Anthony M. Rachal III

Biography

Anthony M. Rachal III concentrates his practice in civil and commercial matters, with specialties in energy, oil, natural gas, telecom, transportation, and other utilities areas. Mr. Rachal has appeared before the District of Columbia Public Service Commission as Counsel of Record for the American Petroleum Institute in electric rate matters and District of Columbia Taxicab Companies in rate proceedings. Mr. Rachal is familiar with the issues of effective deregulation, because while in private practice, he was involved with the passage of major legislation which deregulated commercial lines of insurance in the District of Columbia.

While with the D.C. Department of Transportation, Mr. Rachal worked with the Director Doug Schneider in developing litigation strategy for rate matters involving District of Columbia street lights. While serving as Chairman of the WMATA Budget Committee, Mr. Rachal had oversight review of the electric rates and infrastructure cost factors involved with electrical energy usage and rates charged Metrorail.

Mr. Rachal is a former Commissioner of the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (2002-2006), where he was one of three appointed commissioners who regulate natural gas, electric and telecommunications providers and services in the District of Columbia. Mr. Rachal was active in setting policy and establishing regulations to implement these policies as they relate to utilities. As part of the Mid-Atlantic Regulatory Commissioners’ organization for the States of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and U.S. Virgin Islands, Mr. Rachal served as Chair of the Electric Committee. He has participated on numerous electric and telecom policy panels regarding regulatory issues nationwide.

Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Mr. Rachal was in private practice serving as Counsel of Record to various commercial clients, including several Fortune 500 corporations, such as BP Amoco Oil Corp. and Exxon Corp., and he represents clients before the D.C. Public Service Commission. He was also Assistant Director, Office of Mass Transportation, for the D.C. Department of Transportation and Chief Legislative Counsel and Staff Director to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment with the appointed D.C. City Council and the first elected Council of the District of Columbia. This Council Committee was responsible for the passage of all legislation regarding public transportation, highway and transit construction.

He served as a member of the Board of Directors of WMATA (Metro) 1992-1995; served as Chairman of Metro’s Operations Committee for Bus and Rail and oversaw board approval of the annual million dollar plus service levels for both bus and rail programs; appointed Vice-Chairman of both Metro’s Budget Committee and Rail Capital Committee and oversaw the construction of the final section of the Metrorail Green Line and Metrobus Garage rebuilding project. Mr. Rachal was also a member of the D.C. Gasoline Station Advisory Board (GSAB), with oversight for conversion of full-service stations to gas only facilities throughout the District of Columbia.

Mr. Rachal presently acts as General Counsel to the D.C. Teachers Federal Credit Union and other commercial entities, including Washington Regional Transportation Companies. He was a member of the Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council, New Mexico State University; NARUC Committee on Electricity; MACRUS Electricity Committee; as well as a member of the American and Washington Bar Associations.

Mr. Rachal earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.S., Accounting and Economics, from Xavier University of Louisiana. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, D.C. Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.
• Xavier University of Louisiana, B.S., Accounting and Economics

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia
• D.C. Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court, District of Columbia

In the News

• 2/22/2012 - GSH Welcomes Anthony M. Rachal III