Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

Ken Freeman, Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

House Committee To Address Regulation of

Collection and Disposal Utilities in Alaska

For Immediate Release: March 6, 1997 Contact: Rep. Jeannette James (907) 465-3743 or 1-800-565-3743

JUNEAU - The House Labor and Commerce Committee Friday will discuss legislation seeking to delete the authority of the Alaska Public Utilities Commission (APUC) to regulate garbage service in the State of Alaska.

The House Labor and Commerce Committee will meet March 7 at 3:15 p.m. in room 17 of the state capitol.

HB 161, recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jeannette James (R-North Pole), seeks to delete the authority of the (APUC) to regulate the furnishing of collection and disposal service of garbage in Alaska.

Representative James said according to the APUC, Alaska appears to be one of the few states that regulates this type of utility on a partial state-wide basis.

"As a State Representative I have been involved in two constituent attempts at regulation of garbage monopolies by the APUC, wherein the APUC were/are unable to deal with garbage utilities in a timely manner due to problems such as APUC personnel, commissioner turnover and mandates related to telecommunications issues," said James. "Perhaps the APUC simply does not have the time, interest, or money to properly regulate this class of utility."

"I offer House Bill 161 as a beginning point to encourage an open discussion on this issue and hopefully to provide solutions resolving what appears to be an ongoing concern," said James.

"HB 161 seeks to evaluate if garbage rates should be under local control to discourage the current monolopy system. Competition is healthy, and should be encouraged whenever possible," said Rep. James.

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