Regulatory Commission of Alaska

• Detected Jul 13, 2026

  Bob PickettDeparture

  Bob Pickett departed from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

• Mar 11, 2026

  Julie C. VoglerAppointment

  Julie C. Vogler was appointed to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

Address

701 West 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501-3469

Phone

(907) 276-6222Fax (907) 276-0160

Website

rca.alaska.gov ↗

Utility landscape

• Chugach Electric Association coop

  Anchorage bowl and surrounding communities including Eagle River, Girdwood, and portions of the Kenai Peninsula

  Chugach is Alaska's largest electric utility by customers and has been navigating post-merger integration following its 2021 acquisition of ML&P from the Municipality of Anchorage. Rate proceedings have focused on cost recovery for infrastructure upgrades and natural gas supply volatility impacts.

• Enstar Natural Gas Company IOU

  Southcentral Alaska including Anchorage, Mat-Su Valley, and Kenai Peninsula

  Enstar, a subsidiary of SEMCO Energy, is Alaska's only natural gas distribution IOU and faces sustained regulatory scrutiny over gas supply security as Cook Inlet production declines. The RCA has pressed Enstar on long-term supply contracts and LNG import contingency planning.

• Golden Valley Electric Association coop

  Interior Alaska including Fairbanks, North Pole, Delta Junction, and surrounding communities

  GVEA operates largely off the Railbelt grid interconnection and has pursued renewable integration including the Eva Creek wind project. High fuel costs and diesel dependency in outlying areas continue to drive rate pressure, and GVEA is a key participant in Railbelt reliability and transmission planning discussions.

• Municipality of Anchorage (Municipal Light & Power legacy assets via Chugach) muni

  Anchorage urban core — assets transferred to Chugach Electric Association in 2021; MLP no longer operates as a standalone utility

  Following the completed merger, the RCA closed out remaining ML&P dockets and monitors Chugach's compliance with merger conditions, including rate integration commitments made to Anchorage ratepayers through 2025 and beyond.

• Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) coop

  Approximately 58 rural and remote Alaskan villages, primarily in western and interior Alaska

  AVEC is the largest rural electric cooperative in the U.S. by geographic coverage and relies heavily on the PCE (Power Cost Equalization) program to maintain affordable rates. Diesel fuel cost volatility and renewable diesel/wind-diesel hybrid project development are central to recent RCA filings.

• Homer Electric Association coop

  Southern Kenai Peninsula including Homer, Soldotna, Kenai, and surrounding communities

  HEA is an active participant in Railbelt Energy Fund and Susitna-Watana hydroelectric feasibility discussions. It has filed for rate adjustments tied to transmission infrastructure investments and natural gas cost pass-through mechanisms in recent years.

Key issues

• Railbelt grid reliability and transmission planning: The RCA continues oversight of the Railbelt Reliability Council and associated transmission planning efforts connecting Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Kenai Peninsula, with open questions about cost allocation among Chugach, GVEA, HEA, and MEA for Railbelt backbone upgrades.
• Cook Inlet natural gas supply crisis: Declining Cook Inlet basin production threatens Southcentral Alaska's gas supply for both electric generation and Enstar distribution; the RCA has active proceedings examining supply diversification requirements, LNG import terminal feasibility, and whether utilities are taking prudent steps to secure long-term supply contracts.
• Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program sustainability: With rural diesel prices remaining elevated, the PCE endowment fund faces long-term adequacy concerns; the RCA is engaged in proceedings touching on renewable energy substitution credits and whether hybrid renewable projects qualify for PCE offsets to reduce program draws.
• Renewable energy integration and the Railbelt Energy Fund: Utilities are seeking RCA approval for cost recovery of wind, solar, and battery storage projects under the Renewable Energy Grant Program and Railbelt Energy Fund; proceedings involve disputed avoided-cost methodologies and interconnection standards.
• Broadband and utility infrastructure pole attachment rates: The RCA has seen increased filings related to pole attachment and conduit access disputes as federal broadband funding (BEAD program) flows into Alaska, requiring regulatory coordination between electric utilities and telecommunications providers over joint-use infrastructure access and rates.

Upcoming

• 2026-09-15

  Estimated deadline for Enstar Natural Gas Company to file updated long-term gas supply security plan in response to RCA order issued in ongoing Cook Inlet supply docket; regulatory attorneys should monitor for supply contract disclosures and LNG contingency cost estimates.

• 2026-10-01

  Estimated Railbelt Reliability Council annual reliability report submission to RCA; expected to include updated transmission needs assessment and proposed cost allocation framework for Railbelt backbone investments — key input for pending utility rate cases.

• 2026-11-12

  Estimated hearing date in Chugach Electric Association general rate case (anticipated filing mid-2026); proceeding expected to address post-ML&P merger rate integration, capital cost recovery for substation upgrades, and renewable energy procurement pass-through mechanisms.

• 2027-01-30

  Estimated RCA decision deadline on AVEC renewable energy tariff modification docket seeking PCE-compatible crediting for wind-diesel hybrid output in qualifying villages; outcome will set precedent for rural cooperative renewable project cost recovery statewide.