California Water Service Group announced the election of Charles R. Patton, 64, to the Group’s Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2023.
Prior to his retirement in July 2022, Patton served as Executive Vice President, External Affairs, at American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP), which serves nearly 5.5 million customers across 11 states. In this capacity, he was responsible for customer service, regulatory affairs, communications, and federal public policy. He also led corporate sustainability initiatives and AEP’s compliance program to satisfy the requirements of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a non-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the electrical grid.
Currently, Patton serves as an independent director of Ameresco, Inc. and Sterling Construction Company. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and a Master’s Degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin.
According to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, Patton’s breadth of experience and depth of expertise makes him an excellent addition to the Board.
“Charles will provide valuable insight to Group as we continue to strive for excellence in customer service, innovation in regulatory affairs, and mitigation of risks to the sustainability of our business,” he said. “I’m pleased to welcome him to the team.”
