Exhibit 23(a)

                     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

                 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm



           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-87218) of
our report dated March 30, 2009 relating to the financial statements, which
appears in the PHL Variable Insurance Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2008. We also consent to the reference to us under
the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Hartford, Connecticut
April 17, 2009