SPP Announces John Cupparo as New Board Chair

Southwest Power Pool of Little Rock will have a new board chair Feb. 7, the regional electric grid manager announced Tuesday.

John Cupparo will be the new chair, succeeding Susan Certoma.

Certoma, a member of the SPP board since 2019, said she would step down as chair but remain a member of the board of directors and SPP’s Finance Committee and Human Resources Committee.

 “While it has been an honor and privilege to serve as board chair, I believe it is best to transition the chair responsibility at this time so I can focus my efforts on other important issues,” Certoma said in a statement. She previously chaired the Finance Committee, and served on the Corporate Governance Committee and Strategic Planning Committee.

Cupparo, a former Berkshire Hathaway Energy senior executive, was elected to the SPP board in 2022. Since then, he has served on the Finance Committee, Human Resources Committee and most recently as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

 “Southwest Power Pool is a special organization with a strong culture,” Cupparo said in a news release. “I very much appreciate the opportunity to serve as board chair and collaborate with the SPP community to achieve its mission. A special thanks to Susan for past and continued contributions to SPP, and I look forward to our ongoing work together.”

Cupparo led a significant transmission investment program in the western United States when he was at Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and he was an active board member of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council focusing on regional planning, finance and the reliability coordination task force.

SPP, a not-for-profit regional transmission organization that ensures reliable power supplies, transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices for its members in 14 states, is also expanding its footprint westward and developing a day-ahead energy market in the west.

Elizabeth Moore, who was recently elected to serve another term on SPP’s board, will remain as its vice chair and serve alongside Cupparo. Moore has more than 30 years of experience in the regulatory and energy industry. She previously served as senior vice president and general counsel for Consolidated Edison Inc. of New York, one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the nation. Moore was first elected to the board in 2020.