(FOLSOM, CA) – The Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM)
Governing Body today unanimously appointed Anita Decker to serve on the EIM
Governing Body. Decker, former executive director of the Northwest Public Power
Association will begin on Sept. 1, filling a vacant seat with a term that ends
in June 2020.
The EIM Governing Body oversees the Western EIM, a real-time
bulk power trading market and the first of its kind in the western United
States. Since its launch in 2014, the Western EIM has enhanced grid reliability
while generating $736 million in benefits to its nine participating entities,
and reducing 403,546 metric tons of carbon emissions in the western states.
“Anita Decker’s experience in nearly all aspects of the
electric power industry makes her a valuable addition to the EIM Governing
Body,” said Jennifer Gardner, the EIM Governing Body Nominating Committee
Chair. “Her perspective will be particularly important as the Western EIM
continues to experience rapid growth and offers additional services to meet
customer needs and address regulatory and legislative mandates as the power
industry evolves.”
Decker brings 39 years of electric utility experience, most
recently as executive director of the Northwest Public Power Association from
2014 to 2019, overseeing an organization that provides legislative and
regulatory support and training to more than 150 community-owned electric
utilities and electric cooperatives in nine western states and British
Columbia.
Between 2007 and 2014, Decker served as the chief operating
officer for the Bonneville Power Administration, including a stint as acting
administrator for the Western Area Power Administration. She was responsible
for Bonneville Power Administration’s power services, transmission services,
internal business services and environment, fish and wildlife.
Decker’s career also includes a 27-year stint with
PacificCorp, where she held positions in Oregon, Wyoming, and Utah, rising to
the role of business unit vice president. The EIM Governing Body oversees the
Western EIM as its membership grows with the ISO and eight other Balancing Authorities.
Future participants of the Western EIM include the Salt River Project, and
Seattle City Light in 2020; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power,
NorthWestern Energy, Turlock Irrigation District, and the Public Service
Company of New Mexico in 2021; and Tucson Electric Power, Avista, and Tacoma
Power in 2022.
