Suzanne Lane has been named as the new executive director of the Transmission Access Policy Study Group, a national association representing 31 transmission-dependent electric utilities operating in 39 states.
Lane will succeed Tom Heller, who has served as executive director since 2024 and has announced his retirement.
She will assume the position on November 4, 2026, following the TAPS Fall Conference in Key West, Florida.
Lane brings more than 25 years of energy industry experience, including nearly six years as executive vice president and chief executive officer of Kansas Electric Power Cooperative (KEPCo) and almost 20 years at Westar Energy (now Evergy) in a wide variety of roles.
“Suzanne’s diverse industry experience, technical expertise, and executive leadership make her a great fit for TAPS, its members, and the policies the organization works to advance,” said TAPS chair Jane Cirrincione, Assistant General Manager of the Northern California Power Agency. “We are pleased to welcome Suzanne and look forward to her leadership guiding TAPS into this next critical chapter.”
As executive director, Lane will serve as the organization’s chief executive and principal spokesperson, providing strategic leadership, policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and operational management. She will report directly to the TAPS Board of Directors.
“I look forward to joining TAPS, collaborating with the Board, and partnering with TAPS members to advance national policies that protect the interests of consumers in energy markets across the country,” said Lane. “The TAPS mission centered on securing affordable, reliable, and sustainable transmission service has never been more important than it is today and I am enthusiastic about the work ahead.”
For nearly four decades, TAPS has advanced policies that promote open and non-discriminatory transmission access, competitive wholesale electricity markets, and risk-based regulation.
TAPS works closely with federal policymakers, regulators, industry organizations, and member utilities to ensure that transmission-dependent utilities have a strong and effective voice in shaping the future of the electric industry.
