ERCOT said May 29 that it has hired Keith Collins, SPP vice president of market monitoring, as its new vice president of market operations, effective June 17. 

Collins will replace Kenan Ögelman, who retired as vice president of commercial operations in April. He will be responsible for ERCOT’s market analysis, performance and design, reporting to COO Woody Rickerson. (See “Ögelman Extends ERCOT Service,” ERCOT Technical Advisory Committee Briefs: March 27, 2024.) 

Collins brings more than two decades of experience in market operations and 25 years of experience in the electric power industry. He joined SPP in June 2017, serving under MMU Executive Director Alan McQueen during a brief transition period before taking over. Previously, he was CAISO’s manager of monitoring and reporting and a branch chief for FERC. Collins also worked with NYISO on market performance. 

“I look forward to the challenges and opportunities of working with stakeholders, regulators, legislators and [ERCOT’s Independent Market Monitor] to continue to develop and improve on one of the premier electricity markets,” Collins told RTO Insider. “I am confident that my background and experiences have prepared me for success in this role.” 

“With the Texas energy market rapidly evolving, ERCOT is focused on continuing to make improvements to market performance,” ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said in a news release. “A key component will be to review the current market design and behavior to drive positive market outcomes.” 

Collins has a master’s in public policy from George Mason University and a bachelor’s in economics and government studies from Bowdoin College. He also attended the Advanced Management Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.