Scott Batson

Scott Batson serves as senior vice president and chief distribution officer for Duke Energy. He oversees the safe, reliable and efficient operation of Duke Energy’s electric distribution systems for the company’s six-state service area.

Before assuming his current position in November 2019, Batson served as Duke Energy’s regional senior vice president of customer delivery in the Carolinas. He was responsible for operations of the company’s electric distribution system in North Carolina and South Carolina, including construction, maintenance, engineering, and resource and project management.

Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of nuclear operations for Duke Energy, where he provided oversight for the safe and reliable operation of the company’s nuclear plants in South Carolina. He assumed lead responsibilities for the Catawba, Oconee and Robinson plants in September 2016.

Batson has more than 35 years of experience in the energy field. He joined the company in January 1985 as a junior engineer at Oconee Nuclear Station. He held various leadership positions at Oconee, including operations shift manager, maintenance instrument and electrical section manager, mechanical and civil engineering manager, operations manager, site engineering manager and plant manager. He was named plant manager of Catawba Nuclear Station in 2012 and site vice president of Oconee Nuclear Station in 2013. As site vice president, he directed station and facilities management, operations, maintenance, chemistry and radiation protection, engineering, nuclear and industrial safety, and business operations.

The Pickens, S.C., native earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson University. He is a registered professional engineer in South Carolina.

In January 2018, Batson was appointed to the South Carolina Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council. He received a senior reactor operator license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and a senior nuclear plant management certification from the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. He has also completed the Duke Energy Advanced Leadership Program.