"My girlfriends joke about how much I talk about work," says Megan. "We were all at a little gathering the other day and one of them said, 'I can tell by the volume - Megan's talking about work!' I get so animated.
That she does. We should all be so lucky to find a career that after 30 years still brings a sparkle to our eye, like power planning does for Megan.
"I grew up in public power," says Megan. "Out of college I started with BPA (Bonneville Power Administration) as an economist and became passionate about public power, the federal hydropower system, and the customer-driven nature of the business."
Over her career, Megan has seen a lot of change in the industry-from the height of energy efficiency and conservation, to deregulation, to the energy crisis of 2000/2001-all of which helped set her up perfectly for her current position as the supervisor of the power planning team.
"I started with EWEB in power risk as project manager implementing a new system for energy trading and commodity risk management. From there I moved into a regional role, working with BPA to represent the interests of EWEB's customers. Everything I have done in my career has set me up for the job I have now," says Megan.
The job she has now, leading the utility in energy supply planning, is full of challenge and hard work. "And I love it," says Megan.
"EWEB's last Electricity Supply Plan was complete in 2011. To prepare for the future we are developing the infrastructure and planning models needed to enable a faster turn-around time in our decision-making processes. We're being asked to look into the future, and take into account all of the possible changes in supply and demand, technology, legislation, and markets, and determine what our customers will need. Moving toward a two-year cycle, and knowing that planning is not a 'one-and-done' process is crucial," explains Megan.
Recently Megan and her team have started popping up at staff meetings around the utility, talking to different work groups about the planning process.
"It's been amazing to see how many people care, even when it's pretty removed from their work," she says. "Great people will make this an organizational and community success."
What Megan might not realize, is it could be that animated nature of hers that pulls people in and makes them realize it's something to care about.
Thank you Megan for your role in providing customers with vital services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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