Legislature(1999 - 2000)
1999-05-13 House Journal
Full Journal pdf1999-05-13 House Journal Page 1378 SB 133 The Finance Committee has considered: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 133(RLS) am "An Act creating and relating to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and transferring to it certain powers and duties of the Alaska Public Utilities Commission; repealing the Alaska Public Utilities Commission; relating to the powers of the chair of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; relating to regulatory cost charges for public utilities and pipelines; relating to the appellate procedures of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; relating to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 133(FIN) (same title) The report was signed by Representatives Therriault and Mulder, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: 1999-05-13 House Journal Page 1379 SB 133 Do pass (7): Therriault, Mulder, Kohring, Austerman, Davies, Williams, Foster No recommendation (2): Bunde, Grussendorf A House Finance Committee letter of intent for HCS CSSB 133(FIN), signed by Representatives Therriault and Mulder, Co-chairs, appears below: "SB 133 repeals the Alaska Public Utilities Commission and creates the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. In making this change to public utility regulation, it is the intent of the Legislature to respond to recommendations in legislative audits conducted in 1979, 1985 and 1989, and an audit performed by the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) in 1998. The task of regulating public utilities has changed dramatically as the utility industry has moved from total regulation to regulated competition. The 21st Alaska Legislature is creating the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to address these changes in the utility industry on behalf of the people of the state of Alaska. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska is better equipped than the APUC to respond to industry proposals for changes in utility services, and to protect the interests of ratepayers in the wake of these changes. SB 133 gives the chair authority over administrative matters, leaving the other commissioners free to resolve substantive issues. To address the problem of the APUC's case backlog and time-consuming decision-making process, SB 133 allows panels of three commissioners, hearing officers or arbitrators to resolve cases where appropriate. It also requires the RCA to adopt regulations setting procedural timelines. To address the problems created by changing APUC staffs role between advocate and advisor, it establishes a separate public advocacy section within the RCA. SB 133 will improve this agency's accountability to the public. The RCA is required to establish a Management Information System, similar to the Legislature's BASIS system so that the public and industry can be better informed about the RCA's proceedings. It requires the RCA to implement a time management system to record the amount of time spent on filings from different industries, so that the Regulatory Cost Charge can be more fairly assessed. 1999-05-13 House Journal Page 1380 SB 133 This year is an opportune time to make these changes. The Alaska Public Utilities Commission would begin winding down on June 30, 1999 under the sunset law. SB 133 requires the governor to appoint, and the Legislature to confirm, five commissioners who will represent the interests of the public. SB 133 provides for a study of the possibility of combining the functions of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. The results of a study by the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee will be presented to the next session of this Legislature. If the Legislature decides to combine the two agencies functions, the challenge of making that transition will be significantly eased by the creation and operating experience of the RCA under SB 133." The following fiscal notes apply to HCS CSSB 133(FIN): Fiscal note, Dept. of Commerce & Economic Development, 5/13/99 Fiscal note, Dept. of Administration, 5/13/99 CSSB 133(RLS) am was referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar.