SolarCity appoints Jon Wellinghoff as chief policy officer

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Wellinghoff joins SolarCity as the former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and general counsel of the Nevada Public Utilities Comission. Source: Stoel Rives LLP

SolarCity announced yesterday that Jon Wellinghoff, former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), is joining the company as chief policy officer.

Wellinghoff’s primary responsibilities will revolve around federal and state policy advisory and overseeing the regulatory and legislative affairs of the company. With FERC, which has sole jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales and wholesale rates, Wellinghoff campaigned efforts to transition solar and wind resources into wholesale electric markets.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

SolarCity, one of the chief installers of residential solar systems in the US, continues to observe the ongoing debate over net-metering. The notable controversy in California stems from the state’s new iteration of the scheme which seeks to adequately match load with demand, alongside ratepayers accounting for interconnection fees. Some privately owned utilities have appealed the case to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

Similarly, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission’s (NPUC) recent decision to triple the fixed charges customers were to pay over the next four years, and reduce the credit received for excess power generation by three-quarters, was met with trepidation.

Wellinghoff himself previously served as general counsel at the NPUC and served two terms as the State of Nevada’s first advocate for customers of public utilities. As a known consumer advocate, he will be able to bring this expertise to SolarCity; allowing the company to seek out opportunities to partner with utilities whilst simultaneously ensuring rooftop PV reaps the full benefits to ratepayers.

Wellinghoff has previously been outspoken about solar and the issue of net metering, including the opinion that net metering should be more closely tied to time-of-use.

In other news, SolarCity also announced yesterday that it had closed the second financing within its renewable energy tax equity investment programme with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and another investor for US$188 million in residential solar projects.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

September 4, 2025
Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to accelerate the permitting of energy generation projects that could be set to lose IRA support.
September 4, 2025
US polysilicon company Highland Materials has aimed to begin construction at its polysilicon plant in the second half of 2026.
Premium
September 4, 2025
Analysis: A Biden-era policy to suspend the payment of duties on Southeast Asian module imports looks set to backfire badly on an already under-pressure US solar industry.
Premium
September 4, 2025
PV Talk: Highland Materials' CEO Richard Rast explains how the company aims to compete in the polysilicon landscape through US innovation.
September 4, 2025
US tracker manufacturer FTC Solar has launched an automated 80 degree hail stow angle for its flagship 1P Pioneer tracker.
September 3, 2025
US residential solar prices have remained at historic lows in the first half of the year despite market uncertainty and continued high interest rates.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines