00                      CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 307(FIN) am                                                                  
01 "An Act relating to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska; relating to regulation of                                      
02 public utilities, pipeline carriers, and liquefied natural gas import facilities; relating to                           
03 approval of wholesale power agreements; relating to preapproval for construction of                                     
04 energy facilities; relating to electric reliability organizations; relating to the taxation of                          
05 new electricity generation facilities; relating to the Alaska Energy Authority; relating to                             
06 the Railbelt Transmission Organization; requiring the Alaska Energy Authority to                                        
07 submit a report about issuing rate reduction bonds for financing transmission system                                    
08 upgrades; and providing for an effective date."                                                                         
09 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
10    * Section 1. AS 39.25.110(11) is amended to read:                                                                  
11                 (11)  the officers and employees of the following boards, commissions,                                  
12       and authorities:                                                                                                  
01                      (A)  [REPEALED]                                                                                    
02                      (B)  Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation;                                                            
03                      (C)  Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority;                                           
04                      (D)  Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission;                                                 
05                      (E)  Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education;                                                 
06                      (F)  Alaska Aerospace Corporation;                                                                 
07                      (G)  [REPEALED]                                                                                    
08                      (H)  Alaska Gasline Development Corporation and subsidiaries                                       
09            of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation;                                                               
10                      (I)  Alaska Energy Authority;                                                                  
11    * Sec. 2. AS 42.04.020(f) is amended to read:                                                                    
12 (f)  Members of the commission are in the exempt service and are entitled to a                                          
13 monthly salary equal to a step in Range 29 [RANGE 27] of the salary schedule in                                     
14 AS 39.27.011(a) for Juneau, Alaska. The chair of the commission is entitled to a                                        
15 monthly salary equal to a step in Range 29 [RANGE 27] of the salary schedule in                                     
16       AS 39.27.011(a) for Juneau, Alaska.                                                                               
17    * Sec. 3. AS 42.05.254(a) is amended to read:                                                                      
18 (a)  A regulated public utility or a certificated utility that provides                                                 
19 telecommunications services operating in the state shall pay to the commission an                                       
20 annual regulatory cost charge in an amount not to exceed the maximum percentage of                                      
21 adjusted gross revenue that applies to the utility sector of which the utility is a part.                               
22 The regulatory cost charges that the commission expects to collect from all regulated                                   
23 utilities and certificated utilities providing telecommunications services may not                                      
24 exceed the sum of the following percentages of the total adjusted gross revenue of all                                  
25 regulated public utilities and certificated utilities providing telecommunications                                      
26 services derived from operations in the state: (1) not more than .98 [.7] percent to fund                           
27 the operations of the commission, and (2) not more than .22 [.17] percent to fund                                   
28 operations of the public advocacy function under AS 42.04.070(c) and                                                    
29 AS 44.23.020(e) within the Department of Law. An exempt utility that does not                                           
30 provide telecommunications services shall pay the actual cost of services provided to                                   
31       it by the commission.                                                                                             
01    * Sec. 4. AS 42.05.381(e) is amended to read:                                                                      
02 (e)  The commission shall adopt regulations for electric cooperatives, [AND                                         
03 FOR] local exchange telephone utilities, and refuse utilities, setting a range for                                  
04 adjustment of rates by a simplified rate filing procedure. A cooperative, [OR]                                      
05 telephone utility, or refuse utility may apply for permission to adjust its rates over a                            
06 period of time under the simplified rate filing procedure regulations. The commission                                   
07 shall grant the application if the cooperative, [OR] telephone utility, or refuse utility                       
08 satisfies the requirements of the regulations. The commission shall adopt                                           
09 regulations specific to refuse utilities that provide for sufficient public notice and                              
10 an opportunity for ratepayers to meaningfully comment on rate filings. The                                          
11 commission may review implementation of the simplified rate filing procedure at                                         
12 reasonable intervals and may revoke permission to use the procedure or require                                          
