Electric utilities
10 power and gas trading experts
These ten professionals have traded power and natural gas for utilities and energy companies, in roles ranging from trader to general manager of a gas and power trading desk. A reader can learn how energy companies run power and gas trading and hedging from the inside.
Professionals to explore
01—10Aaron Weltmer
LinkedInExperience: Principal Energy Trading Specialist - Portfolio Management and Hedging · SMUD
Manager - Portfolio Management, Hedging & Wholesale Energy Services at SMUD since 2021. Former Principal Energy Trading Specialist - Portfolio Management and Hedging (2017–2021) and Senior Energy Trading Specialist - Term Trading & Hedging, Resource Optimization (2010–2017) at SMUD. The profile lists experience in term and day-ahead power and natural gas trading and hedging.
Douglas Way
LinkedInExperience: GM West Gas and Power Trading · Shell Energy
GM West Gas and Power Trading at Shell Energy since 2023 and former West Gas and Power Trading Manager there (2021–2023). Former Pacific Northwest Gas & Power trading manager at Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. (2020–2021) and Canada Natural Gas trading manager at Shell (2017–2020).
Eric Sherman
LinkedInExperience: Manager - Energy Trading · American Electric Power
Former Manager - Energy Trading at American Electric Power (2011–2025), where the profile says this person managed the ERCOT trading desk covering load-following customer obligations, congestion management and speculative trading positions in the term and cash markets, and managed CRR positions to hedge basis risk. Former Energy Trader I at American Electric Power (2004–2011).
Erik Soreng
LinkedInExperience: Manager of Natural Gas Trading and Scheduling · Avista
Manager of Natural Gas Trading and Scheduling at Avista since 2023 and former Trader, Natural Gas there (2016–2023). Former Energy Market Trader at PacifiCorp (2010–2015) and Gas Trader at PacifiCorp Energy (2008–2010). The profile mentions asset based trading in both power and natural gas and knowledge of the WECC power markets.
Jeff Holmes
LinkedInExperience: Trading Manager · Ameren
Trading Manager at Ameren since 2015, where the profile says this person led teams that took part in managing a large annual fuel procurement and energy sales portfolio and created, proposed and executed annual hedge trading plans for the utility. Former Term Power Trader at Ameren (2009–2015) and Term Power Trader at Oxy (2005–2009).
Jim Norris
LinkedInExperience: Director - Power and Gas Trading · LCRA
Director - Power and Gas Trading at LCRA since 2020 and former Senior Power & Gas Trader there (2015–2020). The profile says this person leads commercial activities in ERCOT. Former Commercial Optimization Specialist at Topaz Power Management, LP (2014–2015).
Keith Charles
LinkedInExperience: Director, Gas and Power Trading · Invenergy
Former Director, Gas and Power Trading at Invenergy (2021–2023), where the profile says this person managed the gas and power trading group optimizing and hedging the company's natural gas plants and putting together PPAs for wind and solar projects. Director, WECC Power Market Desk Head at Invenergy since 2023. Former Vice President of Power Trading at CFE International LLC (2020–2021).
Patrick Pluard
LinkedInExperience: Director - Portfolio Optimization · NiSource
Director - Portfolio Optimization at NiSource since 2004, where the profile says this person is responsible for the procurement and delivery of natural gas and power to NiSource's regulated customers, including purchasing, financial hedging, FTRs and a regulatory witness role. Also listed as Portfolio Director at NiSource since 2013 and as Energy Trader at NiSource (2004–2008).
Trevor Pettus
LinkedInExperience: Manager Trading, Energy Management & Trading · Ameren
Former Manager Trading, Energy Management & Trading at Ameren (2017–2021), where the profile says this person set strategy and provided oversight for 20 contractors and an eight person commodity trading and operations team managing 10,000+ MW of generation, customer energy, real-time energy, fuel arrangements and price hedging. Director, Energy & Fuel Management at Ameren since 2023.
Zackery Hill
LinkedInExperience: Director of Energy Trading · Competitive Power Ventures
Director of Energy Trading at Competitive Power Ventures since 2024 and Vice President there since 2026. The profile says this person reports to senior management on the hedging program for a fleet of combined cycle power plants. Former Energy Manager (2022–2023) and Trader - Day Ahead (2020–2021) at Competitive Power Ventures.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's market and asset base to yours, since trading around a utility's load and generation differs from trading for a merchant generator or a large energy major. Also decide whether your question is mainly about day-to-day trading, hedging programs or portfolio strategy, and pick someone whose roles centered on that.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you design a hedging program for a utility's fuel and power positions?
- 02How do you decide what to trade in the day-ahead and real-time markets versus term markets?
- 03What risk limits and controls do you put around a power and gas trading desk?
Reaching power and gas trading experts
How can I contact one of these power and gas trading experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including SMUD, Shell Energy and American Electric Power, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach power and gas trading experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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