David W. Sweet

David W. Sweet serves as Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). Vice Chairman Sweet was nominated by Governor Tom Wolf in 2016 to serve on the Public Utility Commission. In 2018, he was elected Vice Chairman of the PUC by his fellow commissioners. His term expires in April 2021.

A former partner at two Pennsylvania law firms, with extensive public sector experience as well, Vice Chairman Sweet brings a wealth of knowledge on issues related to energy and economic development, regulatory concerns, legislative advocacy and public finance. 

He previously served as a senior advisor to Governor Wolf, helping to shape and implement the Governor’s economic growth strategy for the Philadelphia region. He also served as the Governor’s designee on the Banking and Securities Commission.

During his years in private law practice, Vice Chairman Sweet focused on administrative and regulatory matters, legislative advocacy and public finance. He represented clients from large businesses to emerging companies to major universities. He presented cases before state and local agencies, boards and commissions, the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Executive Branch. 

In 2002, Vice Chairman Sweet served as Campaign Manager for Ed Rendell’s successful run for Pennsylvania governor and, subsequently, as Executive Director of Rendell’s transition team.

Throughout his career, in both public and project finance, David has served in such roles as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and special counsel, with financings totaling more than $3 billion. He also served as bond counsel or special counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA), the Commonwealth Finance Authority (CFA) and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. 

Other career highlights and honors include:

• Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (D., Washington County)—1977 to 1988 
• Chairman of the House Local Government Committee—1987 to 1988
• Chairman of Pennsylvania Governor Casey’s Commission on Corrections Planning
• Member of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry’s State Government Committee 
• Awarded the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania’s “Friend of County Government Commendation,” the highest award the association gives to a nonmember 
• Recognized by the Pennsylvania League of Cities, the Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Economic Development Association and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission

Vice Chairman Sweet earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1971, and a Juris Doctor from the Pennsylvania State University—Dickinson School of Law in 1981. Until recently he served on the boards of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. He was on the Board of Trustees at the University of Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2007.