President Biden announced this week he will nominate Willie Phillips as a commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an agency that regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil, and electricity – including critical infrastructure such as the electric grid and natural gas pipelines.
If confirmed by the Senate, Phillips would give Democrats a 3-2 majority on FERC.
Phillips has over 20 years of experience as a utility regulator with an “extensive background in the areas of public utility regulation, bulk power system reliability, and corporate governance,” according to the White House press release.
Phillips has also served as chairman of the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, serving as a leader in electric grid modernization.
Additionally, Phillips served as assistant general counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and is an active member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), serving on the NARUC Board of Directors and chairing the Select Committee on Regulatory and Industry Diversity.
