S&P Global
Justin Driscoll is the CEO of the New York Power Authority. Debra Smith is the CEO of Seattle City Light. Jay Stowe is the CEO of the Jacksonville Electric Authority. Rich Wallen is the CEO of the Grant Public Utility District.
During the 2022 Public Power Community Conference, co-hosted by LPPC and S&P Global Ratings, PUF corraled chief execs for two roundtables on where their utilities and public power generally are heading. In one of these roundtables, PUF moderated a conversation with Justin Driscoll, Debra Smith, Jay Stowe, and Rich Wallen. They lead the New York Power Authority, Seattle City Light, Jacksonville Electric Authority, and Grant Public Utility District respectively.
PUF's Steve Mitnick: Rich, that was a great panel. Let's start with workforce and labor issues. What was your takeaway?
Rich Wallen: Our vacancy rate today is around three percent. That's traditionally what we've observed.
We don't have a lot of turnover. But we are starting to see some specialty positions becoming more difficult to retain. That's specifically in the enterprise technology cybersecurity front, because being public power, we're having a tough time competing with some of the salaries offered. Also, with the one hundred percent remote work capabilities.
On the bargaining unit, skill craft, apprenticeable craft, we are feeling pressures. How do we continue to manage that through a new contract negotiation with the existing compression we have with first line leadership and managers?