Darren Hughes
About Darren Hughes
Darren Hughes serves as the Manager of Gen Desk at LCRA, a position he has held since 2016. He has extensive experience in operational and financial management within the energy sector, having worked for various companies including CenterPoint Energy and Panda Power Funds.
Work at LCRA
Darren Hughes has been serving as the Manager of Gen Desk at LCRA since 2016. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the generation desk operations, focusing on portfolio optimization and risk management. His tenure at LCRA spans over eight years, during which he has contributed to the organization's strategic initiatives in the Austin, Texas area.
Education and Expertise
Darren Hughes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from LSU Shreveport, completing his studies from 1978 to 1983. His educational background in accounting provides a strong foundation for his roles in financial management and operational auditing throughout his career.
Background
Prior to his current position at LCRA, Darren Hughes held various roles in the energy sector. He worked at CenterPoint Energy as Manager of Operational and Financial Audit for 12 years, where he focused on auditing and compliance. He also served as Director of Commercial Operations at Panda Power Funds from 2012 to 2016 and as Director of Risk Management and Control at Luminant from 2001 to 2005.
Achievements
Darren Hughes was selected by executive management to lead the startup of the Optim Energy organization, where he established a business environment focused on portfolio optimization and risk management. He successfully led a $27 million nodal market readiness project that involved portfolio management strategy, asset modeling, price forecasting, scheduling/dispatch, and settlement activities. Additionally, he managed the integration of newly acquired generation assets into daily commercial operations at Luminant.