ABOUT US

Alabama Public Utilities Alliance (APUA) is a legislative information service provided to public and municipal utilities in the State of Alabama. APUA includes municipal water and wastewater systems, municipal gas systems, gas districts and municipally owned electric utilities.

MEET THE TEAM

Jonathan A. Hand

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

For more than 20 years, Jon Hand has been involved in government relations on both the federal and state level. Jon has a proven record of moving municipal power utility legislation forward ensuring member utilities provide low-cost and reliable electricity.

In 2009, Jon joined Alabama Public Utilities Alliance (APUA) as the Executive Director. He came to APUA with a background in government relations, having worked for Congressman Jo Bonner, a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, where he focused on Energy, Defense, and Transportation Appropriations. Today Jon represents municipally owned natural gas and water utilities and natural gas districts at the Alabama State Capitol and has been instrumental in moving legislation important to the public power industry.

Through APUA, Jon also serves as Executive Director of Electric Cities of Alabama, a coalition of 36 municipally owned electric utilities throughout Alabama.

In addition to these activities, Jon is a founding member of the Energy Institute of Alabama (EIA) whose mission is to promote reliable, affordable, and clean energy to help grow the economy, create high-paying jobs and build public support for Alabama’s energy industry.

Regionally, Jon serves as the Chairman of the Southeastern Federal Power Consumers Legislative Committee where he works with electric cooperatives and municipal power companies that represent more than six million consumers of public power throughout the Southeast. The Southeastern Federal Power Consumers legislative focus is to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of hydroelectricity and to protect it as a natural resource.

Nationally, Jon serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of the American Public Power Association and works with community-owned utilities that power more than 49 million people nationwide.

Donna Key

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS

Donna Key joined Alabama Public Utilities Alliance (APUA) in 2017 as the Director of Communications and Events. Having worked in association management for more than two decades, Donna has a diverse knowledge of meeting and event planning, public relations, marketing, and member relations.

Donna serves APUA members through the planning of events as well as handling association communications.

Through APUA, Donna also serves as Director of Communications and Events for Electric Cities of Alabama, a coalition of 36 municipally owned electric utilities throughout Alabama.

Prior to joining APUA, Donna worked as the Director of Events and Education for the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) for 17 years. While at ACCA, Donna led an administrative team in coordinating all aspects of conferences, conventions, and education training for county officials and employees throughout the state. In addition, she provided leadership and direction for ACCA’s five affiliate groups, which taught her the importance of member relations.

Donna has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a minor in Journalism from Troy University.