Bill Magness, president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), was terminated from his contract by the organization’s board of directors after an emergency meeting on Wednesday night.
In a statement sent to CNN, ERCOT says the board “instructed the corporate secretary to exercise the 60-day notice of termination” to Magness under the employee’s contract. He will continue to serve as president and CEO during this transition period, the statement said.
Five council members had already resigned after the storms.
ERCOT hopes to start an immediate search for a new president and CEO, the statement said. The next ERCOT board meeting is scheduled for April 13.
At least 80 people died in 11 states due to weather-related problems, according to a CNN count. At least 47 of the climate-related deaths have been reported in Texas.