Maria Bocanegra

President – Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, WEC Energy Group

Search every verified Maria Bocanegra interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In an August 2025 fireside chat at the Angeles Investors Q3 Summit, María Bocanegra discussed her role as president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group. She described overseeing the day-to-day operations of the utilities, which include approximately 1,400 employees and serve 800,000 customers in the Chicago area, and noted that 2025 marks the company’s 175th anniversary. Bocanegra also highlighted her personal background, stating she grew up with a single mother and that her family history is integral to her career story. During the conversation, Bocanegra, identified as the first Latina president of a major Illinois utility company, commented on the energy industry’s regulatory environment, stating that for the foreseeable future, the state-level regulatory model is likely to remain. She said she believes there is a “returning more to an all-of-the-above approach” regarding energy sources, citing increased demands on the grid and a need to avoid “picking winners and losers.” Bocanegra was introduced as the first Latina president of a major Illinois utility, a milestone the event organizers noted they wished to celebrate.