By Suzanne Herel

WILMINGTON, Del. — Outgoing PJM CEO Terry Boston presided over his final general session last week, tearing up as he recalled how power changed his family’s life growing up in rural Tennessee.

“On Sept. 9, 1939, electricity came to the Boston family farm. That meant things like the milk was in the fridge and not in the creek or the spring,” he said. “Nothing has improved our standard of living or our productivity more.”

“Power engineering is not rocket science. It’s much more important than that,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Boston began his career in 1972 as a project engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority, joining PJM as CEO in 2008. He will serve as CEO emeritus until the end of this month. Andy Ott, previously PJM’s executive vice president for markets, took on the job of president and CEO in October. (See Retiring PJM CEO Boston Lauded for Efficiency Improvements, Management Style.)

Boston was feted by PJM stakeholders, staff and members of the Board of Managers during a reception following the general session. (See related story, From Cold War to Black Sky: PJM General Session Fetes Boston, Discusses Emerging Threats.)

Katie Guerry of EnerNOC, the incoming chair of the Members Committee, and Susan Bruce of the PJM Industrial Customer Coalition presented Boston with a solar-powered globe of the world.

Boston also was presented with a letter from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf lauding him for creating “the industry’s most successful model for an electricity market.” U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.) also sent letters of commendation.

Board Chairman Howard Schneider lauded Boston for his intelligence, dedication and humility.

Boston and his wife, Brenda, will be splitting their time in retirement between Hawaii and their custom-designed solar-powered home in Tennessee.

“The whole PJM community is in the public service business,” Boston said. “It’s been the love of my life to work here.”