Paducah Power System General Manager Gary Zheng announced his resignation today citing family reasons.
The PPS board discussed plans for finding a new general manager in a meeting Wednesday morning. The board is expected to begin negotiations with utility recruiting firm Dowdy Recruitment. Director of Community Relations Andrea Underwood says that process will begin once the board approves a proposed contract which could be ready as early as Monday. Underwood says Zheng has done a lot during his two years with PPS, including working to lower customers’ rates.
“Well I think the biggest thing that he’s probably done for us is that he’s created a really strong groundwork for finding that long term solution to rate relief for our customers,” says Zheng.
Underwood says Zheng’s resignation is effective May 30 and hopes there is no need for an interim. Zheng has been with the company since February 2015, following the resignation of Dave Clark. Paducah Power has drawn criticism in the past over higher-than-projected city electric rates after making a deal with Prairie State Energy Campus.