Robert F. Powelson

Robert F. Powelson is the president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC).

Prior to joining NAWC, he served as a Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner. Powelson was nominated to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by President Donald J. Trump in May 2017, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 4, 2017. Commissioner Powelson came to FERC from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, where he served since June 2008, and led as Chairman from February 24, 2011-May 7, 2015. Under Commissioner Powelson’s leadership, Pennsylvania customers have had an active voice on issues such as nuclear power production, renewable investment, broadband deployment, infrastructure development, unaccounted-for water and cyber security.

In 2011, Commissioner Powelson served on Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, which reviewed the Commonwealth’s existing statutes, regulations and policies and provided recommendations to develop a comprehensive strategic proposal for the responsible and environmentally sound development of Marcellus Shale. Powelson is past president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, where he also was a member of the Board of Directors. He served as chairman of the NARUC Committee on Water and represented the Water Committee on NARUC’s Task Force on Climate Policy. He was active in NARUC activities involving critical infrastructure and nuclear waste disposal. Commissioner Powelson worked very closely with NARUC leadership on aggressive pipeline safety standards with the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Prior to joining the Pennsylvania PUC, Powelson served as president of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. In 2005, he was selected by the Eisenhower Presidential Fellows to be a U.S. fellow in Singapore and Australia. His previous employment includes service as the director of Government Relations for the Delaware County Chamber and staff assistant to former Congressman Curt Weldon.  A native of Pennsylvania, Powelson is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University and received a Master of Governmental Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania.