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LPPC officers
Robert Johnston, Chairman
Robert P. “Bob” Johnston is the President and
Chief Executive Officer for MEAG Power. He is also Chairman of the Large
Public Power Council, an organization comprised of the 24 largest public
power utilities in the United States. In addition, he is Chairman of
Georgia Allies, a collaborative marketing partner-ship that promotes the
state’s business development.
Bob has over 25 years of experience in the electric utility industry. At
MEAG Power, he has held management positions including Manager,
Engineering; Vice President, Engineering and Operations; and Executive
Vice President, Operations. Additionally, Johnston was past Chairman and
is presently serving on the Board of Directors for The Energy Authority
(TEA) located in Jacksonville, Florida. He also serves on the Board of
Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, American Public Power
Association, Colectric Partners, Inc., Public Power, Inc., and Georgia
Allies.
Johnston received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the Georgia
Institute of Technology in 1978 and his professional engineering license
in 1983. Professional memberships include the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers, Power Engineering Society and Industry Applications
Society.
Jorge Carrasco, Vice Chairman
 Jorge
Carrasco is the Superintendent of Seattle City Light, the ninth largest
public electric utility in the United States. Carrasco was appointed by
Mayor Greg Nickels in late 2003 and confirmed by the Seattle City Council
in February 2004. He was selected by the City Of Seattle to bring
financial stability, maintain low rates, reduce debt and build cash
reserves at City Light.
Since his appointment, Carrasco has reduced the utility's debt ratio from
85% to 67% - well on the way to meet the 2010 goal of 60%; eliminated all
short term debt and retired more than $277,000 in long-term debt; there
has been no new borrowing since 2004; capital expenditures have been paid
from existing cash balances; a $25 million emergency cash reserve fund was
established in 2005; and in 2006 the utility was able to reduce rates for
the 2007 - 2008 by an average of 8.4% for all customer classes. In
addition, Carrasco has reduced the vacancy rate at City Light from 14% at
the end of 2006, to 5% at the end of 2007, with an emphasis on recruiting
skilled crafts employees.
Carrasco has supported and expanded City Light's commitment to
environmental stewardship. For the third year in a row, City Light has
been zero-net greenhouse gas emissions - the first electric utility in the
country to make that claim. Additionally, more acreage has been added for
habitat protection along the Skagit River - to the benefit of fish and
wildlife. Efforts to protect and enhance salmon runs on the Skagit have
shown dramatic results.
J.D. Powers ranked Seattle City Light #4 in customer service among medium
sized western electric utilities. This was up from a ranking of #11 in
2004 when he came to City Light.
Carrasco came to the utility as a result of a national search. He brings a
background in the public and private sector, including many years in the
utility world. Before City Light, he was promoted to the position of
president at New Jersey-based American Water Services. Carrasco was also
general manager of East Bay Municipal Utility District, a water and
wastewater utility serving more than one million customers in Oakland,
Berkeley and the eastern San Francisco Bay. Other public sector roles he
has served include City Managers of Scottsdale, Arizona and Austin, Texas.
Carrasco grew up in Laredo, Texas and graduated magna cum laude from the
University of Texas at Austin. He received an MBA from St. Edwards
University in Austin.
He lives in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle with his wife Jer. Their
son Ben is a practicing attorney at Baker Botts LLP in Texas.
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