Phillips is originally from Fairhope, Alabama, and attended the University of Montevallo.[5]
Phillips was assistant general counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.[6] He previously worked in private practice in energy policy.
In 2014 he was appointed to the District of Columbia Public Service Commission. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed him chairman in 2018.[7] At the DCPSC, Phillips approved the merger of Exelon and Pepco in 2016, which was challenged by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine but upheld by the courts.[7] Phillips had rejected a previous version of the merger proposal the year before.[8]
President Joe Biden appointed Phillips to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in September 2021 and he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on November 16,[9] taking office on December 3, 2021. Phillips sees himself as a consensus-builder.[10]
After the expiration of Commissioner Richard Glick's term as chairman, Biden named Phillips acting chairman of the commission.[2] He is the first Black person to be serve as chair.[11] In July 2023, the Congressional Black Caucus wrote to President Biden to make Phillips the permanent chairman,[12][13] but the White House stated he was still the acting chairman, pending confirmation of a new chair, though observers state there is no difference.[14] On February 9, 2024, Biden officially designated Phillips as chair.[4]
Since Phillips became chair, the commission has approved multiple natural gas projects and pipelines,[15] resulting in criticism from environmental advocates.[16]
One of Phillips's priorities at the agency was to accelerate power plant interconnection and transmission planning.[17] In July 2023, it approved a rule directing how grid operators study proposed projects, which Phillips called "historic."[18] Phillips has also emphasized grid reliability during his term:[19] in May 2024, FERC approved a rule regarding interstate electricity transmission and cost-sharing of large projects.[20]
Phillips resigned from the commission in April 2025 following a request from the Trump administration.[21]
