Michael W. Peters has been named the next president and CEO of WPPI Energy, the regional power company serving Kaukauna Utilities and 50 other community-owned electric utilities. Peters, who will become CEO on Feb. 1, 2011, is an attorney with extensive experience representing both large and small electric cooperatives in Kansas, Illinois and Michigan, as well as in Washington, D.C. He is currently CEO of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association.
“We are delighted that Mike will be joining WPPI Energy,” said Chair of the WPPI Energy Board of Directors and General Manager of Cedarburg (Wis.) Light & Water Utility, Dale Lythjohan. “His proven leadership abilities, his broad and deep knowledge of the issues facing our industry, and his effectiveness in managing large membership organizations will be a tremendous benefit for our member utilities.”
WPPI Energy members conducted a national search to replace current president and CEO, Roy Thilly, who will retire in the first quarter of 2011.
The announcement of Peters’ selection comes as Kaukauna Utilities and the other member utilities of WPPI Energy celebrate the power supplier’s 30th anniversary and look forward to a continued future of joint action.
As a member of WPPI Energy, Kaukauna Utilities pools energy needs with other utilities in order to purchase and own electric generation resources. Led by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from each of its 51 member utilities, WPPI Energy is member-driven and focused on local control.
The Sun Prairie, WI-based WPPI Energy was formed in 1980 by municipal electric utilities seeking to establish and own their own electric utility to supply all of the electric requirements for their residents and businesses. Today, the member utilities together provide reliable, affordable electricity to more than 195,000 homes and businesses in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Iowa. WPPI Energy members also have developed one of the most extensive member and customer service programs among public power systems in the nation.
