O’Neill currently serves as RMLD Director of Operations and brings decades of utility industry experience
READING, MA – The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) and the RMLD Board of Commissioners (Board) announced that Michael O’Neill will serve as interim general manager (GM), effective June 30, 2025. O’Neill was the standout among many well-qualified candidates, with a career spanning more than two decades in the electric utility industry. O’Neill brings deep expertise to the role, having previously held key positions at National Grid and Eversource and serving as the RMLD director of operations since January 2024.
“As we begin the search for a new GM, we’re fortunate to have Michael take on the interim role,” said RMLD Board of Commissioners Chair Pam Daskalakis. “His industry expertise and extensive hands-on knowledge of RMLD operations will be an asset during this time of transition. The Board is looking forward to working with him over the next few months.”
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead RMLD during this transition,” said RMLD Interim General Manager Michael O’Neill. “I have full confidence in our team and look forward to providing steady leadership and continuity while the Board conducts its search for a permanent general manager.”
O’Neill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, as well as several certifications that underscore his expertise in the utility industry. Throughout his extensive career he has held various leadership roles including electric overhead/underground manager at National Grid and electric construction supervisor for station/substation & electric operations construction at Eversource. As RMLD director of operations, O’Neill has played a pivotal role in successfully steering RMLD’s operating tactics, focusing on safety, facilitating strategic project management, and building positive team culture.
The Board is moving forward with the search process to identify a candidate with the appropriate expertise to lead one of the largest municipal utilities in Massachusetts. The Board anticipates that the GM search will span four to six months. During this transition, RMLD will continue to deliver on its mission to provide customers with reliable, low-cost, and increasingly non-carbon energy in Lynnfield Center, North Reading, Reading, and Wilmington.
About Reading Municipal Light Department
Established in 1894, Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) is a municipal electric utility serving over 70,000 residents in Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, and Lynnfield Center, Massachusetts. RMLD is the largest of the 41 municipal light departments in Massachusetts based on electricity load, is not-for-profit and is locally owned and controlled. The RMLD is committed to serving our customers with reliable, low-cost, and increasingly non-carbon energy. For more information visit: rmld.com
