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Brad Jones, the former Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) President and CEO, passed away on November 8 with his family at his side, ERCOT noted in a statement posted on its website.
“Brad Jones was a beloved part of the ERCOT family, most recently serving as Interim President and CEO from May 4, 2021, to November 1, 2022,” ERCOT said in the statement.
“Prior to that, Brad was a valued member of the ERCOT team from April 1, 2013, to October 10, 2015, as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer,” it added.
In the statement, ERCOT highlighted that Jones previously served as President and CEO of the New York Independent System Operator. He also held several leadership positions at Luminant (formerly TXU), including Vice President of Generation Development and Vice President of Government Relations, the statement pointed out.
“As a result of his leadership efforts during his time at Luminant, Brad was awarded the Commissioners’ Award from the Public Utility Commission of Texas in recognition of his service to the state of Texas,” ERCOT said in the statement.
Jones served on numerous professional, industry, and volunteer boards, including the ERCOT and NYISO Board of Directors, Gulf Coast Power Association, and the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, ERCOT noted in the statement, adding that he also served on Boards of the March of Dimes, Atlas Scholars, and St. Peter’s Health Foundation.
“No words can express our sadness for this loss, and our gratitude for the opportunity to have known and worked with him,” ERCOT said in the statement.
“Brad was a friend, a colleague, a leader, and a genuinely caring person. He touched the lives and careers of many ERCOT employees and industry colleagues. He will be dearly missed,” it added.
In the statement, ERCOT’s current President and CEO, Pablo Vegas, noted, “a leader in the Texas energy industry with more than 30 years of experience, Brad Jones was selfless, always positive, a friend to all, and will always be a valuable part of the ERCOT family”.
“He retired in 2018 only to return and lead our organization again in 2021 when ERCOT and Texas needed him most. Inspiring, caring, and respected, we will miss him dearly,” he added.
ERCOT revealed in the statement that a scholarship has been established to honor Jones’ legacy. The Brad Jones Engineering Scholarship will award Texas Tech University junior-level engineering students with scholarships to be used for senior education expenses, the statement outlined.
“Throughout his career, Brad was committed to building an electric grid to support millions of people and a growing economy, all while consciously helping individuals grow their careers,” ERCOT said in the statement.
“This scholarship extends this vision for generations to come,” it added.
In a statement posted on his X page, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Jared Patterson, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, said, “Brad Jones did a masterful job as ERCOT interim CEO following Winter Storm Uri”.
“He traveled the state educating Texans about the grid and about the changes in policy he was implementing,” he added.
“I enjoyed getting to know Brad and respected his hard work and how he handled tough questions from a rightfully upset constituency. Hate to hear this. RIP,” Patterson continued.
In a statement posted on his X page commenting on Jones’ passing, Daniel Batten, the co-founder of CH4 Capital, said, “very sad news, but a big legacy”.
“Brad Jones was bought out of retirement by ERCOT after the devastation of winter storm Uri resulted in the loss of multiple billions of dollars of business and hundreds of lives,” he added.
“Brad Jones embarked on a remarkable grid stabilization program which was both bold and hugely successful. The twin pillars were weatherization of old generation equipment and upgrading the ERCOT demand response program through Bitcoin mining,” he added.
“In an era where new technologies are often misunderstood, or vilified, Brad Jones was one of the few who leaned in and made the deep effort to understand the utility of Bitcoin to the grid,” he continued.
“Rest in peace Brad. Though you are no longer with us, the example you set to us all at the intersection of vision and pragmatism lives on,” Batten went on to state.
ERCOT manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers — representing about 90 percent of the state’s electric load, the organization notes on its site.
To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
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