By Christen Smith

Denise Foster quietly joined East Kentucky Power Cooperative earlier this month as vice president of federal and RTO regulatory affairs.

Foster resigned from PJM on Oct. 31 as former interim CEO Susan Riley reorganized the state and member services division that she led. Her departure stunned and saddened stakeholders across the board, who all described her as collaborative, sharp and communicative and a key voice for states on the RTO’s executive team. (See Stakeholders, States in the Dark over PJM Personnel Moves.)

Foster told RTO Insider on Monday that she is “excited to work for such a wonderful company.” She will oversee federal regulatory filings related to generation and transmission “and engage in matters related to RTO operations impacting EKPC.”

A graduate of Dickinson Law School, Foster worked three years as an assistant consumer advocate for Pennsylvania before joining PJM as senior counsel in 2000. After four years in that post, she moved to Exelon, where she rose to become director of policy development. She returned to PJM, taking her former post, in 2009.

“I believe my background and experience working at PJM, Exelon and the Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate’s Office position me well for this incredible opportunity,” Foster said. “I look forward to the continued engagement with my former colleagues at PJM, in government and across industry.”

EKPC represents 16 member-owners that serve approximately 1.1 million customers in eastern and central Kentucky. The organization joined PJM in 2013 after increasing transmission constraints with potential counterparties and federal environmental regulations made it expensive to continue operating as an independent balancing authority. (See East Kentucky Power Cooperative System Joins PJM.)

CEO Anthony Campbell said Foster’s “knowledge, experience and relationships are a tremendous addition.”

“Denise comes to EKPC at a time when crucial issues and energy market changes are being considered at PJM and at the federal level,” said Don Mosier, EKPC’s chief operating officer. “She brings a solid RTO and regulatory background that will bolster EKPC’s position and influence in these areas and help ensure that our owner-members’ interests are represented. Denise’s leadership and guidance will be invaluable.”