JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JEA's CEO Jim Dickenson has announced his retirement.
Dickenson provided his letter of intention to retire to Ron Townsend, chair of the JEA Board of Directors.
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Dickenson's contract runs through Aug. 3, but he told the board he's willing to continue for up to six months after that.
"At the board's request, he has graciously agreed to stay on an additional six months to take us through the budget process as well as through our bond rating agency trip so that we may have an orderly transition," Townsend said in a news release.
JEA said the board will engage a national search firm to assist in the process of finding a replacement. The process will involve evaluation of both internal and external candidates, officials said.
Dickenson was named company's sixth CEO on June 15, 2004. Among his accomplishments are the following:
Recently completed the Greenland Energy Center, JEA's newest and only electric generating facility south and east of the St. Johns River, which can be further expanded to increase generation with clean, low-cost natural gas.
Secured a contract for nuclear power for later this decade with an option for additional nuclear power in the next decade if it is determined to be in JEA's best interest after a thorough Integrated Resource Plan Study, which is already underway.
Received a consumptive use permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District that provides for a sustainable potable water resource for our community for the next 20 years.
Met and exceeded the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Total Maximum Daily Load allocation for nitrogen discharge from wastewater plants into the St. Johns River.
Built a structure of cash reserves to provide adequate liquidity for rate stabilization against volatile fuel prices and anticipated interest rate increases.
Achieved the discipline of "pay-go" for recurring capital expenses, which should, if continued, result in no new debt being issued for the next several years as well as facilitating accelerated debt pay down.
Budgeted this year a record setting $237,000,000 for transfer to the city of Jacksonville's general fund -- a 60 percent increase since 2004, Dickenson's first year as CEO.
Maintained an AA credit rating through turbulent financial times.
Dickenson joined JEA in 1973 as an engineer in the Transmission Design Group and has served in many positions throughout his 39-year career with JEA.