VEIC Welcomes Jim Madej as New Chief Executive Officer

Energy Expertise, Customer Focus will Advance Clean Energy Mission

Sept. 7, 2017 – Burlington, VT – The Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) Board of Directors has named Jim Madej to serve as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Madej comes to VEIC with decades of experience in the energy industry, including leadership experience in delivering energy efficiency programs and services to customers in his role as Chief Customer Officer at National Grid USA.

“Jim’s deep energy industry expertise and his proven track record of customer-focused leadership made him the ideal choice to lead VEIC in building on the success it has achieved in Vermont, Ohio, Washington D.C. and beyond in helping customers spend less on energy,” said Richard Cowart, Vice President of the VEIC Board of Directors.

VEIC’s work in energy efficiency and clean energy programs has reduced the cost of energy for customers by lowering energy demand and reducing grid operating costs, as well as reducing individual energy bills through cost-effective energy efficiency investments. In addition, energy efficiency programs have helped create new business opportunities for thousands of businesses who deliver energy services, including building contractors and engineers. See this fact sheet for more information about the benefits delivered to customers through VEIC’s energy efficiency utility operations.

“With a strong grounding in the business world, Jim appreciates the importance of delivering value to customers and supporting economic development in the communities we serve,” said Cowart. “Jim marries his business acumen with his passion for VEIC’s mission; a potent combination for guiding VEIC as we pursue our goals to advance clean energy, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and bring these benefits to all people at affordable costs.”

“Energy industries are in the midst of a dramatic transformation in which customers are evolving from being consumers of a product, to participants in a complex energy system: Through smart appliances, customer-owned solar generation, electric vehicles, battery storage, and more – it’s clear that strategy, innovation, and execution will play a key role in ensuring that no one is left out,” said Madej. “I’m excited to join VEIC and lead this great team to deliver innovations to everyone, regardless of income and geography. All market participants need to work together to deliver the clean energy revolution our customers are asking for.”

Madej joins VEIC 30 years after it was founded in Burlington, VT by Beth Sachs and Blair Hamilton, with a mission to promote energy conservation and reduce energy costs, including a special focus on lower-income households. In the three decades since, VEIC has grown to offer numerous programs and services to nearly one million businesses and households, state and city governments, energy utilities, low-income housing agencies, clean energy advocacy organizations and others. In addition to administering Efficiency Vermont, the award-winning efficiency utility for Vermont, VEIC also delivers services to families and businesses across Washington D.C. through the DC Sustainable Energy Utility, and to 21 municipalities in Ohio through its Efficiency Smart program.

In addition to operating these three energy efficiency utilities and offering consulting services, VEIC also has launched three mission-aligned subsidiary companies that will fall under Madej’s purview as CEO. These include the Sustainability Benefits Corporation, which provides the software platform and metrics to allow businesses to offer a “sustainability benefit” to employees in their benefits packages; Commons Energy, delivering lower energy costs to multifamily housing and other public-serving buildings; and Sun Shares, a solar energy program that brings the concept of community solar to the employer/employee benefit sector.

Madej plans to spend the coming weeks meeting with staff, clients, and VEIC partners in Vermont, Washington, D.C., and Ohio before formally settling into the day-to-day responsibilities of his new role later this month.