Sims named as president of Enstar

Enstar Natural Gas Co. has announced the appointment of John Sims as its new president. Sims replaces Jared Green, who is moving to Calgary, Alberta, to take up a new role as president of AltaGas Canadian Utilities. Enstar is a subsidiary of Canadian company AltaGas Ltd.

Sims joined the business development and public affairs department of Enstar in 2005, subsequently becoming director and vice president in the business development, customer service and human resources departments. Sims hails from Alaska and graduated from Chugiak High School in 1996. After graduating from Hillsdale College in Michigan in 2001, Sims received his MBA from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2009.

“As a lifelong Alaskan, I am honored to serve as the president of a company so deeply rooted in Alaska history,” Sims said in response to his new appointment. “I look forward to preserving the integrity and value of the service Enstar provides, furthering our dedication to Enstar customers and the communities we serve, and pursuing the growth of our system in the years to come.”

Enstar is the main gas utility serving Southcentral Alaska. The company purchases natural gas from various Cook Inlet gas producers and ships the gas to its residential, commercial and industrial customers through an extensive network of gas transmission and distribution pipelines. The utility also provides gas transportation services around Southcentral. Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Inc., an affiliate company also owned by AltaGas, provides gas storage services on the Kenai Peninsula.

Enstar was established in 1959 under the name Alaska Gas Co. at around the time that gas production started from Cook Inlet. According to an Enstar press release the utility started delivery in 1961 with a single customer, the Rice Bowl on 5th Avenue in Anchorage. The utility now serves about 143,000 customers, the press release says.

- ALAN BAILEY