2010 Campaign Chair

Bill Gaines
Tacoma Public Utilities

Bill Gaines takes the lead in United Way of Pierce County's 2010 Community Campaign, serving as Campaign Chair. He is a recognized leader in his organization and in the community. Mr. Gaines has developed an exceptional record of success and accomplishment in the 30 years that he’s been in the utility industry.

Mr. Gaines was appointed Director / Chief Executive Officer at Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) late in 2007.  In this role, he oversees the Power, Water, and Rail utilities in the City of Tacoma, Washington.  Mr. Gaines previously served briefly as Superintendent at Tacoma Power.

From 2004 through 2006, Mr. Gaines served as a senior officer at Seattle City Light.  He directed the utility’s bulk power supply activities including long-term resource planning, power and transmission contracting, energy trading and risk management, power generation, energy conservation, environmental affairs, and utility support functions. 

Previously, Mr. Gaines was employed with Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (PSE); the largest investor owned combination electric/natural gas utility in the Pacific Northwest, including seven years as an executive officer of the company.  From 2003 through 2004, Mr. Gaines served as PSE’s Vice President Engineering and Contracting, with responsibility for design and management of the Company’s major capital improvement projects.  From 1997 through 2003, Mr. Gaines served as PSE’s Vice President Energy Supply, with responsibility for overall planning and management of the Company’s bulk electric power and natural gas supply portfolios, and associated transmission, transportation, and storage resources and contracts.  

In 1978, Mr. Gaines received the Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Washington State University.  In 1984, he received the Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Puget Sound.  In 2003, Mr. Gaines attended the Stanford Executive Program (SEP) in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

Mr. Gaines serves on the Board of the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC), and on the Executive Committees of the Public Power Council (PPC) and the Large Public Power Council (LPPC).  He also serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Engineering at Washington State University, and is currently Vice Chairman of the Western Systems Power Pool (WSPP).