Southwest Energy Pool names new board members, chair

Little Rock-based regional transmission group Southwest Energy Pool (SPP) has elected two administrators and chosen a brand new chair and vice chair to its impartial board of administrators, in response to a Tuesday (Oct. 25) information launch.

Steve Wright and Ray Hepper will fill two open positions on the board. Susan Certoma was named chair and Elizabeth Moore will probably be vice chair. Certoma joined the SPP board in 2019 and can exchange Larry Altenbaumer, the prevailing chair, who will stay on the board. Moore was elected to the board in 2020.

Wright’s time period is efficient instantly, and Hepper’s time period begins Jan. 1. Wright is filling a place that Julian Brix vacated earlier this 12 months. Brix retired earlier than his time period ended, and Wright will full that time period earlier than starting a three-year time period. Hepper will exchange Mark Crisson, who was elected for a time period that expires on the finish of this 12 months.

“It’s an honor to welcome Ray and Steve to our board on behalf of SPP’s workers and stakeholders,” SPP President and CEO Barbara Sugg stated. “They carry with them a powerful diploma of utility expertise and experience. Their views will play a essential half in SPP’s success at a time once we face vital alternatives and challenges associated to issues like enlargement to the West, guaranteeing useful resource adequacy throughout our footprint and equipping ourselves to coordinate the grid of the long run.”

Hepper has labored as an legal professional within the electrical utility business and was vp, normal counsel and company secretary for ISO New England till his retirement in 2018. Earlier than ISO New England, Hepper was a associate within the Pierce Atwood agency and dealt with regulatory proceedings and energy contracting points. He was normal counsel at Central Maine Energy Co. and oversaw the sale of the corporate’s era belongings and its merger. He began his profession as a tax litigator on the U.S. Division of Justice and was on the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas board of administrators. He earned a legislation diploma from the College of Pennsylvania and an economics diploma from Lehigh College.

Hepper, who has been blind since delivery, spends volunteer time supporting schooling, employment and profession improvement for people who find themselves blind and different marginalized teams. He serves on the Penn Regulation College’s alumni advisory board for range, fairness and inclusion. He’s a mentor within the Blind Management Growth Program for the American Basis for the Blind and served on the board of Perkins College for the Blind, together with as vice chair of the board.

“I’m honored to be elected by SPP’s members to serve on the board,” Hepper stated. “I stay up for working with administration and stakeholders because the group takes benefit of the alternatives created by the persevering with transition of the business. The evolution to a bigger footprint and nearer integration with its neighbors will deliver vital advantages to the area and provides me the prospect to work on very thrilling points.”

Wright was normal supervisor at Chelan Public Utility till his retirement in 2021. Beforehand, he was the administrator and CEO of Bonneville Energy Administration. He’s co-chair of the Local weather Change Activity Drive for the American Public Energy Affiliation and beforehand served on its board. He additionally was a board member of the Alliance to Save Power and the Massive Public Energy Council and previous chair of the Public Producing Pool. He earned a grasp’s diploma in public administration from the College of Oregon.

“It’s thrilling to affix a dynamic group that has a powerful repute for innovation and customer support,” Wright stated. “SPP is on the middle of our nation’s bold efforts to achieve a dependable, reasonably priced and clear electrical energy system. I stay up for persevering with the SPP custom of actively partaking members and stakeholders. I additionally hope to strengthen the bridge to potential SPP members within the West.”