Living in the 'And'
Robert Kenney is the President of Xcel Energy – Colorado. Kenney oversees strategic direction and operations, including safety, profit and loss, operational excellence, customer experience, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory and legislative outcomes impacting 1.6 million electric and 1.5 million natural gas customers in Colorado. Kenney brings more than 30 years of regulatory, legal, governmental and public affairs experience, driving Xcel Energy’s leadership in the clean energy transition. He joined Xcel Energy in 2022 from Pacific Gas & Electric. Previously, he served as Chair of the Missouri Commission.
Walking into Xcel Energy’s new T3 headquarters in the RiNo district of Denver feels different from a typical utility office. T3 stands for Timber, Transit, and Technology. The building is constructed from reclaimed timber and is flooded with natural light. This is (actually) a far cry from the sequestered executive suites of the past. This move is more than just a change of address. It is the physical manifestation of a cultural evolution. Xcel Energy – Colorado President Robert Kenney explains that the space is designed to drive an ethos of openness and collaboration.
We spent a day with the Xcel Energy – Colorado leadership team discussing how this culture translates into daily operations. Colorado is a leader in energy policy, and the company is managing a massive transition while staying focused on the needs of its customers. The challenge is what the team calls living in the “and.” It is the work of providing safe, reliable, and clean energy while also maintaining the lowest share of wallet for customers in the country.
In the pages that follow, you will hear from Robert Kenney, Lon Huber, Sandra Johnson, and Jack Ihle. They discuss the specific technologies and strategies moving Xcel Energy forward. This includes using artificial intelligence for wildfire mitigation and advanced conductors to maximize the existing grid.