The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted unanimously to confirm D.C. Public Service Commission Chair Willie Phillips’ nomination to FERC, securing the Democrats a majority on the commission for the first time in more than four years.
Phillips has served on the D.C. PSC since 2014 and was appointed chair in 2018 by Mayor Muriel Bowser. President Biden selected Phillips to fill the open FERC seat previously held by Republican Neil Chatterjee, who left the agency at the end of August after his term expired in June. (See Biden to Nominate Phillips to FERC.)
FERC Chair Richard Glick offered his “sincere congratulations” to Phillips and expressed appreciation that his appointment fills the last open seat on a commission that has struggled to plug vacancies in recent years.
“As I’ve said, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission functions best when it has a full complement of Commissioners,” Glick said in statement. “I very much look forward to welcoming Mr. Phillips to the commission and working with him soon.”
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, noted that Phillips’ appointment has earned broad support across the political spectrum in Washington.
“I congratulate Willie Phillips on his confirmation to serve on the FERC,” Manchin said. “He understands the need to balance affordability and reliability and will bring that outlook to the commission. And his unanimous confirmation, at a time when the Senate is uniquely divided, is evidence that he is supremely qualified and the right person to fully seat FERC.”
The newest commissioner has also found favor from the power sector.
“Commissioner Phillips brings valuable experience to FERC and is exceptionally qualified to serve in this role. I commend him for his continued dedication to public service and look forward to working with him,” Edison Electric Institute President Tom Kuhn said in a statement.
“I have known and worked with Commissioner Phillips for several years. He is an exceptional leader who will bring a wealth of experience to the commission, which today may be busier than it ever has been before,” said EEI Executive Vice President Phil Moeller, a former FERC commissioner.
And while Phillips’ nomination had met with a cool reception from environmental groups, who have questioned his ties to the utilities he will be regulating, a key renewable energy organization offered praise for him.
“Mr. Phillips is highly qualified, with a deep legal understanding of the issues at stake and a demonstrated record of championing the benefits of renewable energy in our nation’s communities,” American Council on Renewable Energy CEO Gregory Wetstone said. “This is a critical moment for our energy transition, and we’re pleased to see that FERC will finally be operating at full capacity to address the transmission and power market reforms necessary to unlock America’s growing renewable energy economy.”
Phillips’ term will end on June 30, 2026.
