Austin Energy GM Jackie Sargent retires two months after Austin freeze
AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 01: Frozen power lines are seen hanging near a sidewalk on February 01, 2023 in Austin, Texas. A winter storm is sweeping across portions of Texas, causing massive power outages and disruptions of highways and roads. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
In February, upward of 150,000 Austinites lost power during a freeze, many of whom were still angry about the 2021 debacle following winter storm Uri. Those left without power, and even those who didn’t, called for the heads of City Manager Spencer Cronk and Jackie Sargent, general manager of the city’s public electric utility. City Council axed Cronk on February 15.
On Friday morning, Sargent retired from the utility, effective immediately. Stuart Reilly, who served as Sargent’s deputy, will serve as interim general manager, per a release. Reilly has been an employee of Austin Energy for 14 years, first as an attorney. (Disclosure: Reilly is a friend and former bandmate of mine).
Cronk’s replacement, interim City Manager Jesús Garza, confirmed the report with a memo sent to City Council:
“Jackie’s trailblazing career spans four decades and she is nationally recognized as a visionary leader in the electric utility industry. Her focus on safety, renewable energy, operational effectiveness, and the customer experience set Austin Energy on a positive path forward and I am extremely grateful for her service to our community. I wish her all the best in her retirement and am sure she will continue to make valuable contributions to this career field where she has left such an indelible mark.”
According to a release from Austin Energy, Sargent spent eight years at the city of Austin service. She was also the first female general manager in the history of Austin Energy, a company that was formed in 1895.
