Michelle Scala serves as the Manager of Regulatory Strategy at the Oregon Public Utility Commission where she works collaboratively with industry peers on advancing equitable systems, socially informed policy, energy justice, and ratemaking for the public interest. Michelle joined the Commission in 2020 first as a Senior Energy Analyst and later, Energy Justice Program Manager before accepting her current role. In all these capacities Michelle has endeavored to advance the human interest, dismantle harmful frameworks, and elevate the perspectives and experiences of communities engaged with the energy system. Michelle strives to support the important role of advocacy organizations in state government and hopes that we, as a state, can achieve our goal of a just transition to a clean energy future. Prior to the Commission, Michelle worked on socioeconomic issues across state government, including as an economist, policy advisor, and fiscal analyst.

Born in California, Michelle has lived all over the globe, including her favorite places, her mother’s home country of the Philippines and Michelle’s alma mater state, Hawaii.  At the University of Hawaii, Michelle received her BA in Economics as well as in Political Science. She has since worked towards completing the final stretch of her MBA while raising her three children alongside her partner and their furry menagerie. Most weekends, you’ll find the Scala crew at the nearest beach, lake, or river- ideally with a board in tow and the sun up above.