13 modification of the rates to correct an error. In this subsection, "refuse utility"                                 
14 means a utility furnishing collection and disposal service of garbage, refuse,                                      
15       trash, or other waste material to the public for compensation.                                                
16    * Sec. 5. AS 42.05.381 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                               
17 (p)  A determination of whether an electric utility's rate is just and reasonable                                       
18 may consider whether the purpose of the rate is to increase diversity of supply,                                        
19       promote load growth, or enhance energy reliability or energy security.                                            
20 (q)  For rate-making purposes, the commission shall not consider the                                                    
21 investment of a public utility in a liquefied natural gas import facility as utility                                    
22 property, even if the liquefied natural gas import facility is exempt from regulation by                                
23       the commission. In this subsection,                                                                               
24 (1)  "investment" includes an investment in land used to connect to a                                                   
25 liquefied natural gas import facility used by the public utility to render service to the                               
26       public;                                                                                                           
27 (2)  "liquefied natural gas import facility" includes a facility used to receive or                                     
28 unload natural gas or to store, transport, gasify, liquefy, or process received or                                      
29       unloaded natural gas.                                                                                             
30    * Sec. 6. AS 42.05.431(b) is amended to read:                                                                      
31 (b)  A wholesale power agreement between public utilities, or between a                                             
01 public utility and an independent power producer, is subject to advance approval                                    
02 of the commission. A rate set in accordance with a wholesale power agreement                                        
03 must disclose a state or local tax exemption provided to a utility or independent                                   
04 power producer. After a wholesale power agreement is in effect, the commission                                      
05 may not invalidate any purchase or sale obligation under the agreement. However, if                                     
06 the commission finds that rates set in accordance with the agreement violate this                                   
07 subsection or are not just and reasonable, the commission may order the parties to                                  
08 negotiate an amendment to the agreement and if the parties fail to agree, to use the                                    
09 dispute resolution procedures contained in the contract. In this subsection,                                        
10 "independent power producer" means a legal entity, other than a public utility,                                     
11 that owns or operates a facility for the generation of electricity; "independent                                    
12 power producer" does not include a joint action agency established under                                            
13       AS 42.45.310.                                                                                                 
14    * Sec. 7. AS 42.05.431 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                              
15 (i)  Costs incurred by an electric cooperative utility organized under AS 10.25                                         
16 that participates in an electric reliability organization certificated by the commission                                
17 under AS 42.05.760 must be allowed in the rates charged by the utility if the costs are                                 
18 approved by the utility's board of directors in connection with a new or purchased                                      
19 renewable energy facility with a nameplate capacity of less than 15,000 kilowatts or                                    
20 power purchased from a renewable energy facility with a nameplate capacity of less                                      
21 than 15,000 kilowatts. In this subsection, "renewable energy facility" means a facility                                 
22 that generates electricity from renewable and alternative energy resources, including                                   
23       geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, hydrokinetic, tidal, and biomass energy.                                  
24    * Sec. 8. AS 42.05.711(b) is amended to read:                                                                      
25 (b)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, [AND IN] (o) of this                                          
26 section, and AS 44.83.700(d), public utilities owned and operated by a political                                    
27 subdivision of the state, or electric operating entities established as the instrumentality                             
28 of two or more public utilities owned and operated by political subdivisions of the                                     
29 state, are exempt from this chapter, other than AS 42.05.221 - 42.05.281 and                                            
30       42.05.385. However,                                                                                               
31 (1)  the governing body of a political subdivision may elect to be                                                      
01       subject to this chapter; and                                                                                      
02 (2)  a utility or electric operating entity that is owned and operated by a                                             
03 political subdivision and that directly competes with another utility or electric                                       
04 operating entity is subject to this chapter and any other utility or electric operating                                 
05 entity owned and operated by the political subdivision is also subject to this chapter;                                 
06 this paragraph does not apply to a utility or electric operating entity owned and                                       
07       operated by a political subdivision that competes with a telecommunications utility.                              
