Retired Telecommunications Executive Jan Newton to be ratified by ERCOT members, PUC

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) Board of Directors has selected retired SBC Communications executive Jan Newton of Austin as a new independent board member.

Subject to approval by the Public Utility Commission and an ERCOT membership vote, Newton will become the fifth independent board member – unaffiliated with ERCOT market participants – on the 16-member board.

"Jan Newton brings a tremendous amount of valuable experience to the ERCOT board," said Mark Armentrout, board chairman.  "As president of SBC Texas, Jan was responsible for the company's regulatory, legislative, governmental, external affairs, and community and industry relations throughout the state.  Her experience with the opening of the telecom markets to competition will be particularly helpful."

Newton is the second of two independent board members added to the ERCOT board to comply with Senate Bill 408 approved by the 79th Texas Legislature.  Others on the board include three consumer representatives, one representative from each of ERCOT's six electric market segments, the ERCOT CEO, and the chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (non-voting, ex-officio).

The board's nominating committee unanimously approved Newton Tuesday, Aug. 15.  Her name has been submitted for approval in an email ballot vote to ERCOT's 169 corporate members.

Newton recently retired after a 30-year career with SBC (now AT&T).  She held positions in finance, sales, marketing and regulatory affairs.  At her retirement, she was president of SBC Texas, having served in that position since 2002.

Newton's other positions with SBC Communications included president of SBC Missouri, executive director for the office of the CEO and chairman of SBC Communications, and executive director of wholesale marketing and release policies.

After passage of the Federal Telecommunications Act in 1995, Newton led SBC's effort to implement the guidelines and policies necessary for compliance.  During a two and half-year period, her team led the effort to transform the corporation to a more competitive environment.

In 2005, Newton was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Texas Tax Reform Commission.  She has a bachelor of business administration degree from Texas Tech University.

A native of Brownfield, TX, she and her husband Frank now live in Austin.