CMMPA/CMPAS Board Names Chris Kopel CEO

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CMMPA/CMPAS Board Names Chris Kopel CEO

June 15, 2018

Blue Earth, MN — June 15, 2018 — The Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (CMMPA) and Central Municipal Power Agency/Services (CMPAS) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Kopel as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective June 6. Chris has served as Interim CEO since January 2018.

“CMPAS has thrived since Chris joined the Agency five years ago as the Chief Operating Officer and most recently as Interim CEO,” said Board President Tim Stoner. “Our Board looks forward to working with Chris as we strategically advance goals to serve our public power customers.”

Mr. Kopel brings more than 25 years of power industry experience and continued stability through his tenure at the joint power agency. In 2013, he joined the Agency as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and directed transmission, wholesale power supply, strategic planning and human resources for the Agency. In his new role, Chris will continue providing strategic leadership.

“CMPAS has achieved many successes to help twelve members, eight affiliate members, and other associated public power cities prosper in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin,” said Kopel. “We have a great team and remain committed to customizing each utility’s power portfolio. I look forward to working with our partners to keep public power utilities strong.”

Prior to joining the agency, Chris served in leadership and business development roles at NextEra Energy Resources, Iberdrola Renewables, and NRG Power Marketing, as well as various regulatory, operations, and planning roles at Northern States Power Company, now known as Xcel Energy.

CMMPA and its energy management and consulting services agent, CMPAS, serve as municipal, consumer-owned, non-profit joint power agencies. In a consultative role, CMPAS identifies strategies that help public power utilities minimize wholesale power costs, manage future risks and maintain stable competitive rates. CMPAS offers power supply planning, procurement, energy market, and related management services to help municipal utility boards address their full or partial power portfolio needs.