Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

Former BPA official named Franklin PUD's new manager

By Chris Mulick, Herald Olympia bureau

Franklin PUD commissioners named former Bonneville Power Administration account executive Ed Brost as the utility's new general manager Tuesday.

Brost, 57, has been serving as interim manager since Jean Ryckman retired in April. He joined Franklin PUD in November 2006, to serve as its power management director after having represented Bonneville with Tri-City utilities for five years.

He also once served as Bonneville's liaison with Energy Northwest during his 22-year tenure with the federal power marketer.

Brost will make $162,000 annually as general manager at Franklin PUD.

He said he wasn't eyeing the manager's job when he joined the utility two years ago.

"It certainly wasn't in my long-range game plan," Brost said.

But he found that he enjoyed the work and tackling the issues before the utility. And he jumped at the opportunity when Ryckman retired.

"It just kind of all worked out for everybody," he said.

Commission President Bill Gordon said there were nine applicants for the post, and he and commissioners Stu Nelson and Chuck Hall ranked them all.

"All three of us had Ed as number one," Gordon said. "There wasn't a consensus for number two."

"His regional experience is hard to beat especially at this time," Gordon said.

The PUD is in the process of nailing down a new power purchase contract with Bonneville and faces some key decisions in the months to come.

Brost said Ryckman left the utility in good shape and he doesn't plan any major changes.

"I hope people don't see a lot of difference," Brost said. "It's not my intent to turn things upside down."

He said he'd like to work toward lowering electric rates, but sees issues related to climate change and mandates for purchasing power from environmentally friendly power plants that could make it difficult to hold the line.