Until recently, native Oregonian Jim Piro has been running Oregon’s largest utility company. Portland General Electric (PGE) serves over 872,000 customers in 51 cities and employs more than 2,900 people.Jim credits Oregon State’s engineering program with helping him develop critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze and solve complex problems. His tenure as CEO is noted for an unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and business growth. He began his 43-year career in the energy industry as a civil engineer designing transmission towers for Pacific Gas and Electric.
Joining PGE in 1980, he worked his way through the company, first as an engineer at the Trojan Nuclear Plant, then in thermal plants. Eventually, he transferred into the rates and regulatory area. “This is where I really left my engineering work behind,” Piro said. “I was guided into teaching utility economics analysis. I learned how to construct rate cases, determine customer pricing and learned negotiation skills. I really got a good sense of the utility business model and how the company operated.”
This led to higher-level management positions working on a number of corporate strategic initiatives.A few were surprised when Piro was promoted to chief financial officer (CFO) in 2000, because he was not a typical CFO: He was not a CPA and did not hold an MBA. Everything he learned was on the job. “My mantra became ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure,’” Piro said. “It’s really important to have good visibility on your operating metrics.” When Piro became CEO, one of his key platforms became driving safe, efficient, and effective practices throughout the company.
“We did a fair amount of benchmarking,” Piro said. “The exploration of best practices helped us determine what the ‘best in class’ looks like. We then used that as a springboard to drive efficiency and effectiveness and learned to leverage technology to improve overall performance.”One of Piro’s biggest contributions to PGE has been in the area of employee and public safety.
“Our employees do very dangerous work,” Piro said. “When I started as CEO, I realized we could do a better job in this area, and we’ve been on a journey to reduce injuries to zero by really stressing that no job is so important that we cannot take the time to do it safely. I think the culture around safety has really improved and is now a part of the company’s fabric.
People understand that personal and public safety is really important. It’s vital that we get this right because it shows that we care about our people and our community.”In an environmentally conscious state like Oregon, it’s been essential that PGE foster renewable energy choices for consumers. PGE and their customers have made the organization’s voluntary renewable energy program number one in the nation. “PGE partners with our communities to see how we can continue to help them meet their environmental goals,” Piro said.
“Providing our customers renewable energy choices is an important part of PGE’s business strategy, and I think we’re ahead of the curve. Whereas some utilities are still wrestling with closing coal plants, PGE has already made those commitments to reduce its carbon footprint.”
Throughout his career, Piro has been an advocate for energy efficiency, economic development, and education. He has served on local and national boards for a number of organizations, including the Oregon Global Warming Commission; the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Investment Council; the Oregon Business Council; All Hands Raised; Cradle to Career; Greater Portland Inc.; Oregon State University Foundation; the PGE Foundation; the Edison Electric Institute; and the Transportation Electrification Coalition.His most fulfilling community work is serving as chair for the STEM Investment Council for the state of Oregon.
The council is tasked with developing and overseeing a long-term strategy to increase proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among Oregon students to help them pursue future STEM career pathways. The STEM Investment Council is composed of business people thinking outside the box about how to change the educational experience so students can achieve better outcomes. “There’s a lot of high-wage, high-demand jobs that aren’t being filled by Oregonians,” Piro said. “This is a lost opportunity for our students, and improving their career readiness continues to be my passion.”