08    * Sec. 9. AS 42.05.760(a) is amended to read:                                                                      
09            (a)  An electric utility must participate in an electric reliability organization if                         
10 the utility operates in an interconnected electric energy transmission network served                                   
11 by an electric reliability organization certificated by the commission. The commission                                  
12 may not require an electric reliability organization for an interconnected bulk-electric                                
13       system if                                                                                                         
14 (1)  all of the load-serving entities operating in the interconnected bulk-                                         
15       electric system are exempt under AS 42.05.711(b); or                                                          
16 (2)  the sum of annual electric energy sales made by load-serving                                                   
17 entities operating in the interconnected bulk-electric system is less than 1,500,000                                
18       megawatt-hours.                                                                                               
19    * Sec. 10. AS 42.05.762 is amended to read:                                                                        
20 Sec. 42.05.762. Duties of an electric reliability organization. An electric                                           
21       reliability organization shall                                                                                  
22 (1)  develop reliability standards that provide for an adequate level of                                                
23       reliability of an interconnected electric energy transmission network;                                            
24                 (2)  develop integrated resource plans under AS 42.05.780(a);                                           
25                 (3)  establish rules to                                                                                 
26 (A)  ensure that the directors of the electric reliability                                                              
27 organization and the electric reliability organization act independently from                                           
28 users, owners, and operators of the interconnected electric energy transmission                                         
29            network;                                                                                                     
30 (B)  equitably allocate reasonable dues, fees, and other charges                                                        
31 among all load-serving entities connected to the interconnected electric energy                                         
01            transmission network for all activities under AS 42.05.760 - 42.05.790;                                      
02                      (C)  provide fair and impartial procedures for the enforcement                                     
03            of reliability standards;                                                                                    
04                      (D)  provide for reasonable notice and opportunity for public                                      
05            comment, due process, openness, and balancing of interests in exercising its                                 
06            duties; [AND]                                                                                                
07                 (4)  be governed by a board that                                                                        
08                      (A)  includes as nonvoting members the chair of the                                                
09            commission or the chair's designee and the attorney general or the attorney                                  
10            general's designee; and                                                                                      
11                      (B)  is formed as                                                                                  
12                           (i)  an independent board;                                                                    
13                           (ii)  a balanced stakeholder board; or                                                        
14 (iii)  a combination independent and balanced                                                                           
15                 stakeholder board; and                                                                              
16 (5)  prioritize the reliability, stability, and cost to consumers of the                                            
17 interconnected bulk-electric system served by the electric reliability organization                                 
18       while considering cost to the consumer.                                                                       
19    * Sec. 11. AS 42.05.770 is amended to read:                                                                        
20 Sec. 42.05.770. Regulations. The commission shall adopt regulations                                                   
21 governing electric reliability organizations, reliability standards, and modifications to                               
22 reliability standards consistent with this section. Regulations under AS 42.05.760 -                                    
23       42.05.790 must                                                                                                    
24                 (1)  require that an electric reliability organization's tariff include                                 
25 [(A)  STANDARDS FOR] nondiscriminatory standards for                                                                
26            [OPEN ACCESS TRANSMISSION AND] interconnection;                                                              
27 [(B)  STANDARDS FOR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM COST                                                                            
28            RECOVERY;]                                                                                                   
29 (2)  provide a process to identify and resolve conflicts between a                                                      
30 reliability standard and a function, rule, tariff, rate schedule, or agreement that has                                 
31       been accepted, approved, adopted, or ordered by the commission;                                                   
01 (3)  allow an electric reliability organization to recover its costs through                                            
02       surcharges added to the rate for each participating load-serving entity.                                          
03    * Sec. 12. AS 42.06.286(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
04 (a)  A pipeline carrier operating in the state shall pay to the commission an                                           
05 annual regulatory cost charge in an amount not to exceed the sum of the following                                       
06 percentages of gross revenue derived from operations in the state: (1) not more than                                    
