Power Profile: Brad Todd

Brad Todd, director of Hydro Operations for Ameren Missouri, and his family visit Washington, D.C. in March.

Brad Todd has spent nearly two decades helping deliver reliable energy to customers across Missouri, building his career from the ground up inside Ameren Missouri’s energy centers.

Since joining the company in 2009 at the Coffeen Power Station, Todd has worked his way through a range of roles in hydroelectric operations. Today, as director of Hydro Operations for Ameren Missouri, he oversees the day-to-day performance of the company’s three hydro facilities: the Osage Energy Center at Bagnell Dam at Lake of the Ozarks, the Keokuk Energy Center and the Taum Sauk Energy Center. Based at the Lake of the Ozarks, Todd manages plant performance, regulatory obligations and long-term asset strategy. He works closely with Ameren Missouri’s teams, regulators and community partners to ensure these facilities continue providing dependable energy while supporting the customers and communities they serve. 

Todd’s path to leadership at the company was shaped by hands-on experience and a deep connection to the energy industry. Inspired by his father, an electrician at the Sioux Energy Center, Todd pursued technical training at Ranken Technical College, later earning a bachelor’s degree in business from Missouri Baptist University and a master’s in industrial management from the University of Central Missouri. 

Over the years, he has worked as a maintenance electrician, an operator, maintenance supervisor, a plant manager and now director, gaining a broad understanding of hydro operations. 

“I’ve held just about every position in the hydro plants that you can imagine,” Todd said. “So, I have experience with all of the technical aspects of an energy center.”

Hydropower remains a critical component of Ameren’s portfolio. Missouri is unique in the Midwest for its significant hydro capacity, generating roughly 800 megawatts of renewable energy. Hydro energy not only delivers cost-effective, fuel-free power but also supports environmental sustainability.

Each of the hydro facilities Todd oversees serves a distinct purpose. The Osage Energy Center is a traditional hydro facility, providing dependable power and regulating seasonal water levels at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Keokuk Energy Center is a run-of-the-river facility on the Mississippi River that produces reliable, continuous energy. The Taum Sauk Energy Center is a pumped-storage facility that acts as a giant battery, generating power during peak demand and refilling its reservoir at night.

These diverse capabilities ensure that Ameren can meet fluctuating energy needs efficiently and cost-effectively for Missourians. 

“We don’t have to buy fuel to operate any of our hydro facilities,” said Todd. “We don’t have any added energy costs. That is the biggest cost saver that we have.”

Seasonal water management for Lake of the Ozarks is a major focus for Todd and his team. Each winter, Ameren Missouri draws down the lake to allow shoreline maintenance and prepare for spring rains. While water levels are lowest, Todd and his team engage in community outreach to encourage maintenance of structures and docks, fostering a safer environment on the water. 

As lake levels rise, the team works to use the water efficiently for power generation while carefully monitoring for potential flooding.

“We anticipate all of our water flows through Truman Dam,” said Todd. “We plan on using every drop of water for power generation.”

Opening spill gates is rare and highly coordinated, involving downstream partners, local agencies and public communication.

Todd has also helped lead a number of major upgrades across Ameren’s hydro system. Recent improvements at Bagnell Dam included replacing the last original turbines from 1931 with modern, environmentally friendly models. These upgrades improve efficiency and help protect aquatic species, positioning the facility to operate reliably for decades to come. Additional projects, including transformer upgrades at Taum Sauk and dam work at Keokuk, reflect Ameren’s continued investment in its hydro infrastructure.

Outside of work, Todd’s life revolves around his family. He and his wife have been married for 24 years and are raising two daughters, ages 18 and 14. 

“When I came to Osage, I just loved it here,” he said. “My girls were able to start school here. This is where we wanted to be.”

His oldest plays soccer, and the two do CrossFit together. She’s graduating this spring and is preparing to attend the United States Air Force Academy. His youngest is a competitive dancer. Todd jokes that between work and supporting his daughters’ activities, there isn’t much time left for hobbies, though the family enjoys activities on the lake, and he squeezes in time for hunting and an occasional round of golf.  

From managing energy flow to maintaining lake safety and leading critical upgrades, Todd plays an important role in keeping Ameren Missouri’s hydro facilities running strong. Clean, reliable and efficient, these facilities embody the company’s commitment to its customers, communities and the environment.