Willie Phillips made the following statement on the announcement that President Biden has named him Acting Chairman of FERC.
“It is an honor to be chosen by President Biden to lead FERC at such a pivotal moment,” Acting Chairman Phillips said. “The work we do here at FERC is crucial to ensuring consumers have access to reliable, safe, secure and efficient energy services at reasonable cost. I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow Commissioners and the FERC staff, as well as to prioritize public engagement, in pursuit of our important mission.”
Acting Chairman Phillips joined FERC in December 2021. Prior to that he served as the Chairman of the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC), named to that role in 2018 and serving on the DCPSC since 2014. He is an experienced regulatory attorney combining nearly 20 years of legal expertise in public and private practice. Phillips has an extensive background in the areas of public utility regulation, bulk power system reliability, and corporate governance. Considered a thoughtful and innovative leader in modernizing the energy grid, implementing the District’s aggressive clean energy and climate goals, and in protecting the District’s customers, Phillips also championed issues of environmental justice and equity during his chairmanship.
Prior to the DCPSC, Acting Chairman Phillips served as Assistant General Counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), in Washington, D.C. Before joining NERC, he worked for two law firms where he advised clients on energy regulatory compliance and policy matters.
Acting Chairman Phillips has a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Montevallo. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two children.