A California power system monitoring veteran has hired on as the new executive director of Southwest Power Pool’s Market Monitoring Unit in Little Rock.
Keith Collins, previously manager of monitoring and reporting at the California Independent System Operator, was chosen for the post by SPP’s Oversight Committee in a vote last month. He will take the post June 1, succeeding Alan McQueen, who plans to retire later this year after working through the transition with Collins.
“SPP’s markets have benefited tremendously from the oversight provided by the Market Monitoring Unit under Alan’s leadership,” said Joshua Martin, chairman of SPP’s Oversight Committee. “We owe Alan a debt of thanks for delaying his retirement until we found the appropriate candidate to assume his responsibilities.”
Martin said Collins “will be a great fit at SPP. He has big shoes to fill, but has the experience and expertise to do so successfully.”
Collins was identified as a top prospect in a nationwide search by an executive search consultant who praised his in-depth knowledge of wholesale energy markets and the breadth of his experience, according to an SPP news release.
The unit Collins will manage monitors and reports possible abuses of market power and potential gaming of the regional transmission organization’s markets. It also oversees compliance with market rules, identifies market design flaws and suggests changes to improve the operation of markets and services for the benefit of electric system consumers.
“I’m excited to work with SPP, its members and the Oversight Committee on the changing dynamics in the SPP markets,” Collins said in the release. “I believe my experiences will bring a unique perspective to these challenges.
SPP, with headquarters in Little Rock, manages the electric grid and wholesale power market for the central United States.
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