TPPA May Newsletter: Board President’s Message
By Jeff Janke, TPPA 20-21 President
General Manager & CEO, Garland Power & Light
In a year full of challenges for communities and utilities, our industry’s role and importance to families, education, commerce, and healthcare has become more evident than ever before. As working from home becomes the standard and technology continues to preserve our health and safety, stable, resilient electricity is fundamental to it all.
We’ve met difficulties with resilient spirits, system planning, and operational excellence. I congratulate all our utilities for their commitment to safety and preparation in the wake of Winter Storm Uri, and for meeting accompanying challenges to the best of their abilities. The Association works diligently this Spring on meaningful improvements in legislation that enhance customer communication, facility weatherization, and energy management planning to strengthen Texas’ planning and response measures during extreme weather events.
Last month, the Board of Directors appointed TPPA Board Member Bob Kahn as the Association’s Interim Executive Director until September, or until a new director is hired. Mr. Kahn currently serves as General Manager of Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA), where he has been since 2012. TPPA has full confidence in Mr. Kahn’s leadership, credited to his wide range of experience in Texas’ electric industry, having previously served as ERCOT’s President/CEO from 2007-2009, an ERCOT board member from 2002-2006, Deputy General Manager at Austin Energy, in private practice for MOUs, and in the General Counsel’s office at the PUC.
TPPA continues to host regular committee meetings, including monthly Cybersecurity presentations, weekly Government Relations calls, and last month held the annual Marketing & Customer Service Conference as a virtual live stream. TPPA’s Board of Directors recently met in-person for the first time in over a year, and TPPA staff is preparing for an in-person Annual Meeting in San Antonio, July 26 – 28, 2021 at the Westin Riverwalk.
I know you are proud, as I am, of the commitment your utility makes to its community. Let’s continue to work hard to honor those community commitments as we look forward to brighter days ahead.
