Sam Harper
Sam Harper spent fifteen years managing energy at scale for major North American steel producers — first at ArcelorMittal, then at Gerdau — before founding Harper Advisory. That operating experience spans ERCOT, PJM, CAISO, MISO, IESO, CENACE, and various unorganized markets. From 2016 to 2021, Harper served on the ERCOT Board of Directors — a role that brought direct involvement in the Texas market's most consequential regulatory period, including Winter Storm Uri and its aftermath.
Sam Harper advises organizations that engage across the energy supply chain, with a particular focus on large energy consumers for whom energy represents a significant percentage of the cost of production. His practice spans energy procurement, utility regulation, ISO/RTO governance, renewable energy development, and demand response, with direct commercial and regulatory experience in PJM, MISO, ERCOT, CAISO, IESO, CENACE, and various unorganized markets.
Prior to consulting, Harper served as Director of Energy for Gerdau's North American operations from 2013 to 2022. Gerdau is a major steel producer with significant energy requirements and active demand response participation. During his tenure, he held a series of positions including Regional Energy Manager and Assistant Vice President of Operations for Gerdau's subsidiary load-serving entity. His responsibilities included demand response operations, RTO/ISO stakeholder processes, utility regulatory intervention, commercial energy contract negotiations, commodity risk management, and renewable energy development.
Before that, Harper was employed from 2008 to 2013 by ArcelorMittal, a global steel producer, ending his tenure as Sourcing Manager of Electricity for US Operations. During that time, he created and managed a load-serving entity and curtailment service provider in the PJM territory.
