The Mid-West Electric Consumers Association has announced Chris Studer as its new interim executive director. Studer currently serves as the chief member and public relations officer at East River Electric Power Cooperative and will assume his new responsibilities while continuing his role with East River.
The appointment follows the departure of Jim Horan, who is stepping into a new role as senior vice president and general counsel at Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Horan had led the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association since 2019.
Founded in 1958, the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association advocates on behalf of over 300 consumer-owned utilities that purchase hydropower from federal dams along the Missouri River. These include municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, and public power districts across the region.
Studer brings a wealth of experience in hydropower policy and public affairs, having worked alongside Mid-West staff for more than a decade. He has served as a hydropower stakeholder on the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee and has been a consistent advocate for the interests of consumers who rely on the power generated by the river’s federal dams.
A graduate of South Dakota State University, Studer has been with East River Electric since 2013. His interim leadership will help guide the organization while the Mid-West Electric board conducts a national search for a full-time executive director.
Chris Studer
Interim Executive Director