Austin Energy head Jackie Sargent has retired, Austin-based media outlets reported.
Sargent vacated her now-former position as general manager of the public utility immediately after making an announcement on Friday.
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza praised Sargent after notifying members of the Austin City Council, according to a report from Austin ABC affiliate KVUE.
“Jackie has been recognized throughout her 40-year career as a visionary leader within the electric industry … leading Austin Energy through some challenging times, Jackie has been [a] consummate professional throughout her tenure,” Garza said, KVUE reported.
Having served as general manager since 2016, Sargent was at the helm when a severe winter disturbance rumbled through the state capital and Central Texas and caused tens of thousands to lose electricity earlier this year, as well as Winter Storm Uri at the beginning of 2021.
Uri notoriously overloaded the state’s energy grid, triggering blackouts from the panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley.
Mayor Kirk Watson sent her his best wishes, Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported.
“I appreciate her service to this community and her role in the public utility industry,” Watson said in a statement obtained by the station. “Running Austin Energy is a difficult job and she worked to do it with integrity through some very trying times.”
February’s natural disaster was the first crisis of the Watson administration.
Austin Energy is now led by Stuart Reilly, its chief operating officer (COO), on an interim basis, Austin CBS affiliate KEYE reported.
According to a company-issued statement, Sargent was its first female general manager.
“From Sargent’s start with Austin Energy in 2010 as senior vice president of power supply and market operations to serving as general manager for nearly six years, Sargent demonstrated leadership by overseeing many notable accomplishments,” the utility said. “Throughout her career, she managed major construction projects, developed resource plans, supported acquisitions and mergers, led utility rate reviews, negotiated power purchase and sale agreements, developed and grew energy marketing departments, integrated renewable resources and created collaborative energy efficiency programs.”
