MEA hires former Chugach executive

PALMER — The Matanuska Electric Association has decided on an interim general manager.

In a meeting Wednesday afternoon, the co-op’s board of directors selected Joe Griffith to take the reins as soon as they can get a contract hammered out.

The seat has been vacant for just over a week. On June 16, the board voted to put general manager Wayne Carmony on leave pending a final termination. His ouster is the latest in a string of changes at the co-op that began when the board’s makeup shifted from one in favor of Carmony’s management style to one opposed.

Carmony’s detractors say he doesn’t work well with other utilities or MEA’s union. His supporters point to the bottom line, claiming Carmony’s adversarial style kept electricity rates low.

Griffith is a former CEO of Chugach Electric Association whose tenure ended in 2005. He is also a founding member of the Chugach Reliability Group. The group’s Web site tracks changes coming down from Chugach’s board of directors.