For More Information Contact:
Bryan Case, PNGC Power Board Chairman, 208-709-1263
PNGC Power Selects New CEO
Portland, Oregon – February 20, 2024 – PNGC Power, the sole operating generation and transmission cooperative and one of the largest wholesale load serving entities in the Pacific Northwest region, has selected Jessica Matlock as its new CEO.
“PNGC is thrilled to welcome Jessica Matlock as our new CEO,” said Bryan Case, PNGC Power’s Board Chair. “With her extensive leadership experience in public utilities, government relations, strategic planning, and generation and transmission issues, Jessica's vision and expertise will propel PNGC towards a dynamic and prosperous future."
Matlock begins on April 1, when Roger Gray, PNGC Power’s current CEO, will retire.
“Roger’s valiant work with the PNGC Board and staff has resulted in a new wholesale power contract and membership agreement, which is innovative, flexible, and provides the optionality needed to position members for success in a rapidly changing power and transmission landscape” Case said, touting the accomplishments of PNGC under Gray’s leadership. “The results of those efforts saw all sixteen members sign the new evergreen agreement with PNGC Power this past fall, paving the way to our future.”
Matlock is coming to PNGC Power from La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) in Colorado, where she was LPEA’s first female CEO in the utility’s 85-year history. Under Matlock’s five-year leadership, she positioned LPEA with its strongest financial performance in over two decades, built its first community solar garden, implemented sophisticated grid monitoring systems, and brought the first Vehicle-to-Grid school bus to the State of Colorado. She is also involved with several energy boards and groups across the nation and region. Specifically, Matlock helped create several Women in Power groups across the U.S., is a board member of the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA), and serves on the CEO Advisory Group for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
“As someone who spent years in the Pacific Northwest working on energy issues for a large PUD and BPA, I have always admired and respected PNGC Power,” said Matlock. “I am very excited to be leading PNGC Power to develop future energy solutions and make strategic decisions that will impact PNGC Power and its member utilities for decades to come.”
Prior to the CEO role at LPEA, Matlock worked on the executive leadership team for the nation’s 12th largest public utility district (Snohomish County PUD), served as an energy policy advisor in the U.S. Senate, and also held various energy roles at the Bonneville Power Administration. Jessica has deep experience acquiring and managing power supply, understanding power markets, and has overseen the development and implementation of utility-scale solar, electric vehicle, and demand response programs. Matlock also proudly served in the United States Coast Guard.
Matlock earned her B.S. in Chemical Oceanography at the University of Washington and her Master of Public Administration at Portland State University. In her free time, she can be found recreating in the mountains with her husband, three kids, and awesome dog.
About PNGC Power
PNGC Power is an Oregon-based electric generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative owned by 16 Northwest electric distribution cooperative utilities with service territory in seven western states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming). The cooperative creates value for its member systems by providing power supply, transmission, and other management services. PNGC Power is an aggregator of geographically diverse loads in the region and became the first electric cooperative in the country to receive a power marketing license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.