Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer-Utilities

David J. Bonenberger

David J. Bonenberger is PPL’s senior vice president and chief operating officer-Utilities. Bonenberger is responsible for energy delivery, including transmission and distribution and natural gas, and customer services enterprise-wide. Bonenberger and his leadership team help set strategy, update business plans and deliver results for our customers and shareowners, including developing and implementing infrastructure investment plans.

David J. Bonenberger

Before becoming SVP and chief operating officer-Utilities in March 2024, Bonenberger served as president of Rhode Island Energy, a PPL subsidiary.

Prior to that role, Bonenberger was PPL’s vice president of Operations Integration, playing the leading role in the successful operational integration of the Rhode Island acquisition into PPL. Prior to his roles with Rhode Island Energy, he helped drive PPL Electric Utilities’ operational excellence and grid modernization.

In his previous roles with PPL Electric Utilities, Bonenberger was vice president of Transmission & Substations and the vice president of Distribution Operations. He oversaw the operations, planning, engineering, project and construction management, siting, real estate and compliance to ensure safe and reliable service while providing exceptional customer service at a reasonable cost for the transmission and distribution businesses respectively. He also managed new transmission business ventures.

Bonenberger joined PPL in 1984 as assistant field office manager at PPL’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant. Over the course of his tenure, he has held various positions in the corporate audit, financial, customer service and operations departments with increased levels of responsibility. He played a key role in the startup of the PPL EnergyPlus retail business and PPLSolutions in the unregulated markets. He has also served as vice president-Distribution Operations, general manager-Transmission & Substations, director of Distribution Operations and regional director of the utility’s central region.

Bonenberger holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bloomsburg University and a master’s in business administration from Wilkes University.

Bonenberger serves on the board of directors for the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, is a member of the Edison Electric Institute’s Preparedness & Recovery Executive Advisory Committee, and he’s Chair Emeritus of the EEI National Response Executive Committee.

Bonenberger also serves on the board of directors and executive committee of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

Career Highlights

  • Over four decades of energy industry experience.
  • Joined PPL in 1984, holding various positions in the corporate audit, financial, customer service and operations departments with increased levels of responsibility.
  • Serves on the board of directors of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies and is a member of the Edison Electric Institute’s Preparedness & Recovery Executive Advisory Committee.
  • Serves on the board of directors and executive committee of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.