creek Superior Court
At a Glance
Howard is a recognized leader among energy law practitioners in California.
Built on a foundation of decades of experience with both the law and with key decision-makers, Howard consistently develops innovative solutions delivering outstanding results for his clients.
From 1986 to 1994 he was vice president and general counsel of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
At a Glance
Howard is a recognized leader among energy law practitioners in California.
Built on a foundation of decades of experience with both the law and with key decision-makers,
Howard consistently develops innovative solutions delivering outstanding results for his
clients.
From 1986 to 1994 he was vice president and general counsel of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company.
Howard Golub provides services to a wide range of clients in the energy industry, including
utilities, large consumers, public agencies, independent power producers, and developers of
technologies for the production of energy.
Howard’s work includes strategic planning, merger and acquisition, utility system creation,
franchise agreements, energy project development, contract negotiation and formulation, contract
restructuring and alternative dispute resolution. He makes appearances before a variety of
federal and state agencies.
Howard focuses on clients’ objectives, primarily in the areas of developing new opportunities,
improving their competitiveness and defending existing rights through an integrated
regulatory-transactional approach. For example, he created a strategy that allowed one client to
develop an independent and fully functioning electric distribution enterprise, taking less than
six months from conception to operation — an unprecedented and cost-effective solution. Another
client was facing financial ruin until Howard developed a regulatory strategy to cure several
years of poor decisions by prior management. A third client was saved $350 million in utility
charges.
The energy industry, particularly in California, has been in a state of change for some years
and that process will continue — particularly in the areas of price structures, infrastructure
development, integration of environmental mandates, transmission access, competition, energy
efficiency, renewable energy development, rate design and development of new market entrants.
These changes represent significant opportunity for astute market participants.
Representative matters include:
- Creation of new utility systems and counseling developing systems
- Community choice aggregation
- Feasibility studies involving legal, regulatory, operational and financial issues
- Rulemaking proceedings
- Rate-setting and rate design proceedings
- Discounted power rates
- Utility exit fees
- Utility tariff interpretation and modification
- Power sales agreements, both for sellers and buyers
- Interconnection agreements and transmission access agreements
- Natural gas supply agreements
- Development of renewable resource power projects
- Hydroelectric licensing
- Certificates of public convenience and necessity
- Franchise agreements
- Utility rights-of-way
- Environmental compliance
From 1986 to 1994 Howard was vice president and general counsel of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company, one of the largest energy utility companies in the United States. He reported directly
to the Board of Directors and to the chief executive officer and served on the company’s
Management Committee consisting of the CEO and 10 other senior officers. As chief legal officer
of the company, he had extensive experience with all aspects of energy law – regulation,
legislation, commercial transactional and litigation. He was also PG&E’s lead environmental
officer, responsible for environmental policy and for auditing environmental compliance. He
formulated and implemented a proactive environmental program which increased competitiveness and
earnings, was strongly endorsed by national environmental leaders, and personally awarded the
nation’s highest environmental medal by the President of the United States.
Prior to entering private practice, Howard was an assistant district attorney for New York
County (1968-1969) and an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the U.S. Navy
(1969-1973) where he tried numerous courts-martial and later served as a U.S. Military Judge.
After leaving active duty, Howard remained in the Naval Reserves, rising to the rank of
captain.
Howard is admitted to numerous federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D.
- Hunter College, B.A. cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa)
- Naval War College: Senior Reserve Officer Course
- MIT Sloan School of Management: Executive Management Program for General Counsel.
Admissions
- California
- New York
Awards
- Northern California Super Lawyers, Energy, 2004
Laura
Hoffmeister, a lifelong Concord resident, was first elected to the City
Council in 1997 and reelected in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. She served
as Mayor in 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2011, Vice Mayor in 2000, 2004 and
2015, and Chair of the Concord Redevelopment Agency in 1999, 2003, and
2008.
Vice Mayor Ron Leone
Ron
Leone, a resident of Concord since 1978, was elected to the City
Council in 2010, re-elected in 2014. He served as Mayor in 2012 and Vice
Mayor in 2014. Leone served 35 years in education as a high school
teacher and principal. He was the teacher of the year in the San Ramon
Valley Unified School District and teachers' association president. He
coached high school baseball, and several championship mock trial and
constitutional academic teams.
Edi
E. Birsan was elected to the City Council in November 2012 after being
the runner-up in the 2010 election. He is an active community leader and
has served in many positions, from the Director of Community Services
for Concord-Diablo Rotary to the President of the Friends of the
Library, to volunteer for numerous non-profit organizations.
Tim
Grayson has been a Concord resident since 2001 and was elected to serve
on the Concord City Council in 2010, and re-elected in 2014. He served
as Vice Mayor in 2013, Mayor in 2014 -15, Chair and Vice‐Chair of the
Local Reuse Authority, and Redevelopment Chair and Vice‐Chair.
Daniel
C. Helix was appointed to the City Council in February 2011to fill a
vacant position, and was subsequently the top vote-getter in the
November 2012 election. He served as mayor in 2013. Helix was previously
elected to the City Council in 1968, was reelected in 1972 and served
as Mayor from 1972-74. In 2007-08, he served as co-chair of the
Community Advisory Committee for the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse
Project.
Tim
McGallian was appointed to the City Treasurer position by the City
Council after the retirement of Thomas Wentling in July 2015. McGallian
previously served on the City of Concord Planning Commission from 2010
to 2015 and is president of the Todos Santos Business Association Arts
Foundation.
