Former Duke Energy executive Kent Fonvielle will lead MISO South’s external affairs division, MISO announced Friday.

Fonvielle, who began his career as an engineer at Duke’s Oconee Nuclear Station, served for the last 11 months as the company’s director of regulatory affairs, overseeing its regulatory strategy, filings and rate cases in North Carolina and South Carolina.

MISO said Fonvielle will be the primary liaison for MISO South members and stakeholders. He will begin work April 3 from the RTO’s Little Rock offices.

MISO South Vice President Todd Hillman said that Fonvielle’s role is a newly created position that “reflects the importance of the South region as part of the MISO market.”

At Duke, Fonvielle’s prior duties included managing large industrial accounts and wholesale energy contracts and doing fuel and renewable planning.

“It is a privilege to continue my career with an organization dedicated to helping ensure reliable energy and increased value for the people of the South region,” Fonvielle said.

Fonvielle’s hiring comes less than a year after MISO named former Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Kari Bennett as the RTO’s executive director of external affairs. (See MISO Names 3rd External Affairs Director in 5 Years.)

— Amanda Durish Cook