You probably don’t think about who runs your electric company until the lights flicker during a January nor'easter. For millions of people in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, that person is Joseph R. Nolan Jr. He is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Eversource Energy. But he isn't some fly-in executive from a private equity firm.
Honestly, he’s about as "Boston" as it gets.
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Nolan took the helm of New England’s largest utility in May 2021, succeeding Jim Judge. While some CEOs spend their careers jumping from industry to industry, Joe Nolan is a lifer. He started at the bottom—literally in customer service—back in 1985. We're talking about the old Boston Edison days. He’s seen every merger, every name change, and every massive storm that has hit the region for nearly four decades.
The Brighton Roots and the "Mean Streets" of Belmont
To understand how Joe Nolan runs a multi-billion dollar energy giant, you have to look at where he started. He grew up in Oak Square in Brighton. He was the youngest of seven kids. His father, Joseph Nolan Sr., wasn't just any dad; he was a legendary Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice.
But here’s the thing: back then, being a judge didn't make you wealthy.
His father worked three jobs to keep the lights on for those "seven jewels," as he called his kids. Joe Jr. recalls the whole family walking to Mass together every Sunday. When the family moved to Belmont in 1971, his dad joked they were moving to the "mean streets" of a much quieter suburb. That work ethic clearly rubbed off. Joe watched his mother, Peggy, juggle real estate deals while dragging her kids along to house showings.
He stayed local for school, too. A "Double Eagle," Nolan earned both his bachelor’s in communications and his MBA from Boston College.
Why Joseph R. Nolan Jr. Still Matters for Your Electric Bill
Under Nolan’s leadership, Eversource has been going through a massive identity crisis—in a good way. He inherited a company that was heavily invested in traditional fossil fuel infrastructure and has been forced to pivot it toward a "green" future. This isn't just corporate fluff.
The guy has had to make some brutal calls.
For instance, in 2024 and early 2025, Nolan led the charge to divest from offshore wind. Why? Because the economics were falling apart. Construction costs were skyrocketing, and interest rates were punishing. He basically looked at the books and decided that while wind is the future, the current deals weren't protecting the company's (or the ratepayers') wallets.
He also offloaded Aquarion Water Company for about $2.4 billion. Basically, he's slimming down the company to focus on the core mission: the electric grid.
What Really Happened with the Labor Unions?
One of the most defining moments for Joseph R. Nolan Jr. happened way back in 1985, his first year on the job. There was a major walkout and strike at Boston Edison. Being the new guy, he couldn't do much. But he famously told himself, "That is never going to happen on my watch."
Decades later, when another strike hit, he was the one sent in to fix it. He managed to get 3,500 workers back on the job.
Unlike many modern CEOs who view unions as a line item to be reduced, Nolan is vocal about his respect for them. He’s received the Labor Guild’s Management Award. He’s often said that unions "built America." This pro-labor stance is likely why he's been able to navigate complex infrastructure projects that require thousands of skilled tradespeople without the constant litigation seen elsewhere.
The Connecticut Regulatory War
If you follow the news in Hartford, you know it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Nolan has been locked in a high-profile battle with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) in Connecticut.
It got ugly.
Eversource even filed a lawsuit against the PURA chair, accusing the agency of bypassing standard rules to slash rate requests. Nolan argued that if the state keeps cutting rates, the company can't afford to fix the grid. It’s a classic "unstoppable force vs. immovable object" scenario. By late 2025, however, Nolan started sounding more optimistic. With new commissioners appointed by Governor Ned Lamont, he’s signaled that a "constructive shift" is happening.
He needs that peace. Without it, the grid modernization he's promised—electric vehicle charging stations, battery storage, and smart meters—will stall out.
Surprising Details You Might Not Know
- Dual Citizenship: He’s a dual citizen of Ireland. His grandparents came from Rassaraun, County Mayo. He was even honored with the Boston Irish Honors Award in 2021.
- Board Heavyweight: He doesn't just run Eversource. He’s on the board of Boston Children’s Hospital, the New England Council, and the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.
- A Warning to the White House: In 2022, he took the rare step of writing directly to President Biden. He warned that the New England grid might not survive a severe cold snap due to natural gas shortages. People called him an alarmist; he called it being a "lifelong New Englander" who knows how cold it actually gets.
The Strategy Moving Forward
So, what is the actual plan for the Joseph R. Nolan Jr. era?
It's essentially a massive balancing act. He’s trying to please ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investors by pushing for clean energy while simultaneously keeping the lights on with old-school natural gas when the wind doesn't blow.
He has focused heavily on transmission. That sounds boring, but it's the secret sauce. You can build all the wind farms you want in Maine or Canada, but if you don't have the big "extension cords" (transmission lines) to bring that power to Boston or Hartford, it's useless. Nolan is betting the company’s future on these massive, complex infrastructure projects.
Actionable Takeaways for Ratepayers and Investors
If you're looking at Nolan's track record to guess where your energy future is headed, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the "Clean Tech" Pivot: Nolan is selling off side businesses (like water and wind stakes) to fund the "Smart Grid." Expect more requests for rate hikes specifically tied to "reliability" and "modernization."
- Regulatory Climate is Everything: In a regulated utility, the CEO's best friend or worst enemy is the state government. Nolan is currently winning the "charm offensive" in Massachusetts but is still fighting in the trenches in Connecticut.
- The Labor Factor: Because of his deep ties to unions, Eversource is less likely to face the crippling labor shortages or strikes that have plagued other sectors. This usually means projects get finished, even if they cost more.
Nolan’s tenure is a throwback to a different kind of leadership—the local kid who stayed, worked his way up, and now has to figure out how to keep the most complex machine in New England running during a climate transition. It isn't always pretty, and it's definitely not cheap, but it's a job he's been training for since 1985.
To stay updated on how these changes affect your local utility rates, you should regularly check the "Regulatory Filings" section of the Eversource investor relations portal or follow the dockets at your state’s Department of Public Utilities.