NYISO Board Announces Leadership Transition Timetable

RENSSELAER, NY (03/28/2011)(readMedia)-- The board of directors of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) today announced a timetable for a leadership transition when current Board Chair Karen Antion concludes her term. According to the transition plan announced today, current Vice Chair of the Board Robert Hiney will become chairman of the NYISO board of directors at the conclusion of its April 19, 2011, meeting. Ms. Antion will continue to serve as a member of the board.

"Karen has played a vital role in the NYISO's leadership in grid operations, market design, electric system planning and technological innovations," said NYISO President and CEO Stephen G. Whitley. "The board has benefitted from her extensive experience in the field of information technology and her strategic vision. Under Karen's leadership as board chair over the past five years, the NYISO has grown and evolved to take on significant new roles and responsibilities. We look forward to continuing on that path under Bob Hiney's leadership."

In announcing the leadership transition, Mr. Whitley noted Ms. Antion has brought significant value to the NYISO during her time as chairman of the board and that her term has been marked by an impressive array of accomplishments, including:

• Expanding the NYISO's horizons through the "Broader Regional Markets" initiative, which will expand and enhance regional markets encompassing neighboring control areas by addressing existing limitations where markets and systems connect and provide potential annual savings of more than $360 million to the region.

• Successfully bidding for $37.4 million in federal Smart Grid Investment Grant funding to enhance New York's grid reliability and technology;

• Implementing important NYISO budget initiatives, including successful adoption of multi-year budget commitments developed with stakeholders and the implementation of aggressive cost-cutting measures in response to the global economic crisis that resulted in significant NYISO operating cost reductions; and

• Initiating the data center "virtualization" project that partitioned hardware into virtual systems to provide a more robust, responsive and adaptable system and that saved $20 million over four years by reducing the number of servers required, cutting energy use and lowering licensing and maintenance costs;

"In addition to many notable accomplishments during her tenure as the chair of the NYISO board, Karen Antion, as a founding member of the board, has dedicated the last dozen years to the NYISO," said Tariq Niazi, the director of utility intervention at the New York State Consumer Protection Board. "I want to thank her for the dedication, commitment and the energy with which she carried out her responsibilities. We look forward to continuing to work with Karen during the years ahead and with Bob Hiney now that he is taking over as chair."

Stephen Lynch, principal and co-founder of Energy Curtailment Specialists, Inc. said, "I congratulate Chairman Antion on her successful leadership of the NYISO board of directors. During Karen's tenure over the past five years, the NYISO has strengthened its position as a model for competitive electricity markets and new, innovative technologies. ECS and our 176 New York-based employees look forward to playing a role in the continuing growth and development of the NYISO markets."

Ms. Antion joined the NYISO board in 1998 as one of its founding members and was elected chair in 2006. Prior to being elected chair, Ms. Antion served as vice chair and also served with distinction as chair of the board's Governance Committee, Information Technology Committee and Business Issues Committee.