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Session: State Capitol, Room 107 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4993 Fax: (907) 465-3872 Send E-Mail Interim: 716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 500 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0200 Fax: (907) 269-0204 |
Observations and Changes One Year Later
| Speech: | Given before the Alaska Rural Electrical Cooperative Association on March 1, 2000. |
SB 133 - Overview of the RCA
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SB 133 passed the legislature last year. It abolished the Alaska Public Utilities Commission
(APUC) and established the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
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The RCA controls the pricing, entry, and withdrawal of utilities considered essential to
modern living.
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The RCA had a broad statutory mandate to provide "just, fair, and reasonable rates,
classifications, regulations, practices and services for a public facility."
Observations Over the Past Year
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When the RCA was created to replace the APUC, its predecessor was functioning in a state of
complete disarray.
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Many files had not seen action and/or had been otherwise reviewed in months (500+).
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More than a few files had seen no review whatsoever (almost 250).
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The first change is to repeal the provision of the original legislation that obligated the
RCA to move in with the Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC).
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We believed at the time that by combining these two groups that they would both save money by
sharing clerical staff and record storage facilities.
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The facilities used by the RCA are very inexpensive. After review by the Dept. of
Administration showing that it would increase expense to combine these two groups, it makes
more sense for the RCA to stay where it is.
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The second change was a correction to a drafting error that allowed the RCA to employ
hearing officers instead of hearing examiners.
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Hearing examiners must be attorneys but not hearing officers.
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It is necessary for people conducting hearings for the RCA to be examiners - to be an
attorney - because these men and women are called upon to adjudicate legal matters during
hearings.
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They need to be proficient in judicial hearings and the rules of evidence and procedure.
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The final change clarifies that the RCA may employ and use mediators as well as arbitrators
in its hearing process.
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Mediation is a less formal process than arbitration.
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Mediation tends to expedite the process of finding common ground among the interested
parties.
Ironing Out Some Wrinkles - SB 229
SB 229 is a new bill designed to make 3 changes in last year's legislation that created the RCA.
SB 229 passed the Senate on February 17 and is now before the House.
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