2024-02-09                     House Journal                      Page 1460
HB 313                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 313 by the House Rules Committee by Request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the calculation of the regulatory cost charge                                                          
     for public utilities and pipeline carriers; and providing for an                                                           
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and                                                                
Finance Committees.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic                                                                             
     Development                                                                                                                

2024-02-09                     House Journal                      Page 1461
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 8 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Tilton:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill to increase the statutory cap for                                                        
the regulatory cost charge established to fund the activities of the                                                            
Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) and the Department of                                                                     
Law's Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy unit. The regulatory                                                               
cost charge is charged to regulated pipeline carriers and public utilities                                                      
providing telecommunications services, natural gas and storage,                                                                 
electricity, steam heat, water and wastewater, and refuse.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Passage of this bill will allow the RCA to continue its important                                                               
mission without requiring additional State funding. Currently, the                                                              
RCA is operating near its statutory cap and would potentially need                                                              
additional appropriations in the future to continue its regulation and                                                          
rate setting activities. Increasing the regulatory cost charge allows the                                                       
RCA to continue to function based on the funds collected from                                                                   
regulatory entities.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"