Staff Report
Published May 15, 2012

Duke Energy South Carolina President Catherine Heigel is leaving the company to become vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of American Transmission Co. in Wisconsin.

Duke Energy South Carolina President Catherine Heigel

Heigel has been head of Duke’s South Carolina service region since March 2010. She was the first to hold the position. A Duke Energy spokesman said the utility plans to have Heigel’s successor in place by the time she leaves at the end of June.

Her appointment at American Transmission is effective June 25.

Previous coverage Duke Energy names Heigel S.C. president

At Duke, Heigel has been responsible for advancing the company’s rate and regulatory initiatives in South Carolina, and managing state and local regulatory and governmental relations, economic development and community affairs.

She joined Duke Energy in 1997 as senior counsel providing legal support for Duke Engineering & Services — a non-regulated subsidiary. From 2003 to 2006, she practiced law in the private sector, and in 2006 returned to Duke as associate general counsel in Duke’s state regulatory group.

American Transmission owns, operates, builds and maintains the high-voltage electric transmission system serving portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. It is a $3.1 billion company with 9,440 miles of transmission lines and 519 substations.