Roger Kline has served as General Manager and CEO of Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District since January 2016, bringing over three decades of diverse experience in the energy sector. His expertise spans enterprise risk management, generation operations, maintenance, and senior leadership roles.
Prior to joining Northern Wasco County PUD, Roger held key positions at the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), where he served as Enterprise Risk & Internal Controls Manager and Generation Manager. His career also includes significant experience as Operations Superintendent with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Operations Professional at Calpine Corporation and Texas Independent Energy, Senior Stationary Engineer at Solar Turbines Inc., and Gas Turbine Mechanic in the United States Navy.
Roger’s academic achievements complement his extensive practical experience. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Project Management with cum laude honors from Colorado Technical University and further specialized his knowledge with a graduate certificate in Utility Management from Willamette University.
His commitment to the utility industry extends beyond his primary role, as evidenced by his extensive service in regional and national organizations. Roger currently serves on the American Public Power Association (APPA) Board of Directors, representing Region 9 (elected October 2025). He has served as Chair of the Public Power Council (PPC) Executive Committee (2021-2023) and as President of the Northwest Requirements Utilities (NRU) Executive Committee (2018-2019). He was a valued member of the Northwest RiverPartners Board of Directors from (2018-2024), and continues to contribute his expertise as a board member for the Western Energy Institute (WEI) (since 2016) and the Northwest Public Power Association (since 2021). As part of his dedication to community infrastructure, Roger joined the Board of Directors for Q-Life in May 2024, supporting efforts to bring fiber broadband access to all residents across Wasco County.
Roger received the Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award from APPA in 2025, recognizing his exceptional leadership in bringing Northern Wasco County PUD to new levels of excellence while maintaining the public power mission of providing reliable, affordable service.
Roger’s leadership at Northern Wasco County PUD is characterized by a visionary approach that anticipates future challenges and opportunities in the evolving utility landscape. He consistently champions collaborative solutions that center on creating thriving communities, recognizing that the utility’s role is fundamentally to enable and support community prosperity. His forward-thinking leadership style combines strategic partnerships with innovative technologies, positioning Northern Wasco County PUD as a model of innovative public power service that balances sustainable growth with enduring community benefit.