People

“At EPRI, we often talk about our role in powering prosperity while protecting the planet. That phrase captures the challenge well, and it is a balance I think about constantly as a leader.”

“For the first time, the majority of Commissioners here are women. Each Commissioner brings a different background and perspective, and that diversity is incredibly valuable given the scale and complexity of the challenges we are facing.”

“We live in what feels like an endlessly unprecedented time. You have to meet people where they are. You do not always know what someone has experienced or what they have read that day, and that uncertainty can weigh heavily on teams.”

“I look for people who are mission-driven and who take satisfaction in serving the public interest. When a case does not go the way we hoped, we do not treat it as a simple loss. We debrief and ask whether we made a difference.”

“Across North America and globally, grids are facing sustained demand growth, tighter capacity margins, rising costs, and more extreme weather. Utilities do not have the luxury of time or the ability to rely on the status quo.”

“Conversations around affordability, reliability, and new technologies can become polarized. But most people want the same things: dependable service, reasonable costs, and systems that support long-term economic growth.”

The women featured here represent the breadth of the modern grid. Their roles span utilities, regulatory commissions, federal public power, trade associations, research institutions, consumer advocacy offices, and technology companies. The perspectives are varied, but several themes recur: translating complexity into clarity, balancing competing priorities, preparing the workforce of the future, and keeping customers at the center of the conversation.

The United States Energy Association's forum convened CEOs from leading energy trade associations and set the energy agenda for the year ahead.

Long-time Executive Editor Steve Mitnick handed the baton to Rachel Bryant, an engineer and lawyer who is familiar to many of our readers as her career has centered on energy.

Rachel Bryant will take the helm at Public Utilities Fortnightly starting with February’s issue. For PUF’s next voyage, this proud boat could not be in better hands.