05/11/1999 02:00 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 183                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
"An Act relating to the powers and duties of the chair                                                                          
of the Alaska Public Utilities Commission; relating to                                                                          
membership on the Alaska Public Utilities Commission;                                                                           
and relating to the annual report of the Alaska Public                                                                          
Utilities Commission."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
WALT WILCOX, STAFF, HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON UTILITY                                                                          
RESTURCTURING provided information on HB 183. He noted that                                                                     
HB 183 is similar to SB 133, with the exception of a clause,                                                                    
which placed a limitation of no more than two commissioners                                                                     
from the same political party. He added that HB 183 did not                                                                     
deal with the AOGCC. House Bill 183 would have established                                                                      
ethics standards for members of the APUC. The advocacy issue                                                                    
was not addressed in HB 183. He maintained that the balance                                                                     
of HB 183 fits nicely into SB 133. In response to a question                                                                    
by Representative J. Davies, he also observed that HB 183                                                                       
did not provide a raise for the chair. The general idea of                                                                      
accountability and responsibility is accomplished in SB 133.                                                                    
This was also a goal of the Utility Restructuring Committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB 183 was heard and HELD in Committee for further                                                                              
consideration.