Posted: 08-Sep-23
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
Type: Full Time
Years of Experience:
Preferred Education:
OKLAHOMA MUNICIPAL POWER AUTHORITY
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
OMPA was created by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1981 for the purpose of providing adequate, reliable, and economic sources of electric power and energy to Oklahoma municipalities and public trusts operating municipal electric systems. The Authority currently serves 42 member cities in Oklahoma, and a 43rd is slated to begin taking service in 2025. OMPA also has short-term contracts with two Arkansas municipalities and one Texas municipality. Through its members, OMPA provides electric power and energy to a population of approximately 250,000 people. OMPA’s power supply comes from a variety of resources including wind, hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, and landfill-to-gas. OMPA is also the off taker for a 120 MW solar plant, expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2024. The Authority fully owns and operates three power plants in the Ponca City area. Its diverse power portfolio includes minority ownership in several coal and natural gas plants, as well as purchase power agreements with entities that provide wind power. OMPA is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors elected by and from the ranks of its members. The Authority employs 82 people.
OMPA
OMPA headquarters is in Edmond, Oklahoma. The Authority also has offices in Ponca City, Marlow, and Fairview. OMPA provides its member cities with wholesale power and value-added programs and services. OMPA has a Field Services Department with line crews that operate out of Marlow and Fairview; these crews provide line and substation maintenance, upgrades, and power restoration services to participating members. The Member Services Department oversees the Authority’s demand and energy efficiency programs, Competitive Utility Program (CUP https://www.ompa.com/members-only-2/cup/), emerging technologies and innovative programs, government relations, and other training and industry intelligence services.
OMPA’s power supply program includes a combination of wholly owned and joint ownership in various generating units, along with power purchase agreements. In recent years, the Authority’s resource mix has undergone significant changes. In addition to wind farms being added to the portfolio and the Authority’s 103 MW gas-fired Charles D. Lamb Center coming online, three coal plants have been retired and are in the process of being decommissioned. OMPA was part-owner of these plants, with a combined share of around 120 MW of capacity. This caused the percentage of coal in the Authority’s resource mix to plummet from 24% in 2018 to just 15% in 2022.
Simultaneously, renewables have seen growth as part of the resource mix, going from 18% to 27%. Natural gas was the leading resource for the Authority in 2022 at 46% of the mix.
OMPA is a Transmission Owner in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). The Authority is a member of the Transmission Access Policy Study Group (TAPS), an organization that addresses issues and challenges faced by transmission dependent utilities before FERC and Congress.
SPP recently approved an increase in the amount of reserve capacity power suppliers must have from 12% to 15%, while also changing their accreditation policies. These changes impact the capacity credit of OMPA assets. As it currently stands, OMPA appears poised to meet the new requirements, but these changes have altered OMPA’s future generation planning. All of this comes at a time of continued demand. The Authority witnessed an increase in system-wide peak demand to 770 MW in 2023. As a result, OMPA is focusing on building its power supply program. Recent projects in this space include development of the 120 MW North Fork Community Solar Project, evaluation of community scale solar projects in member cities, and 20 MW of battery storage, scheduled to come on-line in 2025.
OMPA generates revenues of approximately $220.6 million, has assets of $670 million, and $580 million in long-term debt. Fitch and Standard & Poor’s rate OMPA “A” and Moody’s rates the Authority “A2”. Additional information is available at www.ompa.com.
EDMOND, OKLAHOMA
Edmond is located on the north side of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The city has a population of over 96,000 and is home to the University of Central Oklahoma. Edmond is home to 33 public parks with playgrounds, walking trails, water features, and sport courts and fields (www.edmondok.com). Edmond is also home to the beautiful Lake Arcadia which provides residents with opportunities to boat, fish, swim, mountain bike, hike, play disc golf, picnic, camp, and horseback ride. Enjoy festivals and events year-round. Find up-to-date information on dining, shopping, and playing at https://visitedmondok.com/index.php.
