Davis to stay at Burbank Water and Power

Ron Davis, the general manager of Burbank Water and Power, has withdrawn from the selection process to take the helm of Austin Energy, the nation’s ninth-largest public electric utility.

Davis, who said he was testing to determine whether he might be a good fit , was to take part in panel interviews June 30. The remaining finalists are: Larry Weis, general manager and chief executive of Turlock Irrigation District; and David Wright, general manager of Riverside Public Utilities.

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, and has annual revenues of more than $1 billion.

“I am happy in Burbank,” Davis said in a recent interview. But he added that he originally agreed to serve five years under former City Manager Bud Ovrom.

The City Council, which last week voted to raise water rates by 13.5%, is slated to take up a proposal to increase Davis’ pay in the coming weeks.