07 .98 [.7] percent to fund the operations of the commission, and (2) not more than .22                            
08 [.17] percent to fund operations of the public advocacy function under                                                  
09 AS 42.04.070(c) and AS 44.23.020(e) within the Department of Law. A regulatory                                          
10 cost charge may not be assessed on pipeline carrier operations unless the operations                                    
11       are within the jurisdiction of the commission.                                                                    
12    * Sec. 13. AS 43.98 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
13            Article 2A. Taxation of New Electricity Generation Facilities.                                             
14 Sec. 43.98.100. Taxation of new electricity generation facilities. An                                                 
15 electricity generation facility that is constructed and placed into service on or after                                 
16 July 1, 2024, is not subject to state and local ad valorem, income, and excise taxes if                                 
17 the electricity generation facility provides power only to a public utility. In this                                    
18       section, "public utility" has the meaning given in AS 42.05.990.                                                  
19    * Sec. 14. AS 44.83.030 is amended to read:                                                                        
20 Sec. 44.83.030. Membership of the authority. The members of the board of                                          
21       directors of the authority [ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY] are                                                      
22                 (1)  the commissioner of revenue;                                                                   
23 (2)  the commissioner of commerce, community, and economic                                                          
24       development; and                                                                                              
25                 (3)  six public members appointed by the governor as follows:                                       
26 (A)  one member with expertise or experience in managing                                                            
27 or operating an electric utility that is not connected to an interconnected                                         
28            electric energy transmission network as defined in AS 42.05.790;                                         
29 (B)  one member with expertise or experience in developing                                                          
30            energy projects in rural communities;                                                                    
31 (C)  one member with expertise or experience in managing                                                            
01            or operating an electric utility connected to an interconnected electric                                 
02            energy transmission network as defined in AS 42.05.790;                                                  
03                      (D)  one member with financial expertise in large power                                        
04            generation project development; and                                                                      
05 (E)  two members with expertise or experience in finance,                                                           
06 energy policy, energy technology, engineering, law, or economics [THE                                               
07 MEMBERS OF THE ALASKA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND                                                                        
08            EXPORT AUTHORITY].                                                                                         
09    * Sec. 15. AS 44.83.030 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                              
10 (b)  If the commissioner described in (a)(1) or (2) of this section is unable to                                        
11 attend a meeting of the authority, the commissioner may, by an instrument in writing                                    
12 filed with the authority, designate a deputy or director to act in the commissioner's                                   
13 place as a member of the board at the meeting. For all purposes of this chapter, the                                    
14       designee is a member of the board at the meeting.                                                                 
15 (c)  Public board members described in (a)(3) of this section serve for three-                                          
16       year terms.                                                                                                       
17 (d)  If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, the governor shall                                             
18       immediately appoint a member for the unexpired portion of the term.                                               
19    * Sec. 16. AS 44.83.040(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
20 (a)  The board of directors of the authority shall elect a chair and vice-chair                                     
21 every two years from among its members [OF THE ALASKA INDUSTRIAL                                                    
22 DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT AUTHORITY SHALL SERVE AS OFFICERS                                                                
23 OF THE ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY]. The powers of the authority                                                        
24 [ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY] are vested in the board of directors, and five                                        
25 board members [FOUR DIRECTORS OF THE AUTHORITY] constitute a quorum.                                                
26 Action may be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the authority                                            
27 [ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY] at a meeting by the affirmative vote of at least                                          
28 five board members [A MAJORITY OF THE DIRECTORS]. The members of the                                            
29 board of directors of the authority [ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY] serve                                             
30 without compensation, but they shall receive the same travel pay and per diem as                                        
31       provided by law for board members under AS 39.20.180.                                                             
01    * Sec. 17. AS 44.83.040 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                             
02 (e)  The authority may, as the authority considers advisable, appoint persons as                                        
03 officers, including an executive director, and employ professional advisors, counsel,                                   
04 technical experts, agents, and other employees. The executive director and employees                                    
05       of the authority are in the exempt service under AS 39.25.                                                        
