Alaska

Legislative activities

While the legislature has not yet approved any laws specifically addressing smart grid, as early as 1980 it has looked into some distributed generation technologies and created contractual methods for entering into solar easements for solar energy systems. (Alaska Statues Sec. 34.15.145. Solar easement)[4] In 2008 the Alaska state legislature authorized the creation of a renewable energy grant fund administered by the Alaska Energy Authority. (Alaska 25th Legislature HB 152) [5]

Regulatory activities

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) developed rates dealing specifically with distributed generators starting in 1983, and has continually worked with revisions throughout the following years. The Commission started looking at demand-based services in 1989 for industrials and in 1999 for residential customers. In 1998 the Commission evaluated off-peak-only based rates. In 2009 the RCA approved net metering as a requirement for all electric utilities subject to economic regulation; the incorporation of this approval is still ongoing. [2, 3]

“In August 2007, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska decided not to adopt PURPA Standard 14 (“Time-Based Metering and Communications”) as enacted in EPACT 2005. In its Order declining adoption, the Commission indicated that it found insufficient evidence that it would be appropriate “to impose smart metering requirements on all customer classes.” Specifically, it noted, “Given the slight variation in the incremental cost of energy, we do not find that the evidence in the record of this proceeding supports a conclusion that smart metering would result in significant conservation of energy, efficiency of electric utilities, and equitable rates for consumers.” Finally, it reserved the right to investigate the PURPA standard in the future as circumstances warrant. The proceeding, however, remains open due to Commission consideration of other provisions of EPACT 2005.” [1]

Distributed generators include qualifying cogeneration and small power production facilities where prices are negotiated.

Demand-based services are based only on peak demand provided through meters taking interval readings.

Off-peak rates are rates available for only 8 hours each day with 1.5 hours on a flexible schedule controlled by the company and the remaining 6.5 hours between 11:30 PM and 6:30 AM.

Utilities and Rate Schedules

Alaska Electric Light and Power Company
- Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Rates

Alaska Power & Telephone
- Alaska Power & Telephone Rates

Chugach Electric Association
- Chugach Electric Association Rates

Golden Valley Electric Association
- Golden Valley Electric Association Rates

Homer Electric Association
- Homer Electric Association Power Rates

Matanuska Electric Association
- Matanuska Electric Association Rates

Municipal Light & Power
- Municipal Light & Power Rates

See the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) for information on consumer-owned Cooperatives: http://www.nreca.org/members/MemberDirectory/Pages/default.aspx

State-Level Incentives

Alaska has a state grant program for renewable energy, distributed generation, and combined heat and power technologies that were set up by enabling legislation in 2008. One Alaska cooperative has a renewable energy production incentive for its customers.
More information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE): http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=AK

Additional Resources

State Energy Office:
- Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Research and Rural Development Division

State Authority Dealing with Energy Regulation:
- Regulatory Commission of Alaska
- Docket Search: http://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/RCALibrary/AdvancedSearch.aspx?t=advdoc&c=&p=advsearch

Alaska Statutes

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE): http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=AK

References

[1] Demand Response and Smart Metering Policy Actions Since the Energy Policy Act of 2005: A Summary for State Officials, Prepared by the U.S. Demand Response Coordinating Committee for The National Council on Electricity Policy, Fall 2008. URL: http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/NCEP_Demand_Response_1208.pdf
[2] Municipal Light & Power Rates. URL: http://www.mlandp.com/redesign/mlputilitytariff.htm
[3] Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Tariff. URL: http://www.aelp.com/tariff/tariff.htm
[4] Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, Alaska Solar Easements, 01/06/2010. URL: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=AK01R&re=1&ee=1
[5] The Alaska State Legislature, Bill Text 25th Legislature HB 152. URL. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HB0152Z&session=25