Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s board of directors selected Christian Powell to serve as the co-op’s CEO in June 2026. Powell joined PEC’s team in 2018, and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the cooperative and utility industry to the chief executive role. He has served in multiple leadership positions during his eight-year tenure at PEC, most recently as Chief Compliance Officer leading several critical areas, including regulatory affairs, compliance and ethics, policy management, risk management, cyber and physical security, human resources, safety and technical training, and real estate.

Powell’s utility compliance and regulatory practice spans more than two decades, including 18 years with the Lower Colorado River Authority. After joining PEC, he successfully advanced PEC’s voice and recognition in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market after being elected as PEC’s first representative on the ERCOT Technical Advisory Committee, Wholesale Market Subcommittee, and Retail Market Subcommittee. His experience includes strategic planning, policy guidance and advocacy, project management, and compliance solutions at the state and federal levels.

Powell holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin and is a certified professional in both compliance and ethics and project management.