The Chief Utilities Engineer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Electric Division operations, including generation, transmission and distribution, and planning. He also serves as liaison for special technical projects, including major infrastructure improvements, undertaken by all areas of the utility. The person in this position is appointed by the General Manager with the approval of the Mayor.

Eric Hobbie has served as Chief Utilities Engineer since May of 2009. Eric previously served the utility as the Electric System and Markets Director. For nine years prior to that, he was the Superintendent of Electric Operations, responsible for overseeing the utility's electric operations, communications and controls, and GIS departments. He has worked for the utility since 1993, beginning as a relay technician and working his way up through the engineering ranks.

Eric is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a B.S. in electrical engineering. He also holds an MBA degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.