The overview
Reilly, a longtime Austinite and former AE deputy general manager, has been leading the utility on an interim basis this year following previous General Manager Bob Kahn's retirement in the spring. Kahn's departure prompted a national search for AE's next manager that led to Reilly's appointment this fall.
“Stuart’s leadership experience, operational knowledge, and commitment to this community make him exceptionally qualified to lead Austin Energy,” City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement. “He understands the challenges and opportunities ahead and has a proven record of guiding the utility with integrity and focus.”
As general manager, Reilly is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and long-range strategy at AE. The utility is operating on a $1.99 billion budget with nearly 2,000 full-time employees for fiscal year 2025-26.
Zooming in
A city news release about the hire credited Reilly's nearly two decades of experience in the public power sector. That included six years as an executive at AE, where he's served as chief operating officer and twice held deputy and interim general manager positions. Reilly has expertise in areas like clean energy, financial strategy, grid resilience and utility operations, according to the city.
Before joining the city in 2007 as an assistant city attorney, Reilly earned a bachelor's degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School.
