Burbank’s utility chief in running for post in Austin

The head of Burbank Water and Power, Ron Davis, has emerged as a finalist for the top job at Austin Energy, the nation’s ninth-largest public electric utility with annual revenues of more than $1 billion.

“I am happy in Burbank,” Davis said Thursday.

But he added that he originally agreed to serve five years under then City Manager Bud Ovrom.

“This is a good opportunity, so I am testing to see if I would be a good fit for them,” he said.

According to a statement from Austin City Manager Marc Ott, three finalists will take part in panel interviews on June 30. They include Davis; Larry Weis, general manager and chief executive of Turlock Irrigation District; and David Wright, general manager of Riverside Public Utilities.

Austin officials will also host a community meeting after the panels for the public to meet the candidates.

The candidates are vying to fill a vacancy left when Roger Duncan retired in March. The Austin Energy plant serves roughly 400,000 customers over 437-square miles.

Davis, a 30-year veteran of the industry, has run Burbank Water and Power for 12 years after moving to Southern California from Washington. Burbank’s utility is recognized as one of the nation’s most reliable electrical providers, and in 2007 adopted a 33% renewable energy portfolio standard.