Utility Board Vice Chair Barrios Receives Statewide Policymaker Award

Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Utility Board Vice Chair Robert Barrios was presented with the Policymaker Award by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) at its annual conference in Plam Beach, FL. The Policymaker Award is awarded to a local elected or appointed official who has demonstrated a strong commitment to public power.     

“Robert’s leadership has been marked by a strong focus on system reliability, fiscal responsibility and employee wellbeing,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “He embodies the spirit of public power with a passion to serve, a commitment to community and a vision for the future. We thank him for his many contributions to public power.”

Barrios has demonstrated an exceptional and enduring commitment to public power throughout his nearly four decades of service to KEYS, first as an employee of the then–City Electric System, and since his election to the Utility Board in 2018, and re-election in 2022.

“Having worked alongside Robert for decades, I’ve seen firsthand his unwavering dedication to providing safe, reliable, and affordable power to our community,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager and CEO. “This award is a well-deserved recognition of his lifelong commitment and profound impact on his neighbors and constituents in the Lower Florida Keys.”

One of his most significant contributions as a policymaker has been his advocacy for accelerating the utility’s pole replacement program by strategically utilizing storm reserve funds. This initiative strengthened system resilience, reduced long term risk, and demonstrated his commitment to ensuring that KEYS’ customers benefit from a robust and reliable electric grid.

For more information on FMEA and Florida’s public power communities, please visit www.flpublicpower.com. For more information on FMEA visit FlPublicPower.com.