CPS Energy Board Chair resigns after weeks of pressure

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CPS Energy Board Chair resigns after weeks of pressure

It took some doing, and some help from his friends, but Mayor Julián Castro appears to have finally wrested a resignation from CPS Energy Board Chair Aurora Geis this week. Geis was repolishing her resignation Tuesday afternoon, while stating she felt strongly that she is leaving utility on the right path despite the challenges that are ahead.

Unlike the newly former CPS GM Steve Bartley’s “effective immediately” exit, Geis will linger a bit until a replacement is found.

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Whoever steps into Geis’ slot will have to face down several immediate challenges, foremost being regaining the public’s trust after key members of CPS lied to the public about the anticipated cost of the planned expansion of the South Texas Plant nuclear complex for months. They’ll also have to help the board and staff figure out how to finance an additional $8 billion in capital over the next seven years; nail down a new strategic energy plan, which most likely will not include nuclear; manage potential lawsuit havoc with STP partner NRG Energy; prepare a new carbon strategy even as the U.S. EPA prepares to regulate the greenhouse gas as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act; and lure in a new CEO to replace deadwood Milton Lee at a significantly reduced salary.

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And while Geis’ resignation is not in hand, as yet, less clear is the future of fellow Boardie Steve Hennigan, whose head Castro likewise covets. Geis says she will be urging her fellow Board member to stick it out, but Castro’s office says the call for Hennigan’s head remains.