LUDLOW, Vt. – The Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ludlow Electric Light Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Recchia as its new department manager, effective last month.
Recchia joins Ludlow Electric from Randolph, Vt., and has more than 30 years’ experience in energy and environmental matters, including extensive utility work. He formerly served as commissioner of the Department of Public Service, the Vermont department that regulates public utilities and sets energy policy, and as commissioner of environmental conservation and deputy secretary within the Agency of Natural Resources.
“We are delighted to have Chris join us,” said Shannon Barton Stark, chair of the board. “He helped us tremendously on a part-time basis since September of last year, and now that he’s coming on board full-time, we are very excited about the good work we can all accomplish going forward.”
“I am really honored to be joining Ludlow Electric full time, and am privileged to work with such a dedicated board and staff,” Recchia said.
Stark added, “The Board of Commissioners were all new in 2024, and the utility faced many challenges…The entire Board worked tirelessly over the past year to ensure the electric utility was efficient and effective, and with Chris’ help, we tackled board governance, established policies about personnel and records retention, restructured staffing and job descriptions to ensure staff felt valued and knew their jobs. We also for the first time in the recent past established operating and capital budgets for 2025, and now 2026,” Stark said. “As a result, the Ludlow Electric Department – which celebrated its 125th year in 2025 – is very strong, and we’re very excited and optimistic about the future.”
The Village of Ludlow Electric Light Department was established in 1900 to serve the Village of Ludlow, the majority of the Town of Ludlow, Plymouth, and Proctorville, including the Village of Cavendish. Ludlow Electric has approximately 3,800 customers, and is recognized by regulators and Vermont utilities alike as having among the lowest costs in the state and extremely reliable service.
The Board of Commissioners meets every fourth Thursday of the month at Town Hall, and all are welcome to attend.