Robideaux Names Interim Director of LUS

Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux has appointed Jeffrey Stewart as Interim Director of LUS until a permanent Director is named. Stewart, who most recently served as the Engineering & Power Supply Manager for LUS and has worked for the utility system for more than 17 years, will assume the role effective immediately. Stewart steps in to the interim position after previous Director Terry Huval retired on July 18.

Stewart joined LUS in 2001 and as a registered professional engineer, has served in a variety of roles within the municipal utilities system. In his role as Engineering & Power Supply Manager, he supervised the day-to-day engineering activities of civil engineering, utility marketing, substation engineering, network operations, environmental compliance related to power generation, and power supply. Stewart gained considerable experience in administration of personnel, project management, budgeting, and customer relationships.

Robideaux expressed his confidence in Stewart saying, “Jeff has been an integral part of the team for quite some time and has been a behind-the-scenes hand in the successful operations of the system. He understands the complexity of running LUS and LUS Fiber and has proven himself in both his technical and administrative skills needed to lead the department.”

Accepting the interim position over the utility system and LUS Fiber, the telecommunications division of LUS, Stewart commented “LUS employees take pride in serving our friends and neighbors. Delivering the most reliable services at the most affordable rates has been, and will continue to be, our main focus. We are dedicated to the work we do and the citizens of Lafayette.”

Stewart holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University. He and his wife, Raynee, have one daughter, Dylan.

A municipally-owned utility, LUS provides electric, water, wastewater and telecommunications services to more than 63,000 customers. LUS has long been at the forefront of innovation and change in the utilities industry. In 1998 Lafayette became one of the first cities in the nation to offer high-speed broadband technology to businesses and schools. Today, LUS Fiber brings that same technology directly to the home, offering high-speed television, internet, and digital phone services.

(Press release received from Lafayette Consolidated Government)