Q&A With New BTU Board Member Milton Howard
Mr. Milton Howard joined the BTU Board of Directors earlier this year, filling the position vacated by Mr. Andrew Nelson, who is now serving as the City Manager for the City of Bryan. We asked Mr. Howard a few questions so you, our customers, could learn more about the newest member of the team that ensures BTU fulfills our mission of providing exceptional reliability and excellent customer service at competitive and stable rates.
What motivated you to join BTU’s board, and what does that role mean to you personally?
“Serving on the BTU Board is an opportunity to give back to a community that has meant a great deal to me and my family, while also helping guide an organization that provides an essential service to the people of Bryan. This role means even more because Bryan is home. My wife, Leslie, and I met in high-school, both graduated from Texas A&M, and after years away, we moved back to Bryan. Being able to serve this community in a meaningful way is both a privilege and a responsibility.
To me, board service is about stewardship—helping ensure BTU remains reliable, affordable, and well-positioned for the future.”
What experience and perspective do you bring that will help serve BTU's customers?
“I bring a combination of energy industry experience and practical, long-term perspective. My background includes developing largescale power projects across multiple U.S. energy markets, which has given me experience with reliability planning, transmission constraints, infrastructure investment, and how changing demand affects the power grid.
That experience is helpful because utilities have to balance several priorities at once: keeping power reliable, managing costs carefully, and planning for future growth.
As a developer, I also bring a customer-focused mindset. At the end of the day, BTU’s customers care most about dependable service, fair rates, and trust that decisions are being made with their best interests in mind. That is how I view the role.”
From your point of view, what are the biggest challenges facing BTU right now, and how can the Board overcome them?
“Like many utilities, BTU is operating in a time of change. Significant demand growth, related infrastructure needs, reliability expectations, and cost pressures are all becoming more complex.
One challenge is planning for the future while continuing to provide reliable and affordable service today. Another is navigating rising costs tied to power supply, infrastructure improvements, and broader market conditions. Utilities also have to think carefully about resilience and preparedness, especially as customer expectations for reliability remain high.
The board can help by staying focused on long-term strategy, supporting sound investment decisions, and ensuring BTU continues to operate with accountability and discipline. Good board governance helps management stay aligned on priorities and keeps the customer at the center of decision-making. My fellow board members have done an excellent job working together to keep BTU’s rates as some of the best in Texas, and I want to help to continue that success.”
Outside of Board meetings, what keeps you busy or helps you stay connected to the community?
“Leslie and I have the Aggie Spirit and deep roots in this community. A big part of our connection to the community comes through our daughter, Alexis, who is an absolute joy and has special needs. Alexis attends The BEE Community in Bryan, which provides meaningful activities and employment opportunities for adults with special needs. We have seen firsthand how much that organization has grown over the last few years and how much it means to the local families it serves. Alexis loves her work there, and she loves the friendships she has built.
In 2023, Leslie and I also started the "Butterfly Bash" in Bryan, which we hold every other year at the Stella Hotel. The program has sold out each year, and it has become a very meaningful fundraiser focused on raising awareness for The BEE Community and helping support its long-term sustainability. Staying involved in those efforts keeps us closely connected to the people and causes that make this community so special.”
What would you like customers to know about you that they might not expect from a board member?
“I would want customers to know that I approach this role not just as an energy professional, but as someone who is personally invested in this community.
While my professional background is in large-scale energy development, my perspective is grounded in family, community, and service. I understand that for customers, the most important things are straightforward: reliable electricity, reasonable rates, and confidence that their utility is being governed responsibly.”