Janet Rehberg from EPB has been appointed President & CEO‑elect, following a leadership plan that will see the Chattanooga‑based utility maintain its status as a national benchmark for fibre‑optic and quantum technology. EPB’s 100 % fibre‑to‑the‑home network delivers community‑wide internet speeds of up to 25 Gb, while its automated electric grid is recognised as the nation’s most advanced. The company’s EPB Quantum Network, launched in 2023, offers a commercially available quantum computing platform slated for expansion in early 2026. EPB serves a 600-square-mile service area across Tennessee.
Janet Rehberg Named CEO Elect as EPB Prepares for Quantum Computing Launch
On 19 September 2025 the Electric Power Board (EPB) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, announced that incumbent chief executive David Wade will retire by the fall of 2026. The EPB Board, chaired by Vicky Gregg, has appointed Janet Rehberg, then President of Strategic Initiatives, as President and CEO‑elect, while Ryan Keel will remain President of Energy and Communications.
Rehberg brings more than twenty years of experience in the energy sector, having led engineering, operations, business development, field services, community relations and legislative affairs at both investor‑owned and community utilities. She previously served as Chief Strategy Officer and Vice‑President of Engineering at Tri‑County Electric Cooperative in Aledo, Texas, and directed grid‑modernisation projects for American Electric Power.
Her appointment coincides with EPB’s launch of EPB Quantum Computing in early 2026, following the 2023 launch of the EPB Quantum Network. The new platform will position EPB as the most comprehensive provider of commercially available quantum technology in the United States and will rely on the utility’s 100 % fibre‑to‑the‑home network that delivers up to 25 Gb/s across its 600‑square‑mile service area.
David Wade Retires in 2026 While EPB Expands Fibre to the Home Network to 25Gb
Concurrently, EPB is upgrading its fibre‑optic backbone to support community‑wide speeds. The 100 % fibre‑to‑the‑home network already blankets the entire 600‑square‑mile service area and the upgrade will provide the high‑bandwidth backbone required for the data‑intensive workloads of the forthcoming quantum computing platform.
The board’s succession plan, finalized on 19 September 2025, names Rehberg as chief executive officer until Wade departs in autumn 2026. The change in executive leadership is designed to sustain momentum as EPB expands its quantum network, slated for early 2026, and its automated electric grid that uses real‑time sensors, advanced analytics and automated switching to minimise outages and optimise power flow.
EPB’s fibre‑to‑the‑home network, now delivering up to 25 Gb/s, supports ultra‑high‑definition streaming, telehealth, remote work and other high‑bandwidth applications, thereby narrowing the digital divide in the municipality. The 2023 launch of the EPB Quantum Network provides local innovators with access to quantum processors, error‑correction algorithms and cloud‑based quantum development tools, enabling experimentation in logistics, materials science, cybersecurity, drug discovery and supply‑chain optimisation. EPB’s mission is to improve quality of life, foster technology‑driven economic growth and deliver community‑benefit‑oriented utility services.
Original Press Release
Source: Electric Power Board (EPB)
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