Edmond has an educated population with over 56% of residents 25 and over holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Edmond also has the lowest crime rate in the metro area, the highest fire protection rating, and boasts some of the best schools in the state. The current cost of living is estimated at 96.3% of the national average. More information can be found at www.eeda.com.
REQUIREMENTS
OMPA created this Assistant General Manager (AGM) role to assist the General Manager in leading the organization. The AGM will maintain effective operations as the current General Manager focuses on his role as Board Chair of the American Public Power Association and the Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) Members Committee. This position is intended to be a successor to the General Manager who anticipates retirement in 2025. The AGM will make Board presentations and represent OMPA with external stakeholders including SPP and Transmission Access Policy Study Group (TAPS) committees and working groups, jointly owned power plant co-owner meetings, and at Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) meetings. He or she will assume the responsibilities of the General Manager in his absence.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Monitor activities of Operations Department related to the economic dispatch of resources.
- Monitor activities of Accounting & Finance Departments.
- Supervise and assist with the development of the annual Power Supply Study.
- Supervise and assist with the development of the annual Rate Study.
- Prepare materials for, and present at, the monthly Board of Directors Meeting.
- Work on various power supply issues related to service for existing or prospective members.
- Represent the interests of OMPA with regards to the Southwest Power Pool.
- Represent the interests of OMPA at the various meetings of the jointly owned power plants.
- Direct and assist with the development of the annual budget.
- Assist with compliance with NERC Reliability Standards.
- Direct and assist with the on-going planning process for new resources.
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Qualified candidates for the position of Assistant General Manager must embrace the public power model. Previous experience in a not-for-profit, customer/member-centric utility is highly desired. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess strong leadership acumen, an ability to inspire and foster innovation and creativity, and enough knowledge of power supply planning, power resource development and partnerships, power purchase agreements, transmission, and RTO/ISO markets (ideally the Southwest Power Pool) to assist OMPA achieve the following short- and long-term strategic objectives:
- Address future power supply needs taking into consideration the changing political landscape, changes in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) energy market, and the needs of OMPA’s member cities. Possible solutions include community solar, battery storage, hydrogen, and demand response.
- Develop and maintain a Business Plan that merges OMPA’s Strategic Plan and financial planning efforts.
- Develop an OMPA Staffing Plan to prepare for retirements, staff turnover, and the changing needs of OMPA.
- Assist members in staying current with the technology curve. This could include deployment and management of Advanced Metering Infrastructure systems, Time-Of-Use rates, Meter Data Management systems, Outage Management Systems and Geographic Information Systems.
- Assist members in preparation of continued electrification.
- Guard against cyber threats and maintain compliance with current cybersecurity standards and best practices, including investigation of potential cybersecurity programs for member use.
- Continue investigation of possible demand response and demand-side management programs.
OMPA requires an AGM with outstanding communication skills who will foster a high level of integrity, trust, and credibility with all stakeholders. He or she must forge strong relationships and work collaboratively and transparently with the Board of Directors, members, employees, and industry peers and partners. Demonstrated successful interaction with a Board of Directors or similar governing body is considered ideal, as is demonstrated ability to develop employees and build strong teams.
OMPA is targeting candidates with a bachelor’s degree in business, economics, engineering, or a related field. Fully qualified candidates will possess ten to 15 years of related utility and managerial experience. An advanced degree in a related field such as business administration or engineering, and/or a professional engineer license (PE) is desired.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND RELOCATION
OMPA offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, which will be commensurate with candidates’ qualifications and experience. The benefits package includes participation in a defined contribution retirement savings program composed of a 401(a) plan and a 457(b) plan with an employer match. Relocation assistance will be negotiated.
TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume in PDF format to jgallo@mfpllc.us no later than October 11, 2023.
Joyce Gallo
Mycoff Fry Partners LLC
PO Box 1310
Conifer, CO 80433
(800) 525-9082
OMPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer