West Monroe Partners, a full-service North American business and technology consultancy, today announced that Paul DeCotis has joined the firm as director in the Energy & Utilities practice. He has more than 30 years of experience as an industry executive, consultant, and educator.
DeCotis will provide leadership for the firm’s Energy & Utilities team on the East Coast and for the national Energy & Utilities regulatory offering. In addition, he will work with utilities, independent power and distributed energy generators, and state agencies and regulators to help plan their response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) preliminary rules requiring states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent or more by 2030.
“Paul DeCotis is an accomplished and respected executive and thought leader with deep expertise in the critical business and technical issues facing utilities as they confront transformational change in how they generate power and manage their networks,” said Tom Hulsebosch, the firm’s Energy & Utilities lead. “Paul’s experience is a tremendous asset to our clients, and his presence on our team furthers our investment in developing strong industry credentials and capabilities on the East Coast.”
“We are extremely pleased to bring onboard someone of Paul DeCotis’ caliber. With great insights into industry issues and developments, Paul has a proven track record in strategy development and execution to position Utilities for the future. Paul has extensive experience in the East Coast, nationally and internationally and will support our growing list of North American and cross border clients” said Gil Mermelstein, West Monroe’s East Coast leader.
DeCotis joins West Monroe from Long Island Power Authority, where he served as managing director for contract oversight and previously as the organization’s vice president of power markets. His responsibilities included oversight of the PSEG Long Island (Public Service Electric & Gas) utility services contract for transmission and distribution operations, customer service, business services, and emergency planning and storm restoration. He was a member of the utility’s Risk Management Committee. As vice president of power markets, DeCotis oversaw power generation, project development, integrated resource planning, and FERC and RTO market policy.
He previously serviced as deputy secretary for energy and chair of the state energy planning board for two New York Governors . As the senior energy advisor to the governors, he oversaw strategy, policy, legislation, and implementation activities for the state’s energy agencies. He also founded the Governor’s Clean Energy Collaborative and led establishment of the state’s “45 by 15” clean energy portfolio standard among other initiatives.
“I am extremely impressed with the transformational and innovative work that West Monroe is doing in the areas of smart grid and infrastructure transformation, renewable generation, sustainability, customer engagement, and more, and I’m delighted to have this opportunity to contribute my experience and insights to support our utility industry clients,” said DeCotis.
Paul’s previous roles included director of energy analysis for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, as well as chief of policy analysis and senior policy/financial analyst for the New York State Energy Office. He also served as president of Innovative Management Solutions, a consulting organization, and as adjunct faculty member for the Rochester Institute of Public Policy Department, the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and The Sage Colleges MBA Program.
DeCotis holds numerous memberships and board/leadership positions with energy and utility industry organizations. He is chairman of the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) expert review panels and the national evaluation peer review panel for the Weatherization Assistance Program. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) board on Energy and Environmental Systems and has served on many committees and chaired a panel for the board. DeCotis has published more than four dozen articles and papers on topics ranging from renewable energy to energy efficiency, performance management and evaluation, energy independence, and policy.
DeCotis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business Management from State University of New York College at Brockport, a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University at Albany, and an MBA degree in Finance and Management Studies from The Sage Colleges Graduate School.