NH Electric Cooperative Announces Hiring of Steven Camerino as President/CEO

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) Board Chair Earl Hansen is pleased to announce the hiring of Steven Camerino as NHEC’s new President/CEO.

Camerino, a shareholder and director in the New Hampshire-based law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, will succeed Fred Anderson as President/CEO. Camerino will officially assume his duties on March 31, 2015.

Camerino has been with McLane for over 30 years, and for the last 25 has focused his practice on a broad range of energy and utility industry issues for major regional utilities and other clients. According to Hansen, he brings a thorough knowledge of the industry to the job, as well as a clear vision for the future of NHEC.

"The Board joins me in welcoming Steve to the Cooperative," Hansen said. "We have been continually impressed throughout the search process by the breadth of his knowledge and his ability to chart a path forward for NHEC as it enters a new era with significant new challenges. He is a worthy successor to Fred Anderson, who is retiring after a long and distinguished career."

Hired in 1981, Anderson was named President/CEO in 1992 while NHEC was emerging from bankruptcy. Taking over an organization saddled with negative equity and immense debt as a result of NHEC’s ownership stake in the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant, Anderson has guided NHEC back to profitability while leading the company through major initiatives like electric deregulation and the installation of a Smart Grid communications and metering infrastructure. 

Camerino will inherit challenges of his own, including a regional electric industry that is changing rapidly as a result of the growth of distributed generation, renewable energy mandates, rising electric rates and a region that is increasingly reliant on natural gas to fuel electricity generation.

"This is a challenging and exciting time for electric utilities generally and those in New England in particular," said Camerino. "The issues facing NHEC today create an opportunity for us to ensure that we understand and meet the needs of the utility’s members in a reliable and affordable manner.  I’m looking forward to working with NHEC’s excellent team and its members to do just that."

Camerino brings a wealth of experience to the position of NHEC President/CEO. Over his law career he has worked with numerous national and regional energy and utility companies and other clients on a broad range of complex issues. He has extensive experience in utility ratemaking, power purchase agreements, electric industry restructuring, virtual net metering, competitive supply issues, financings, and numerous operational and customer-facing issues.

"I have been extremely fortunate to work with the talented attorneys and staff of the McLane firm for the last 31 years. Their commitment to client service and community are second to none. NHEC’s similar commitment to its members and the communities it serves were a key part of my desire to join the Cooperative."

Founded in 1939 and headquartered in Plymouth, N.H., NHEC is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 83,000 homes and businesses in 115 New Hampshire communities.