Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Electric cooperative is under new management

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain

Socorro Electric Cooperative is one of 44 electric cooperatives in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Nebraska that purchases their power wholesale from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc.

Tri-State has announced the selection of a new Chief Executive officer, Ken Anderson. Anderson will replace J.M. Shafer who is expected to retire on July 1.

"I feel that they have made a good choice," said Leopoldo Pineda, general manager of the Socorro Co-op. "He comes from within the organization and he knows the challenges that Tri-State is facing."

Anderson received his bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University and his master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Colorado. He currently serves as Tri-State's senior vice president of generation and power management.

Anderson is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Instrument Society of America, the Western Electricity Coordination Council's Reliability Police Committee and the Colorado Governor's Reliability Task Force.

"I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my career and I appreciate the confidence that Tri-State's board has placed in me," Anderson said in a press release. "We're facing a number of challenges as we continue to try to develop the necessary facilities that will provide our member co-ops with a long-term, reliable and affordable source of wholesale electricity. Working together toward mutual goals, I'm certain we can be successful."

Pineda said he does not expect Anderson to make significant changes in policy at Tri-State when he takes over the helm.

"I don't know him well yet, but I look forward to getting to know him as we work together," Pineda said.

ecronce@dchieftain.com

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