Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> May 3, 2004
JAMES H. DEGRAFFENREIDT JR. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
WGL Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Washington Gas. He also serves
as Chairman and CEO of Washington Gas, the natural gas utility serving
nearly 1 million customers in the Washington metropolitan area and
surrounding region. He is responsible for the overall performance of the
company. Through his leadership, he has helped to transform the company
into a winner in the new energy age. After practicing law as a Partner
or Associate at different law firms and as Assistant People's Counsel in
Maryland, specializing in telecommunications public utilities, and
public finance, Mr. DeGraffenreidt joined the company in 1986 as Senior
Managing Attorney. He was then responsible for coordinating all rate
cases and other regulatory matters before the commissions that regulate
the utility's service territories. He was elected Vice President of
Rates and Regulatory Affairs in 1991. Mr. DeGraffenreidt also serves on
numerous Boards, including the American Gas Association, Alliance to
Save Energy, MedStar Health, Harbor Bankshares Corporation, Greater
Washington Board of Trade, Maryland Science Center, The Walters Art
Museum and the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. He received
the degrees of Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from
Columbia University in 1978 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale
College in 1974. Profile
Mr. DeGraffenreidt: WGL is a holding company whose principal business is
a natural gas distribution utility that serves the greater Washington,
DC,
