SB 157-REG. COST CHARGES: UTILITIES/PIPELINES  CHAIR CON BUNDE announced SB 157 to be up for consideration. KATHY GIARD, Executive Director, Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), commented that she was asked in the previous meeting on this bill how much more a ratepayer would pay to fund the proposed information technology (IT) projects and the RCA estimated that a typical ratepayer with three regulated services would pay up to $6.48 more over a three-year period or about $2 a year. A second question is how the RCA plans to phase in those IT projects. First, Ms. Giard said, it is important that the RCA do these projects to address the complaints and concerns that have been expressed. The goal is to have them substantially completed before 2007 when the sunset provision takes effect. She explained that the commission discussed the temporary rate increase from .7 percent to .9 percent and reducing it back to .685 rather than 7 percent. She related that AWWU deregulation and moving RAPA to the Attorney General's office removed a substantial portion of the RCA's revenues and her workforce will be reduced by eight employees on May 2. 1:49:41 PM SENATOR RALPH SEEKINS joined the committee. MS. GIARD continued explaining that the Governor's office suggested bringing the rate back to .7 percent just in case costs do increase. She is not certain of what the RCA's revenue streams are going to be in the future. 1:52:39 PM The way the IT projects are going to be implemented is to do those projects which will provide the RCA internally with the best ability to quickly get to a higher level of performance in the management of dockets. Her priority would be to move forward with putting the case management system in place, which tracks staff resources and that will indicate whether she is over or under-staffed and will provide the docket tracking mechanism. Then she would put in the electronic filing project that contains the electronic content management system for the utilities, which will allow her to update the web portal and website. MS. GIARD said, "The entire project will span three years; the majority of the work will be performed in FY 2006 and early 2007 with the goal of coming to you in January for sunset saying, 'We've addressed these problems.' " 1:54:54 PM SENATOR ELLIS said he thought this action was necessary, but at the same time wanted to be cognizant of people with fixed incomes. MS. GIARD gave her word that she would be cognizant of that issue. 1:56:34 PM ERIC YOULD, Executive Director, Alaska Power Association, supported SB 157. He said the revenue from temporarily raising the RCC would benefit both the agency and consumers. CHAIR BUNDE closed public testimony. 1:59:13 PM SENATOR STEVENS moved CSSB 157(L&C) from committee with individual recommendations. Senators Davis, Ellis, Ben Stevens and Chair Bunde voted yea; and CSSB 157(L&C) moved from committee.