Former Central Texas Congressman named ERCOT chair

AUSTIN, Texas ( FOX 44 ) – Former Central Texas Congressman William H. “Bill” Flores has been named the new Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) Board Chair.

ERCOT made the announcement on Monday, saying Flores will succeed outgoing Chair Paul Foster, who was named Chair of the ERCOT Board in October 2021. Foster announced he was stepping down as Chair in June 2024.

“I appreciate the thoughtful work of the Board Selection Committee and am honored to have been selected as ERCOT’s Board Chair,” said Flores. “Our fellow Board members and I are committed to serving the people of Texas by providing governance oversight to ERCOT’s executive management team as they address the challenges and complexities of maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. Working together with its stakeholders, ERCOT will continue to lead the industry to provide affordable, efficient, and reliable power for current and future generations in our dynamic and fast-growing state.”

According to ERCOT, Flores is an entrepreneur, corporate governance professional and public policy leader. He served as the elected U.S. Representative for the 17th Congressional District of Texas from 2011 through 2021. Before this, he served in board governance and senior leadership positions for numerous public and private entities.

In addition, ERCOT also announced Peggy Heeg will serve as the Vice Chair of the ERCOT Board of Directors. Heeg is a corporate director and business leader who has served on the boards of several public and private energy companies. She previously managed law practices with Reed Smith and Norton Rose Fulbright, where she advised leading companies on complex energy, regulatory and corporate governance matters.

“I am honored to be a part of the ERCOT Board with its deep subject matter expertise and diversity of experience. This experience and perspective will enable the Board to navigate the Texas energy landscape and serve Texans,” added Heeg. “I look forward to continuing to work with the ERCOT Board in this new leadership capacity to drive reliability and efficient energy markets.”

ERCOT is governed by a twelve-member Board of Directors and is subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. All ERCOT Board members are Texas residents. You can learn more about the ERCOT Board of Directors here .

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