Leadership

Charles Bayless was one of the first utility leaders to recognize the promise of distributed generation as a less risky and cleaner alternative to investment in conventional central-station generation. Bayless has been chairman, president, and CEO of both Tucson Electric Power (UniSource Energy) and Illinois Power (Illinova Corp.). Before that, he served in senior positions at Public Service of New Hampshire and Consumers Power (now Consumers Energy). Bayless has served on the boards of more than 15 organizations, including the Ontario Power Authority, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Edison Electric Institute.

Ralph Cavanagh is a champion of the notion that environmental solutions should contribute to the bottom line of polluting businesses, something that traditional regulations prevented. Cavanagh’s unparalleled success in persuading regulators of the merits of this once-unorthodox view helped to prove that utility regulatory reform is viable and that it yields substantial environmental gains. He has used public policy in an exemplary way to bring about positive, widespread changes in existing regulations and practices. Cavanaugh has been with the NRDC since 1979; he also served for 10 years as a member of the US Secretary of Energy’s advisory board.

John Di Stasio was formerly the general manager and CEO of SMUD, where his accomplishments included improving reliability and offering some of the lowest electricity rates in California. He was also instrumental in securing a $127.5 million grant from the US Department of Energy to pursue a smart grid infrastructure project. Di Stasio is the past president of both the Northwest Public Power Association and the California Municipal Utility Association and the vice chair of the Large Public Power Council.

In February 2021, Sue Kelly was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Trustees of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. Before that, she was president and CEO of the American Public Power Association (APPA). Kelly joined APPA in 2004 as senior vice president of policy analysis and general counsel. She is a former principal with Miller, Balis & O’Neil, PC, where she represented electric utilities and their trade associations as well as other governmental entities, assisting them with restructuring-related issues before the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, federal appellate courts, and state public utility commissions.

Delia D. Patterson oversees SRP’s compliance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and Environmental, Safety, and Health; its Arizona Corporation Commission regulatory efforts; and its corporate political action committee. Prior to joining SRP, she was SVP of advocacy and communications and general counsel for the American Public Power Association. She was also the organization’s chief legal officer. Patterson served six years as a commissioned officer in the US Navy within the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. She earned a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center, an MS from Virginia Tech, and a BS from the United States Naval Academy.

Scott Ungerer has been a leader in venture capital investing for the traditional and advanced energy sectors for nearly 20 years. He is one of the few in his field with an extensive and proven investment and management operations history. Ungerer looks for opportunities that reduce the cost and improve the customer experience related to all aspects of energy supply, delivery, and usage. His areas of expertise include companies that sell into central and distributed power generation; electric transmission; electric, natural gas, and water distribution; energy management for the customer premise; intelligent grid; and transportation.

Roger Woodworth has dedicated his life to helping people favorably transform the forces that shape social and economic outcomes. Over his 37-year career at Avista, he held a variety of roles, including vice president of operations, vice president for sustainable energy, and vice president of customer solutions. Prior to his early retirement in 2016, Woodworth served as corporate vice president and chief strategy officer. He was also president of Avista’s development subsidiary. As principal of Mindset Matters, Woodworth helps people refresh strategies, align efforts, and expand connections to achieve greater things. His clients include a wide range of for-profit, municipal, academic, and nonprofit organizations.