PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has appointed Andrew Phillips vice president of Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Infrastructure. Phillips assumes the role vacated by Rob Manning, who was recently elected to be a member of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Board of Trustees.
Previously director of EPRI’s Transmission, Distribution and Substation research area, Phillips has served in various leadership roles over his 21 years with the Institute. His work has focused on transmission and distribution asset research.
Prior to joining EPRI, Phillips managed research of insulation, aging equipment and lightning for J.A. Jones Power Delivery company and performed research for the South African electric power industry at the University of Witwatersrand – the university where he earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering.
“Andrew is widely known in the industry for his deep knowledge about transmission and distribution issues,” said EPRI President and CEO Mike Howard. “He is a visionary leader with the expertise to guide EPRI’s research at a time when we are focused on integrating solar, wind and microgrids into the energy delivery system while making it more efficient and reliable.”
As part of NERC’s 11-member Board of Trustees, Manning will apply his decades of electric industry experience in providing national leadership on reliability issues.
“Rob’s exceptional leadership has been important to advancing EPRI’s Transmission and Distribution research and development efforts, including his overseeing our ongoing work on the potential impact on the grid of an electromagnetic pulse,” said Howard. “As he transitions to NERC, Rob is well-positioned to continue serving the public interest through this critical industry governing role.”
Because the NERC appointment precludes Manning from contributing to EPRI’s work in North America, he has stepped down as vice president of Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Infrastructure and will serve in a limited advisory capacity until April 1.
About EPRI:
The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, affordability, health, safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent approximately 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to more than 30 countries. EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.Car.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.
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