06    * Sec. 18. AS 44.83.080 is amended to read:                                                                        
07            Sec. 44.83.080. Powers of the authority. In furtherance of its corporate                                   
08       purposes, the authority has the following powers in addition to its other powers:                                 
09                 (1)  to sue and be sued;                                                                                
10                 (2)  to have a seal and alter it at pleasure;                                                           
11 (3)  to make and alter bylaws for its organization and internal                                                         
12       management;                                                                                                       
13 (4)  to adopt regulations governing the exercise of its corporate powers;                                               
14 (5)  to improve, equip, operate, and maintain power projects and bulk                                                   
15 fuel, waste energy, energy conservation, energy efficiency, and alternative energy                                      
16       facilities and equipment;                                                                                         
17 (6)  to issue bonds to carry out any of its corporate purposes and                                                      
18 powers, including the establishment or increase of reserves to secure or to pay the                                     
19 bonds or interest on them, and the payment of all other costs or expenses of the                                        
20 authority incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes                                   
21       and powers;                                                                                                       
22 (7)  to sell, lease as lessor or lessee, exchange, donate, convey, or                                                   
23 encumber in any manner by mortgage or by creation of any other security interest, real                                  
24 or personal property owned by it, or in which it has an interest, when, in the judgment                                 
25       of the authority, the action is in furtherance of its corporate purposes;                                         
26 (8)  to accept gifts, grants, or loans from, and enter into contracts or                                                
27       other transactions regarding them, with any person;                                                               
28 (9)  to deposit or invest its funds, subject to agreements with                                                         
29       bondholders;                                                                                                      
30 (10)  to enter into contracts with the United States or any person and,                                                 
31 subject to the laws of the United States and subject to concurrence of the legislature,                                 
01 with a foreign country or its agencies, for the construction, financing, operation, and                                 
02 maintenance of all or any part of a power project or bulk fuel, waste energy, energy                                    
03 conservation, energy efficiency, or alternative energy facilities or equipment, either                                  
04 inside or outside the state, and for the sale or transmission of power from a project or                                
05 any right to the capacity of it or for the security of any bonds of the authority issued or                             
06       to be issued for the project;                                                                                     
07 (11)  to enter into contracts with any person and with the United States                                                
08 and, subject to the laws of the United States and subject to the concurrence of the                                     
09 legislature, with a foreign country or its agencies for the purchase, sale, exchange,                                   
10       transmission, or use of power from a project, or any right to the capacity of it;                                 
11 (12)  to apply to the appropriate agencies of the state, the United States,                                             
12 and a foreign country and any other proper agency for the permits, licenses, or                                         
13 approvals as may be necessary, to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate power                                       
14 projects in accordance with the licenses or permits, and to obtain, hold, and use the                                   
15       licenses and permits in the same manner as any other person or operating unit;                                    
16 (13)  to enter into contracts or agreements with respect to the exercise                                                
17 of any of its powers, and do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its                                        
18       corporate purposes and exercise the powers granted in this chapter;                                               
19                 (14)  to recommend to the legislature                                                                   
20 (A)  the pledge of the credit of the state to guarantee repayment                                                       
21 of all or any portion of revenue bonds issued to assist in construction of power                                        
22            projects;                                                                                                    
23                      (B)  an appropriation from the general fund                                                        
24 (i)  for debt service on bonds or other project purposes;                                                               
25                 or                                                                                                      
26 (ii)  to reduce the amount of debt financing for the                                                                    
27                 project;                                                                                                
28 (15)  to carry out the powers and duties assigned to it under AS 42.45                                                  
29       and AS 44.83.700 - 44.83.720;                                                                                 
30 (16)  to make grants or loans to any person and enter into contracts or                                                 
31       other transactions regarding the grants or loans;                                                                 
01                 (17)  to promote energy conservation, energy efficiency, and alternative                                
02       energy through training and public education;                                                                     
03                 (18)  to acquire a Susitna River power project, whether by construction,                                
