COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (September 06, 2023) — The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Board of Directors today presented Executive Chair of the American Electric Power (AEP) Board of Directors Nicholas K. “Nick” Akins with the Thomas A. Edison Legacy Award for his outstanding leadership in the electric power industry and for his work to enhance the industry’s mutual assistance networks. The award was presented during EEI’s fall board of directors and chief executives meeting.
Among his many accomplishments, Akins led the industry’s efforts to develop and implement the National Response Event (NRE) framework, which was designed to ensure that EEI member companies can allocate crews and equipment efficiently when multiple regions of the country are facing major disasters that impact the energy grid. As EEI chair from June 2015 to June 2016, Akins also created an enduring strategic vision for the industry that is focused on the transition to clean energy, energy grid modernization, and customer solutions.
“Nick has been a remarkable leader in our industry’s ongoing efforts to improve and enhance our effective mutual assistance program,” said EEI President and CEO Tom Kuhn. “He played a pivotal role in developing the National Response Event framework to meet the challenge of supporting members’ restoration resource needs during major outages that have a national impact. Nick’s tremendous leadership has shaped the way electric companies partner together to respond safely and as quickly as possible when incidents occur.”
Akins served as AEP’s sixth chief executive officer and 10th president from 2011-2022. During his tenure, AEP invested in modernization and security of the grid, resource diversification, and technology and innovation to enable the transition to a clean energy future while preserving universal access to the grid. Akins also led a culture transformation to engage employees in customer-focused innovation, enhance diversity and inclusiveness, and build workforce agility for a digital future.
Akins rose through the ranks at both AEP and the former Central and South West Corporation (CSW), which merged with AEP in 2000, holding various positions of increasing leadership responsibility throughout his career.
Akins is a former chairman of the board of directors of EPRI, the Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, and the Ohio Business Roundtable (OBRT), as well as the former chair of the U.S. Business Roundtable Energy and Environment Committee. Currently, he serves as chairman of the boards of Fifth Third Bancorp and OhioHealth. Additionally, he is a member of the boards of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators, OBRT, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Louisiana Tech Tower Medallion and inducted into the university's Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2022.
A native of Louisiana, Akins received his bachelor's degree and a master's degree in electric engineering from Louisiana Tech University. Additional training includes executive management programs at Louisiana State University, the University of Idaho, and the Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a registered professional engineer in Texas.
