Barry T. Smitherman

Key Qualifications and Skills Leading to Board Nomination

• Utility Industry Experience - Mr. Smitherman’s extensive utility experience, including as the former chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas and Public Utility Commission of Texas as well as a former member of the board of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, provides critical insights to the Board as the Board oversees and develops the Company’s short- and long-term strategies to effectively serve the Company’s customers and to increase value for its shareholders.
• Government, Regulatory, and Legal - Mr. Smitherman’s extensive experience with the Texas energy regulation framework as a result of his board service for various regulatory commissions provides valuable insight as the Board’s understanding of the Texas energy regulatory system is critical for developing the Company’s short- and long-term strategy to provide value to its stakeholders.
• Sustainability - As the Company continues its generation transition planning and pursues its carbon emissions reduction goals, Mr. Smitherman, as an attorney, provides valuable insight into the environmental laws, regulations, and significant federal environmental cases, which he stays up to date on as part of his adjunct position at the University of Texas where he teaches an energy law course that includes environmental law issues.

Experience

• President and principal attorney (2017 - Present) of Barry Smitherman, P.C., a law firm specializing in water, electricity and natural gas
• Managing Partner (2017 - Present) of Smitherman + Associates, a firm providing consulting services to energy infrastructure-related entities
• Adjunct Professor (2016 - Present) at The University of Texas School of Law
• Partner (2015 - 2017) at Vinson & Elkins LLP, an international law firm
• Managing Director and National Head of Tax-Exempt Securities (1999 - 2002), Banc One Capital Markets (later acquired by J.P. Morgan)

Other Boards (For Profit and Non-Profit Entities)

Public Company

• NRG Energy, Inc. (2017 - 2018)

Other

• Chairman and President, Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance (2022 - Present)
• Chairman, Brookwood in Georgetown (2018 - 2023)
• Centric Infrastructure Group, LLC (2019 - 2021)
• Chairman (2012 - 2014) and Commissioner (2011 - 2014), Railroad Commission of Texas
• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commission (2011 - 2014)
• Southern States Energy Board (2011 - 2013)
• Member, Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (2011 - 2013)
• Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional State Committee (2008 - 2011)
• Member, U.S. Department of Energy Electricity Advisory Committee (2008 - 2011)
• Vice-Chair, Texas Advisory Panel on Federal Environmental Regulations (2008 - 2009)
• Chairman (2007 - 2011) and Commissioner (2004 - 2011), Public Utility Commission of Texas
• Electric Reliability Council of Texas (2007 - 2011)
• Member, Texas Public Finance Authority (2002 - 2004)

Education and Credentials

• B.B.A., summa cum laude, Texas A&M University
• M.P.A., Harvard University
• J.D., The University of Texas School of Law​
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