Scott Miller, City Utilities associate general manager of electric supply, was named the next general manager of CU at a May 12 news conference in the C. Frank Knox Board Room at 301 E. Central St. Miller will replace John Twitty, who will retire June 10.
“The board has conducted an extensive search that has included nationwide applicants, semifinalists and finalists, and we are confident that Scott can provide us with leadership for the next generation at CU,” Board of Public Utilities Chairman Patrick Platter said.
Miller will be the ninth general manager of CU since it began operations in 1945. Twitty has served in the role since 2002.
Miller was selected unanimously over finalists Herman Morris Jr., city attorney of Memphis and former president of Memphis Light, Gas and Water; and Wade Stinson, associate general manager in charge of operations for CU.
Miller said he was honored to be selected from among other qualified candidates, and he looks forward to working closely with Twitty during the next few weeks before taking the position June 11.
He said examining the ever-changing regulations coming out of Washington, D.C., would be a top priority along with meeting with CU customers for ideas about how the utility can better provide service. Miller also said he plans to gather input from CU employees and leadership.
“I learned a long time ago that sometimes when you change jobs, your perspective on things changes,” Miller said. “Right now, I’m going to be in a data-collection mode.”
He said long-term challenges include infrastructure upgrades, environmental responsibility and navigating obstacles to keep the costs of utility services low.
Miller will earn $295,000 in his one-year contract. He said his benefits, which include a car allowance, would remain the same.
Twitty said he was excited to work with Miller during the transition process.
“I’ve told Scott he has my full attention during the next month, and we will do everything we can to ensure he has every opportunity to succeed,” Twitty said.
Miller joined CU in 2002 from The Dayton Power & Light Co. in Dayton, Ohio. In his role as associate general manager of electric supply, he was heavily involved in the construction and startup of the $555 million Southwest Power Station Unit 2, a 300-megawatt coal-fired unit.
Platter said Miller’s technical expertise coupled with his understanding of finances – he has a master’s degree in finance from Wright State University – were key factors in the board’s decision.
Platter acknowledged the difficulty of the nearly six-month selection process that ultimately resulted in an undisputed decision.
“It’s not been an easy search. We have a diverse board that has a broad commitment to the public interests. We have had strong discussion about where CU should be headed and who would lead it,” Platter said. “But, in the end, the board approved unanimously an offer to extend its contract of employment to Mr. Miller, and we have every confidence that he will be able to engage the average citizen, the businesses and public institutions in new leadership.”
The search to replace Twitty started with some disagreement about the size of the committee designated to fill the role.
Public Utility Board Member Dan Scott sent a disparaging letter to the board’s executive committee about the composition of the six-member search team, which effectively represented a majority of the full 11-member board. The process quickly included participation from all members, and Scott said after the announcement he was pleased with the process and the results.
“We had the luxury of not being able to make a bad decision. The candidates who applied were really top-notch,” Scott said.
In the coming weeks, Miller will need to replace the position he’s held for nine years. During that time, his responsibilities included managing the operations of CU’s electric generating system, transmission planning and fuel procurement for the generating assets. He also managed 211 employees and an annual budget of $190 million.[[In-content Ad]]
