Zheng climbs to top of ladder at LP&L
 

BY JAMES GALLAGHER
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
 

Gary Zheng will soon take over as president and CEO of Lubbock Power & Light.

Current CEO Carroll McDonald is retiring for a second time from the electric utility, the LP&L board announced Tuesday.

Zheng, who holds a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California, joined the city-owned utility in March 1997 as an electrical engineer. He progressed through the company and for the past two years has served as chief operating officer.

"I really appreciate the city giving me this chance," Zheng said.

He said he plans to continue to improve the financial status of LP&L, to work to reduce costs and to improve customer service.

W.R. Collier, chairman of the electrical utility board, said Zheng was the unanimous choice for McDonald's replacement.

"He was the best candidate," he said. "He also has a very good understanding of the electricity business. ... I believe he is the one to lead us."

The city staff also expressed its support of Zheng.

"Gary is first and foremost a brilliant individual with substantial, unparalleled knowledge of the electric utility industry operation and its management," said new City Manager Lee Ann Dumbauld. "He's just a super guy to work with and the employees to work for."

McDonald, 71, will end a 48-year career in public utilities. He spent 27 years with Southwestern Public Service, which is now Excel Energy, before a 15-year stint at LP&L. After retiring from LP&L the first time, he went back to Southwestern for three years.

He was pulled out of retirement three years ago to lead LP&L back to financial solvency - the utility was $18 million in debt when he came on and has since returned to profitability.

"One of the things that's helped more than anything is having an independent board. It's allowed us to run LP&L like a business," McDonald said.

McDonald will stay on until May to help with Zheng's transition. Afterward, he plans to play golf and dominoes.

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Lubbock Power & Light, a municipally owned entity of the City of Lubbock is separately governed by an Electric Utility Board appointed by the Lubbock City Council. LP&L has approximately two hundred employees working toward generating and distributing electrical service for the citizens of Lubbock, Texas. LP&L distributes over 85,000 monthly utility statements for electric, water, sewer, solid waste and storm water services. LP&L serves over 70% of the electric market in Lubbock, Texas.

Media: Chris Sims (806) 775-2502