John Barksdale
John Barksdale
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John is an electrical engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the power industry who is passionate about ensuring reliable, affordable electricity for all. He is a licensed professional engineer in Texas and holds a Master of Engineering. John has successfully managed five power plants and developed a 10-year capital improvement plan, showcasing his ability to balance long-term goals with immediate community needs. Not only does John bring years of work experience and expertise, but living in Buda also gives him unique insights into the needs of the community. As a Hill Country resident, he is personally invested in making sure his community’s needs are heard, they are able to make well-informed decisions, and that PEC continues serving the area effectively and efficiently.

John’s goals for PEC include the following:
Throughout his career, John has worked in both public and private sectors within the electric industry, with significant experience working for a municipal utility serving 27,000 customers and managing five power plants. This role allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding of the entire electric system, including substations, metering, distribution, outage management, and customer service interactions. This broad exposure to utility operations has provided John with a well-rounded view of the energy sector, as well as the importance of collaboration among customers, linemen, electricians, mechanics, city officials, and other key stakeholders to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for customers.

He has also contributed significantly to long-term planning and strategic decision-making. One of his notable contributions was his role in developing a 10-year capital improvement plan for the utility, which included the replacement of aging infrastructure, installation of advanced metering systems, and the implementation of outage management systems. He was actively involved in difficult decision-making processes, balancing the utility’s long-term goals with the immediate needs of the community. This work has given him insight into the complexities of utility management and the necessity of maintaining a forward-thinking perspective to meet future challenges.

In his current role, John continues to apply his expertise to improve utility systems, focusing on designing wind and solar farms and ensuring that electricity remains safe, reliable, and affordable. As a professional electrical engineer, John understands the technical and logistical challenges involved in maintaining an electric utility, and he is dedicated to ensuring that the decisions made by the board of directors are well-informed and in the best interest of all members.

John’s well-rounded perspective and expertise in electrical engineering will be a valuable asset to the PEC Board of Directors. He is particularly well-suited to help guide decisions related to infrastructure, new technologies, and the evolving needs of our community. He can not only help the board of directors evaluate the impact of proposed policies and projects, providing insight into whether they will be efficient, cost-effective, and feasible, but also provide insight into current best practices and industry trends. This technical knowledge will be invaluable as PEC moves forward with initiatives like grid modernization, distributed generation, and the integration of renewable energy sources.

In addition to his technical expertise, John brings strong interpersonal skills to the table. He is a natural listener and believes in the importance of open communication between the board, PEC staff, and the cooperative’s members. He is accustomed to working collaboratively with diverse teams, and he recognizes the value of different perspectives when making decisions. His ability to listen and understand the needs of others will allow him to advocate effectively for PEC’s members and ensure that the board makes decisions that are in the best interests of the cooperative and its community.

With his wealth of experience, technical expertise, dedication to PEC’s mission, and insight into the priorities of our community, John is well-equipped to serve on the board of directors. As a Hill Country resident, he is committed to ensuring that PEC continues to evolve and thrive as it navigates the changing landscape of the electric utility industry – ultimately benefiting PEC members. His vision is to make PEC one of the top electric cooperatives in the nation by implementing smart policies, embracing new technologies, and keeping the best interests of PEC’s members at the forefront of every decision.