Public Input Needed in Rulemaking Process

On  May 18^th, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) issued an Order announcing a technical conference on Wednesday, June 3^rd at 9:30 am to kick-off the important process of creating rules that will flesh out newly passed landmark electric grid reform legislation for the Railbelt.

Read the order here

Senate Bill 123 mandates several important changes to the Railbelt electric grid that people have been striving to make for almost 40 years. The legislation will ensure that the Railbelt will develop a new, regional entity called an electric reliability organization, or “ERO”. All six Railbelt utilities, and other users of the grid, will be required to participate in the ERO. The ERO will develop regional reliability standards, non-discriminatory interconnection protocols and cost-recovery mechanisms for the use of the transmission system. The ERO will also create integrated resource plans (IRPs) that will help determine what new generation and transmission projects are built in the Railbelt over the coming decades.

The legislation also gives the RCA new authorities to certify applicants that wish to become the ERO, approve IRPs and approve all new, large transmission and generation projects that are proposed. 

Anyone can participate in this public process by submitting comments, and attending meetings such as the upcoming technical conference on Wednesday, June 3. Your voice counts! If you wish to attend the virtual meeting on June 3, please email the RCA at LOA.RCA@alaska.gov to request an invitation to the teleconference. 

If you have any questions, please email REAP Executive Chris Rose at chris@realaska.org and he will try to answer them. After 40 years of efforts, this rulemaking process will have a crucial impact on the way Alaskans produce and consume energy for many years to come. Please participate!