The Energy Association of Pennsylvania (EAP) today announced its longtime president and CEO, Terrance J. Fitzpatrick, is retiring after 15 years. Fitzpatrick has spent more than four decades as an advocate and architect of many of the Commonwealth’s major energy initiatives, including his work to help draft Pennsylvania’s groundbreaking electricity competition law.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve EAP and work with an incredibly talented team, member organizations and partners, all dedicated to finding solutions to some of Pennsylvania’s most challenging energy issues,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done with our members in the electric and natural gas industries to increase energy accessibility and affordability and to modernize utility infrastructure to improve the reliability and safety of service to customers.”
Fresh out of law school, Fitzpatrick began his career as a lawyer with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) in 1981. A little more than two decades later, he was named PUC chairman in 2003 by Gov. Edward G. Rendell. In between, Fitzpatrick served a number of high-profile roles focused on energy issues.
From 1995 to 1997, he served as counsel to the state Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. It was here, in 1996, that he played a key role in helping to write the historic Electricity Generation Consumer Choice Act, which opened competition in the electricity sector by allowing consumers to choose their energy provider. One of the first of its kind in the nation, the law provided reliable service and a competitive market for consumers, becoming a model for other states to emulate.
Fitzpatrick served as a member of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board and as legal counsel to the state Insurance Department. He also worked in private law practice and for the Electric Power Generation Association. In 1999, he was appointed to the PUC by Gov. Tom Ridge, where he would serve until 2007.
“We truly appreciate and thank Terry for his dedicated service to EAP,” said Board Chairwoman Tori Giesler, managing counsel for First Energy Corp. “He has been at the forefront of most of Pennsylvania’s major energy initiatives and truly has become a trusted voice to so many. EAP is launching an extensive search process to identify a new leader who will build on Terry’s success and continue to make Pennsylvania’s energy sector the envy of the nation.”
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About EAP
The Energy Association of Pennsylvania (EAP) is a trade association that represents and promotes the interests of regulated electric and natural gas distribution companies operating in Pennsylvania. Collectively, EAP’s members deliver energy to more than 8.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers.
Contact: David LaTorre, david@latorrecommunications.