NYPA CEO, Quiniones, leaving for top job at Illinois utility with CNY connection

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Gil Quiniones, president and CEO of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), has resigned from the position after 10 years to accept a job as CEO at Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd).

Justin Driscoll, NYPA executive VP and general counsel, will become the interim president and CEO, NYPA said in its Thursday announcement. Quiniones will remain at NYPA until Nov. 5 and will work with Driscoll to support the transition.

ComEd is the largest electric utility in Illinois. Its parent company, Chicago, Illinois–based Exelon, operates the Nine Mile Point nuclear-power station in Oswego County.

“After considerable thought, I have decided that taking on this new challenge is the right move for me and my family,” Quiniones said in a statement. “While I look forward to this opportunity with excitement and anticipation, these feelings are mixed with the sadness of knowing I will miss amazing colleagues and the great sense of pride I have in all that we have accomplished together.”

Quiniones’ 10-year tenure makes him the longest-serving president and CEO in the history of NYPA, the nation’s largest state public power organization. He has worked at the Power Authority for 14 years, serving previously as executive VP of energy marketing and corporate affairs and as COO.

Under Quiniones’ leadership, NYPA says it has carried out or planned several initiatives to upgrade and modernize its power generation and transmission assets and has played a central role in New York State’s climate-change efforts. During his tenure, NYPA has aggressively promoted the growth of renewable-energy technologies, energy efficiency and electric transportation, including efforts to soon become one of the nation’s first end-to-end digital utilities.

As the largest state public power organization in the nation, NYPA operates 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.