Biden to nominate D.C. PSC Chairman Phillips for vacant FERC seat

In a move praised by state utility regulators and renewable energy associations, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced his intent to nominate District of Columbia Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Willie Phillips to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 

The move, which follows the departure of Republican FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee, attempts to fill a vacancy on the independent agency in charge of regulating interstate transmission of natural gas, oil, electricity and more, as well as guaranteeing access to affordable, safe and reliable energy services. The appointment also comes as the Biden Administration plants one eye firmly on the climate crisis and a major push toward a cleaner grid by 2035. 

If appointed, Phillips would give Democrats a 3-2 majority on the commission. 

“Congratulations DCPSC Chairman @wlphillips on your selection by @POTUS to serve at @FERC,” FERC Chairman Richard Glick tweeted of the news. “I look forward to you joining the Commission & working with you soon. A five-member @FERC is critical to continue the important work of shaping the #GridOfTheFuture,” 

In this regard, Phillips brings decades of experience to the table, including nearly 20 years of legal experience as a utility regulator, in private practice and as in-house counsel. He has chaired the District of Columbia PSC since 2014 and was re-nominated most recently in 2018. He has also worked as Assistant General Counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and currently serves as a board member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

NARUC was also one of the first organizations to cheer the nomination.

“On behalf of the Association, I am pleased to congratulate Chairman Phillips on his nomination,” Paul Kjellander, NARUC president, said. “His recent leadership of our Select Committee on Regulatory and Industry Diversity and his term as the president of the MACRUC region are just a couple of examples of his ability to lead and serve beyond the DC Commission. We thank him for his collegiality and look forward to working with him in his new role.”

The organization’s executive director, Greg White, lauded Phillips for his knowledge of regulatory issues and his balanced, thoughtful approach. As an organization, NARUC has routinely argued for state regulators to serve as FERC members due to their knowledge of utility matters and their insights into how federal, state and local actions and issues can collide. 

Other groups praising the decision included the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and the Edison Electric Institute, which represents U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies.

“EEI and our member companies congratulate @DC_PSC Chairman @WLPhillips on his nomination to serve as a @FERC Commissioner. We urge Congress to move quickly to advance the nomination and to restore a full complement of commissioners at FERC,” the association tweeted on Thursday.

Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA president and CEO, said, Phillips “understands the urgency of this climate moment and the opportunity we have to accelerate the clean energy transition.”

Meanwhile, former FERC Chairman Chatterjee sufficed to wish him luck. 

“Thrilled @POTUS has nominated my friend @wlphillips to serve @ferc,” Chatterjee tweeted of the announcement. “Should he be confirmed it would be an honor to have him succeed me. Good luck!”