MISO’s CEO to Lead Two International Energy Industry Associations in 2023
John Bear Elected President of GO15 and Appointed Chairman of the IRC
Carmel, Ind. – MISO announced today that CEO John Bear has been elected president of GO15, an international association of electricity grid operators who manage more than 50% of global energy flows. Separately, John Bear has been appointed chairman of the ISO/RTO Council (IRC), an organization consisting of the seven U.S. system operators, plus two Canadian system operators. Both positions will be held during 2023.
“There is a need for continued collaboration and idea-sharing when it comes to operating the power grid and planning for the future,” said John Bear. “Our collective problem-solving enables us to keep the power flowing reliably and efficiently. That’s true whether we are working locally, regionally, nationally or even globally.”
As president of the international GO15, Bear succeeds Stefano Donnarumma, the CEO of Terna, Italy’s national transmission service operator. GO15 was founded in 2004 and unites the 15 leading electric power grid operators from all over the world. Bear will focus his tenure on addressing the major strategic and technical issues that affect the safety, reliability and sustainability of power systems across the world. These include grid decarbonization, grid digitalization, and the resilience of electricity infrastructure.
As chairman of the IRC, Bear succeeds Elliot Mainzer, California ISO’s president and CEO. The role of IRC chairman rotates annually among current IRC Board members. Founded in 2003 to form industry-wide collaboration, the IRC is committed to sharing ideas, fostering innovation, and working together to advance development of the North American electric grid. At IRC, Bear will continue important work with members, industry, and regulators to improve reliability, sustainability, and efficiency that serves the changing North American utility industry and consumers.
John Bear has more than 25 years of executive leadership in the utility industry and is a strong proponent of efficient, innovative operations and planning. As CEO of MISO, operator of one of the world’s largest real-time energy markets, Bear is leading MISO’s efforts to create added value for all customers through reliable market operations that meet the region’s resource adequacy needs and expanding transmission planning activities.