Lori Cobos is a recognized leader in the energy industry. Cobos has 25 years of wide-ranging executive level experience in the regulation and development of the electric market in Texas during a time of unprecedented growth, market reform, transmission infrastructure buildout, and major weather crises. Cobos has broad, multifaceted experience with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) markets in both the public and private sector. Cobos’ expertise and practice focuses on assisting clients with the complex intersection of the law, regulations, public policy, market rules, politics, and business development in the energy and utilities industry.
Cobos was appointed by Governor Abbott as Commissioner at the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), where she played a central role in managing the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri in 2021. She led major statewide initiatives to fortify the reliability and resiliency of the state’s electric grid, including improving grid reliability during extreme cold weather through the development of weatherization standards and firm fuel service, incentivizing new dispatchable generation investment, and leading the development of a historic buildout of transmission infrastructure in the Permian Basin region and Rio Grande Valley. As Commissioner, Cobos served on the ERCOT Board of Directors and represented Texas in leadership roles in SPP on the Regional States Committee and MISO on the Organization of MISO States and Entergy Regional States Committee.
Prior to serving as Commissioner, Cobos was appointed by Governor Abbott to lead the Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). During her tenure at OPUC, Cobos elevated the agency’s profile in state government and the public by strengthening the agency’s legal representation, policy advocacy, and consumer assistance. Under her leadership, OPUC successfully represented the state’s residential and small commercial consumers before the PUCT, state administrative and judicial courts, and ERCOT, resulting in an agency record of nearly $1.5 billion in utility bill savings for consumers. As OPUC’s Chief Executive, Cobos served as the consumer representative on the ERCOT Board of Directors and Texas Reliability Entity Board of Directors.
Earlier in her career, Cobos held several senior-level positions at the PUCT, including serving as an advisor for two PUCT Commissioners and assistant counsel to the PUCT Executive Director. Cobos also served as in-house counsel at ERCOT. In the private sector, Cobos served as a director of government and regulatory affairs for a national power generation company and as principal owner of her legal and consulting firm, representing and advising clients on legal, regulatory, public policy, legislative, and business development matters in the electric power industry.
