The next feature for our Women in Power series is Ellen Burt. Bringing us a regional perspective from Stowe, Vermont, Ellen is the General Manager of Stowe Electric. For the past 17 years, Ellen has managed Stowe public power and is now on the board of directors for APPA and NEPA.
If Ellen had to provide one word to describe Stowe Electric it would be progressive. Stowe Electric is one of the largest municipal utilities in Vermont and serves one of the largest snow making operations in the Northeast at Stowe Mountain Resort, making it a key player in the economic fabric of Vermont. Stowe has received statewide recognition for their innovative thinking as they were first in the state to install (AMI) smart meters in 2012, own and install two electric vehicle chargers in 2013 and an additional 9 EV chargers in 2016 (totaling 9 Level 2 and 2 DC fast chargers), and energized a behind-the-meter 1MW solar installation. They will also soon be first in Vermont to redevelop a hydro facility at a historic mill. Ellen leads these initiatives by supporting Stowe Electric’s team leads with her guidance and experience in project development.
Ellen is also focused on showing how a public power utility can be a community leader and that progressive forward-thinking leadership supports community growth. Ellen has made it a priority of her career so far to make Stowe Electric an example of how public power can support state and national goals. Ellen believes that public power is more reliable, more cost-efficient, and has superior customer service as compared to Investor Own Utilities. Stowe Electric joined ENE because we share this passion for being progressive with our customer needs and looking forward to what could come next in this industry. Ellen leads with the mentality that if we all work together and market ourselves, the future is bright for public power!
