The Gulf Coast Power Association (GCPA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of Ian Haley as the 2022 recipient of the GCPA emPOWERing Young Professionals Award. This award is presented annually to an individual under the age of 40 who has achieved excellence in the electric power industry, making unique contributions to the success of the electric power market and serving as a role model and leader for others.
Ian’s extensive career experience spans retail and wholesale interests, both internally focused and external. Ian began his career at Luminant and TXU Energy, where he worked on retail pricing and risk analysis, as well as structuring custom retail electric service agreements. These opportunities provided valuable insights into the nexus between the ERCOT wholesale and retail markets, which helped prepare him to grow into his role representing Luminant in the ERCOT stakeholder process. Since moving to Austin in 2015, Ian has been an ardent participant in the stakeholder process. He is currently a member of the ERCOT Technical Advisory Committee, Protocol Revision Subcommittee, Reliability and Operations Subcommittee, and Wholesale Market Subcommittee, as well as serving as Co-Vice Chair of the Supply Analysis Working Group. Ian is a graduate of Tulane University, where he earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance and Management.
“Ian has a knack for reaching out across the aisle in the ERCOT stakeholder process and is an adept negotiator. Some of his strongest work is when he is forging consensus across disparate stakeholders on contentious issues,” shared Ned Bonskowski, Vice President of Texas Regulatory Policy at Vistra. Amanda Frazier, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Vistra, added, “Ian’s positive demeanor and practical approaches have earned him credibility among ERCOT stakeholders. Many view him not just as a leader, but as a friend.”
“The first time I met Ian was at a Wholesale Market Subcommittee meeting at ERCOT. Representing Vistra, he was naturally on the wrong side of an issue, and I was ‘forced’ to give him a thrashing,” Clayton Greer, Vice President of Energy Division at Cholla Petroleum Inc. recalled jokingly. “After the discussion, I went over and invited the ‘New Guy’ to lunch and was able to explain that what goes on in the meeting room was just business, and we are all friends regardless. Little did I know that the ‘New Guy’ was going to teach me quite a bit about civility and statesmanship in the meeting room. Ian has been a great advocate for Vistra over the years but an even better friend to me, and I am honored to be able to share a few words in support of Ian.”
GCPA Board Member, Keith Emery observed, “Ian has translated his extensive retail and wholesale commercial experiences into an unusually successful role in the regulatory arena, particularly as a participant and leader in ERCOT’s stakeholder committees. The industry is really fortunate to have a leader like Ian.”
About the emPOWERing Young Professionals Award:
The EYP award is given to a GCPA individual or corporate member who is under 40-years-old at the end of the calendar year and has achieved excellence in the power industry. The nomination criteria include the following:
• Career progress
• Industry involvement
• Leadership development
• Innovation
• Reputation within the community
• Role model for other young professionals
• Noteworthy professional and personal achievements
• Commitment to excellence and proven leadership
• Expertise, passion, and the ability to inspire others
About the Gulf Coast Power Association (GCPA)
GCPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and sustaining a healthy competitive power market. GCPA represents a broad spectrum of segments within the electric power industry and provides a forum for its membership of over 100 corporate and 200 individual members to discuss wide-ranging issues pertaining to the evolving electric market in Texas and the Gulf Coast region. For more information, please visit
www.gulfcoastpower.org.