AUSTIN Pablo Vegas, President and CEO of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, announced on Tuesday the hiring of Robert Black as the organization’s new Vice President of Public Affairs.
Black brings more than three decades of experience in Texas public policy and more than a dozen years of experience in the Texas electric grid.
The position is responsible for the organization’s external communications, government affairs, and customer support. Vegas has committed the organization will continue to improve communications with Texans, state agencies, and lawmakers.
Black joins ERCOT from AEP Texas, where he served as Vice President of External Affairs. He will begin work at ERCOT on Nov. 7.
“With Texas experiencing exceptional economic growth, ERCOT is focused on continuing to make the improvements to reliably meet the needs of the Texans we serve and continue to power the economic growth of our state,” Vegas stated in the press release. “A key component will be to collaborate closely with state leaders and electric market participants, while also ensuring we are clearly communicating with the public. Robert brings a wealth of communications and government relations experience to ERCOT to achieve that important goal.”
Prior to joining AEP, Black served as Gov. Rick Perry’s Press Secretary and Communications Director, as a senior media advisor for Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s 2014 campaign, and as the communications director for Greg Abbott’s successful 2002 campaign for Attorney General. He has also worked for two Texas Senators and began his career working for Rep. Tom Craddick.
