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Travis Kavulla sworn in as Bonneville Power Administration’s 17th administrator, pledges grid expansion and market reforms
Summary
At a Portland ceremony, Travis Kavulla was sworn in as BPA’s 17th administrator and outlined priorities including accelerating grid expansion, reforming interconnection and market processes to handle rising demand (including AI-related loads), and protecting legacy residential ratepayers.
Travis Kavulla was sworn in as the 17th administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration at a ceremony in Portland, where he pledged to speed grid expansion, reform market and interconnection rules, and protect legacy ratepayers as power demand grows.
The ceremony opened with Joel Scruggs, BPA’s chief communications officer, noting the milestone in BPA’s 89-year history and recognizing Department of Energy officials in attendance. Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Hostetler read part of a letter from Secretary Wright urging Kavulla to “bring your bold ideas forward and help us accelerate and expand energy production,” and said the department will support his leadership.
Kavulla, who took the oath of office at the event, said his priorities include increasing transmission capacity and modernizing the grid to meet a level of projected demand “not seen since World War II.” He said BPA must avoid being “a barrier to economic development” and described two mechanisms to manage scarce grid capacity: direct assignment of costs to large new users or establishing a market-based value for grid access, coupled with protections for existing residential ratepayers. “We have to find a way to rationalize the additions of demand and supply to the system through a process that allocates scarce capacity to the highest value uses of the system,” he said.
Kavulla summarized his background in public service and industry, including prior service on the Montana Public Service Commission (2011–2019), a term as president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, a senior regulatory role at NRG Energy from 2019 to 2026, and a policy role at Base Power Company. Speakers at the event cited his academic background, including degrees from Harvard and the University of Cambridge, and noted he has lectured on utilities and electricity markets.
On markets, Kavulla said efficient wholesale markets require durable rules, depth and liquidity, and attention to seams between regions. He said BPA will study market options with staff, the Department of Energy, customers, and stakeholders before deciding on policy.
Kavulla also emphasized safety and reliability as core obligations for the region’s largest transmission provider, and affirmed attention to fish and river operations and tribal rights. He told staff he values open dialogue and intends to engage customers, members of Congress, and state and tribal partners as they work through trade-offs.
The ceremony concluded with congratulations to Kavulla and an invitation for in-person guests to meet the new administrator; BPA also announced a staff town hall where Kavulla said he will answer questions and discuss his vision further.
