ERCOT’s Board Selection Committee has designated Bill Flores and Peggy Heeg as the Board of Directors’ chair and vice chair. Previously the board’s vice chair, Flores replaces Paul Foster, who announced he was stepping down as chair in June. Flores has been serving as interim chair since then.
Flores, Heeg and Foster were among the first independent directors named to the board after legislation broke up the previous hybrid structure — a mix of independent members and market participant representatives — in the wake of the disastrous February 2021 winter storm. Board members now are required to be Texas residents with executive-level experience in finance, business, engineering, trading, risk management, law or electric market design.
Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission that oversees ERCOT, said in a Sept. 30 statement that Flores and Heeg are “outstanding choices.”
“Both joined ERCOT at a pivotal time and have worked tirelessly to ensure grid reliability,” he said. “I look forward to continuing our work to strengthen grid reliability.”
Flores is a corporate governance professional who represented Texas’ 17th congressional district from 2011 to 2021.
The Selection Committee also announced second three-year terms for five board directors, including Flores and Heeg. Carlos Aguilar, John Swainson and Julie England will begin their terms by Jan. 1.