04       purchase, gift, or lease, including the acquisition of property rights and interests by                           
05       eminent domain under AS 09;                                                                                       
06                 (19)  to perform feasibility studies and engineering and design with                                    
07       respect to power projects;                                                                                    
08                 (20)  to acquire battery and other energy storage systems, whether                                  
09       by direct ownership, purchase, grant, gift, or lease.                                                         
10    * Sec. 19. AS 44.83.090(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
11 (b)  The authority is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Regulatory                                                 
12 Commission of Alaska, except as provided in AS 44.83.700(d). Nothing in this                                        
13 chapter, except as provided in AS 44.83.700 - 44.83.720, grants the authority                                       
14 jurisdiction over the services or rates of a public utility or diminishes or otherwise                                  
15 alters the jurisdiction of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska with respect to a public                                 
16 utility, including any right the commission may have to review and approve or                                           
17 disapprove contracts for the purchase of electricity by a public utility other than                                     
18       wholesale agreements and contracts described in AS 42.05.431(c)(1).                                               
19    * Sec. 20. AS 44.83 is amended by adding new sections to read:                                                     
20                 Article 5A. Railbelt Transmission Organization.                                                       
21 Sec. 44.83.700. Railbelt Transmission Organization. (a) The Railbelt                                                  
22 Transmission Organization is created for the purpose of establishing an open access                                     
23       transmission tariff that                                                                                          
24 (1)  provides for recovery of transmission costs and related ancillary                                                  
25       services; and                                                                                                     
26 (2)  replaces wholesale charges assessed by unit by each utility in the                                                 
27 Railbelt with a new mechanism that fairly recovers and equitably allocates the costs of                                 
28       operating the backbone transmission system                                                                        
29 (b)  For administrative purposes, the transmission organization is a division of                                        
30       the Alaska Energy Authority.                                                                                      
31 (c)  To assist in administering the open access transmission tariff, the                                                
01 governance structure for the transmission organization must be made up of                                               
02 representatives from the authority, each of the Railbelt utilities, and, as an ex officio                               
03 nonvoting representative, the chief executive officer of the applicable electric                                        
04       reliability organization.                                                                                         
05 (d)  Notwithstanding AS 42.05.711(b) and AS 44.83.090(b), the transmission                                              
06 organization is subject to the jurisdiction of the commission for the purposes of                                       
07 AS 44.83.700 - 44.83.720. The commission shall require the transmission organization                                    
08       to file tariffs to achieve the purposes of AS 44.83.700 - 44.83.720.                                            
09 Sec. 44.83.710. Revenue mechanism. (a) The transmission organization shall                                            
10 hold and administer a commission-approved open access transmission tariff that                                          
11       ensures nondiscriminatory access to the backbone transmission system.                                             
12 (b)  The transmission organization shall file with the commission a                                                     
13 transmission cost recovery methodology that ensures the reliability and sufficient                                      
14 capacity of the backbone transmission system to support and promote state and                                           
15 regional energy policies and a rigorous, dynamic economy. If the transmission                                           
16 organization does not file a transmission cost recovery methodology with the                                            
17 commission on or before July 1, 2025, the commission shall, after notice and                                            
18 opportunity for public comment, establish a transmission cost recovery methodology                                      
19       consistent with this section.                                                                                     
20 (c)  The cost recovery methodology for the transmission organization must, as                                           
21       approved by the commission,                                                                                       
22 (1)  pool backbone transmission system costs and allocate those costs                                                   
23 through certificated load-serving entities on a coincident peak or load ratio share basis,                              
24       or a combination of both; and                                                                                     
25                 (2)  account for                                                                                        
26                      (A)  required backbone transmission system ancillary services;                                     
27                      (B)  backbone transmission system congestion;                                                      
28 (C)  disruptions to the backbone transmission system that result                                                        
29 in the isolation of one geographical area of the backbone transmission system                                           
30            from another for more than 24 hours; and                                                                     
31 (D)  costs to own and operate the backbone transmission                                                                 
01            system, as established by the commission or by contract, including                                           
02            transmission costs associated with the Bradley Lake hydroelectric project.                                   
