Andrea Simmonsen

Andrea Simmonsen

PLMA Title: Secretary

Company: Idaho Power Company
Company Title: Senior Program Specialist
Years with PLMA: 8
Years in the Industry: 15

How Did You Become a Member of PLMA's Leadership Team?

In 2016, Sharyn Barata of Opinion Dynamics and I founded the Customer Engagement Interest Group. Around the same time, I had started volunteering with PLMA wherever needed. In 2018, an opening became available on the PLMA Executive Committee part way through a term. Rich Philip and Joe Childs approached me to see if I’d be interested in finishing out the term. When it did end, I ran for the position in the PLMA Executive Committee election of 2018 and was successful. I ran again in 2020 as I felt there was more I could do in that position. In 2021, Joe Childs talked to me about running for an Officer post for the 2021-23 term. The role of Board Secretary seemed like a good fit with my skills and offered an opportunity to step-up my contributions, so I ran and was successful.

Subject Matter Expertise / Areas of Knowledge:

  • residential demand response,
  • A/C cycling especially using switches,
  • powerline carrier automated metering infrastructure,
  • customer engagement,
  • adult education,
  • irrigation demand response,
  • critical peak pricing,
  • program management,
  • project planning,
  • business process improvement,
  • documentation

Getting to Know You Outside of Work

Where are you located: Kuna, Idaho, but my official office is in downtown Boise

Favorite book / author: Cory Reese, Anne Rule, Jules Verne

Favorite band/ group / artist: I don’t have a favorite, but enjoy George Thorogood, Sting, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Supremes, Haydn

Favorite foods: Fresh crab

Favorite TV show(s): Doc Martin, Dexter, NCIS, House Hunters International, and pretty much anything on HGTV

Favorite movie(s): Elf, Dirty Dancing, Holiday Inn

What do you play / do in your free time: I love to be active outside – running or backpacking long-distance, fishing, snowshoeing, scuba diving, gardening. I also really enjoy knitting. In general, I like to find ways to push myself beyond what I think I can do.

What's your "one thing" that you bring to your work to motivate you? A belief that I need to leave the world a little better than I found it.

How would you suggest others get involved with PLMA:
Just step up and ask to help! If there’s an area of particular interest to you, talk to those involved and see where they could use a hand; especially if it’s a good fit for your abilities. You don’t have to be an expert, just be willing to pitch in.

Ask me about:
Meeting people—I love to connect others! Plus running and backpacking. Or show me pictures of your cats/dogs!

Contact Info:
Email | Text: 208-761-9154