David K. Owens is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in public policies surrounding utility operations, strategic planning, technology development, rate making and regulation. He is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on electric utility issues, industry restructuring and transformation. His experience in the electricity sector includes leading the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI’s) efforts over a broad set of issues that affect the future structure of the electric industry and new rules in evolving competitive markets. He was responsible over the strategic areas of energy supply and finance, environment, energy delivery, energy services, state regulatory issues, and international affairs. 

Mr. Owens also oversaw the business continuity issues at EEI which includes mutual assistance and cyber security. He helped lead efforts for service restoration following superstorm Sandy. Lessons learned from Sandy have helped spearhead greater coordination between industry and government to enhance reliability, preparedness and resiliency.

Mr. Owens has frequently appeared before U.S. Congressional Committees, testified in more than 50 proceedings on energy issues before state bodies, lectured at universities across the nation, made hundreds of presentations in business forums, and frequently appears on television and radio. Prior to EEI, he served as Chief Engineer for the Division of Rates and Corporate Regulation with the Securities and Exchange Commission where he actively participated in major proceedings involving utility mergers, electric integration issues and utility financial disclosure.

Mr. Owens is a graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor and Master of Engineering degrees. He also has a Masters in Engineering Administration from George Washington University and has attended executive courses at Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Michigan State University.
Mr. Owens has distinction in Who’s Who Among Black Americans, Who’s Who In The Government, and has been honored as Outstanding Leader in the Utility Industry. He is twice recipient of the James E. Stewart Award, the highest distinction for an American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) member. Mr. Owens was honored with the Thomas A. Edison Legacy Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the electric power industry throughout his 36 years of distinguished service and leadership to EEI. He is also the recipient of the John Dingell Award and the S&P Global Platts Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Owens serves on the Xcel Energy’s board of directors. He is Vice Chairman of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. His major concentration is to assist the rebuild of the Puerto Rico electric system so that it is more reliable, resilient, cleaner, modernized and more customer focused. In addition, Mr. Owens has served on Boards of the National Academy of Sciences, past Chair of the IDEA Public Charter School Board of Trustees, past Chairman of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Smart Grid Advisory Committee, and he is an active member of a number of professional and community-based organizations.