Doyle Beneby began his career in the utility business as an entry-level market services representative, and climbed the ranks doggedly from there – to field-crew supervisor, to construction superintendent, to power-plant general manager, always with an eye to learning every facet of the business.

He'd risen to the role of president at Exelon Power in 2010 when he was offered his most high-profile gig yet: the role of chief executive at CPS Energy, the largest municipal utility in the US, serving San Antonio, Texas – the country's seventh largest city.

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