Northern Wasco County People's Utility District welcomed Humaira Falkenberg as its new Chief Energy Resource Officer, effective March 2.
In this role, Falkenberg serves as a member of NWCPUD's executive management team, with oversight of all energy and transmission supply resources used to serve NWCPUD customers, including contract negotiation for electricity and transmission services.
She will also manage an annual power supply budget exceeding $150 million.
“Humaira is someone our industry genuinely looks to, not just for her technical expertise, but for her judgment and her character,” said Roger Kline, General Manager and CEO of NWCPUD. “This role sits at the heart of how we serve our customers and plan for the future, and it requires someone who can lead across the organization as well as managing a complex power portfolio. Humaira does both exceptionally well. We are incredibly fortunate to have her.”
Prior to joining NWCPUD, Falkenberg served as Power Resources Manager at Pacific PUD in Raymond, Washington for 15 years, where she managed load-resource analysis, power supply and transmission budgets, and BPA contract negotiations –- delivering measurable savings for ratepayers and building a reputation as a trusted technical resource across the region.
Falkenberg has served on the Executive Committee of the Public Power Council (PPC), including as Vice Chair of the Fish & Wildlife Committee and formerly as Vice Chair of Allocation, Rates & Contracts.
She has testified before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources on behalf of public power utilities and their ratepayers, and through her work with Northwest RiverPartners, has helped advance the public's understanding of hydropower's essential role in the region's clean energy future.
“I've always believed that public power works best when we work together, sharing what we know, lifting each other up, and keeping our focus on the people we serve,” said Falkenberg. “This role touches every level of that: the team, the customers, the community. The work we do matters, and I don't take lightly the trust that comes with it.”
Earlier in her career, Falkenberg served as Project Manager at Skamania PUD, where she managed power supply, regulatory compliance, and water systems operations. She also founded Falkenberg Consulting, advising municipalities on civil infrastructure, compliance, and economic development.
As Chief Energy Resource Officer, Falkenberg will also develop relationships with third-party power suppliers and industrial customers in support of new projects and NWCPUD's long-term resource planning.
“There is no more meaningful work than delivering reliable, affordable power to the people and communities who depend on it,” added Falkenberg. “My guiding principle has always been to earn the trust and confidence of the communities we serve while remaining fully accountable to them. That is exactly what NWCPUD stands for. Roger and the Board have built something truly special here, and I'm honored to be a part of it.”
Falkenberg holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota. She has completed advanced professional development through the American Public Power Association's General Manager Certificate program, Northwest Energy Law at Lewis & Clark College, and the Northwest Energy Policy Institute Certificate at Portland State University. She is also an American Leadership Forum Fellow.
NWCPUD is a customer-owned utility that provides nearly 25,000 people and businesses with utility services in Wasco County, Oregon.