03            (d)  A Railbelt utility shall pass the commission-approved transmission costs                                
04       directly and transparently to the utility's customers.                                                            
05            Sec. 44.83.720. Definitions. In AS 44.83.700 - 44.83.720,                                                  
06                 (1)  "backbone transmission system" means the transmission assets in                                    
07       the Railbelt that facilitate the transmission of electrical power under the standards                             
08       established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;                                                          
09                 (2)  "commission" means the Regulatory Commission of Alaska;                                            
10 (3)  "Railbelt" means the geographic region from the Kenai Peninsula                                                    
11       to Interior Alaska that is connected to a common electric transmission backbone;                                  
12 (4)  "Railbelt utility" means a public electric utility certificated to                                                 
13       operate in the Railbelt that operates backbone transmission system assets;                                        
14 (5)  "transmission organization" means the Railbelt Transmission                                                        
15       Organization established by AS 44.83.700.                                                                         
16    * Sec. 21. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
17 read:                                                                                                                   
18 REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. (a) The Alaska Energy Authority shall, by                                                    
19 January 1, 2025, submit a report to the legislature that                                                                
20 (1)  evaluates the feasibility of establishing the Railbelt Transmission                                                
21 Organization created by AS 44.83.700, added by sec. 20 of this Act, as a special purpose                                
22 entity to issue long-term rate reduction bonds to finance the costs of upgrading and repairing                          
23 transmission infrastructure that supports the backbone transmission system, as defined in                               
24 AS 44.83.720, added by sec. 20 of this Act;                                                                             
25 (2)  recommends methods for using a competitive transition charge to retire                                             
26 long-term rate reduction bonds; and                                                                                     
27 (3)  identifies further aspects of a statutory framework needed for rate                                                
28 reduction bonds, including recommended statutory provisions.                                                            
29 (b)  The Alaska Energy Authority shall submit the report required                                                       
30 under (a) of this section to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of                                   
31       representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available.                                          
01    * Sec. 22. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
02 read:                                                                                                                   
03 TRANSITION: ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBERS.                                                                      
04 Notwithstanding AS 44.83.030(c), added by sec. 15 of this Act, the governor shall appoint                               
05 two public members of the initial Alaska Energy Authority board of directors to one-year                                
06 terms, two public members to two-year terms, and two public members to three-year terms.                                
07    * Sec. 23. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
08 read:                                                                                                                   
09       TRANSITION: RAILBELT TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION. The Railbelt                                                      
10 utilities, as defined in AS 44.83.720, added by sec. 20 of this Act, shall form the Railbelt                            
11 Transmission Organization under AS 44.83.700, added by sec. 20 of this Act, on or before                                
12 January 1, 2025, modeled after the governance structure of the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric                               
13 Project, as outlined in the Bradley Lake Power Sales Agreement, including the creation,                                 
14 duties, and methods of the Bradley Lake Project Management Committee, with any                                          
15 adjustments the parties to the agreement determine are necessary. On or before January 1,                               
16 2025, the Railbelt Transmission Organization shall file with the Regulatory Commission of                               
17 Alaska a certificate under AS 42.05.221 to achieve the purposes of AS 44.83.700 - 44.83.720,                            
18 added by sec. 20 of this Act.                                                                                           
19    * Sec. 24. Sections 4, 5, and 21 of this Act take effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).                        
20    * Sec. 25. Except as provided in sec. 24 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2024.