Legislature(2019 - 2020)
2020-02-26 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2020-02-26 Senate Journal Page 1866 SB 123 The Senate Special Committee on the Railbelt Electric System considered SENATE BILL NO. 123 "An Act relating to the regulation of electric utilities and electric reliability organizations; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 123(RBE) "An Act relating to the creation and regulation of electric reliability organizations; relating to participation of electric utilities in electric reliability organizations; relating to duties of electric reliability organizations; providing for integrated resource planning; requiring project preapproval for certain interconnected large energy facilities; and providing for an effective date." and further recommended the adoption of a Senate Railbelt Electric System Committee Letter of Intent: Letter of Intent It is the intent of the Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature that under SB 123, reliability standards, electric reliability organization (ERO) tariff standards, planning terms, and project pre-approval requirements will ultimately apply across the entire interconnected Railbelt electric energy network. Broad application is necessary to achieve the desired efficiencies and reliability for Alaskans within the Railbelt. SB 123 does not in any way affect or change the existing relationship between the RCA and the Bradley Lake project agreements, contracts, and amendments exempt under AS 42.05.43l(c). It is, however, the intent of the Alaska State Legislature that after the Bradley Lake project debt is satisfied and the AS 42.05.431(c) exemption expires, those agreements, contracts, and amendments shall be subject to SB 123. 2020-02-26 Senate Journal Page 1867 Should Bradley Lake project agreements, contracts, and amendments receive a future extension of the AS 42.05.431(c) exemptions, the Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature urges consideration of the relationship between Bradley Lake and associated infrastructure and projects, the Railbelt network, and the electric reliability organization, and emphasizes the intent to subject all interconnected network users, owners, or operators to the reliability standards, an electric reliability organization tariff, planning, and project pre-approval requirements. Signing do pass: Senator Coghill, Chair; Senator Gray-Jackson. Signing no recommendation: Senator Micciche. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development The bill was referred to the Finance Committee.