KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Timothy Rausch, formerly senior vice president and chief nuclear officer for Talen Energy’s Susquehanna nuclear plant, has been named TVA chief nuclear officer, reporting to Chief Operating Officer Mike Skaggs.

Rausch will succeed current Chief Nuclear Officer Mike Balduzzi, who has announced his retirement for the spring of 2019.

“Tim’s background, experience and industry successes make him the right choice to lead the TVA nuclear fleet at this time,” said Skaggs.

Rausch brings 30 years of commercial nuclear experience to the chief nuclear officer position. His background includes leadership roles in operations, maintenance, engineering, training, quality, process re-engineering and project management. 

Rausch served as senior vice president and chief nuclear officer at Susquehanna from 2009 until accepting the chief nuclear officer position with TVA, first with PPL Corporation and subsequently with Talen Energy. At Susquehanna he led the team that developed and executed a business plan to reduce costs by over 25 percent while producing best-ever safety, reliability and generation results in 2017. He had responsibility for corporate executive leadership implementing governance, oversight and support for safe, reliable and cost-effective nuclear company performance.

Additionally, Rausch served as site vice president of Exelon Nuclear Corporation’s Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station and plant general manager at First Energy’s Perry Nuclear Plant, where he advanced through positions of increasing responsibility.

Rausch was a certified senior reactor operator, received a Masters in Business Administration from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

Rausch will join TVA Oct. 15, at which time he and Balduzzi will begin a transition period to ensure an effective turnover.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power companies serving more than 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.