Garland Assistant City Manager Named TPPA President

GARLAND, July 16, 2002 - Garland Assistant City Manager Bill Dollar is set to become President of the Texas Public Power Association for 2002-2003.

Mr. Dollar's term will begin at the TPPA's Annual Meeting to be held the last week of July. Mr. Dollar has served on the TPPA Board of Directors since 1992. He is a Garland native who has worked for the city for 31 years. He began as a design engineer in 1971. As an assistant city manager, he has overseen the operation of Garland's electric services since 1984.

"Bill Dollar is a dedicated public servant and will be a great TPPA President," said TPPA Executive Director Mark Zion. "His leadership will be especially important during these times of great change in the electric utility industry."

TPPA represents 73 municipal utilities that own and operate their local electric utility systems, including other community-owned power providers like river authorities and joint action agencies. TPPA members provide low-cost reliable power to more than three million Texans.

TPPA represents its members on public policy matters affecting the electric utility industry. The association is active at the Texas Legislature, the Texas Public Utility Commission, and on the federal level. Mr. Dollar says the TPPA will play an important role in helping the state work through electric deregulation.

"The operating rules for deregulation are still being interpreted at the legislative level," says Mr. Dollar. "It's important to be at the forefront of the issue to challenge proposed changes or even propose changes ourselves."

Garland owns and operates its own electric utility and has chosen not to opt into electric deregulation. Mr. Dollar says he sees no benefit for Garland's utility customers at this time.

"Municipal utilities are more sensitive than investor-owned utilities to services and to price levels," says Mr. Dollar. Mr. Dollar sees deregulation as the biggest challenge for his term as president. He is working to keep TPPA members updated on the rapidly changing issues surrounding the industry.