HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.24.2020 IMC Meeting Minutes
AIMC Minutes January 24, 2020 Page 1 of 4
Alaska Intertie Management Committee
REGULAR MEETING
Alaska Energy Authority Board Room, Anchorage Alaska
Friday, January 24, 2020
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anna Henderson called the meeting of the Alaska Intertie Management Committee to
order on January 24, 2020, at 9:14 a.m. A quorum was established.
2. ROLL CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Members present: Anna Henderson (Municipal Light & Power (ML&P)); Tony Izzo
(Matanuska Electric Association (MEA)); Brian Hickey (Chugach Electric Association
(CEA)); Cory Borgeson (Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA)); and Kirk Warren
(Alaska Energy Authority (AEA)).
3. PUBLIC ROLL CALL
Public present in Anchorage: Ladonna Lindley (Accu-Type Depositions); Katie Conway
(AEA); Ashton Doyle (AEA); Jocelyn Garner (AEA); Ryan Garner (AEA); David Lockard
(AEA); Beazit Redzepi (AEA); Don Maynor (ARECA Insurance Exchange) (phone); John
Foutz (City of Seward); Stefan Saldanha (Department of Law); Russell Thornton (CEA); Dan
Bishop (GVEA)) (phone); Larry Jorgensen (HEA) (phone); Kirk Gibson (McDowell Rackner
& Gibson PC); Ed Jenkin (MEA); David Pease (MEA); Tony Zellers (MEA); Jeff Warner
(ML&P); Bernie Smith (Public); and Christina Hunter (RCA) (phone).
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
5. AGENDA APPROVAL
MOTION: Mr. Borgeson made a motion to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by
Mr. Hickey. The agenda was approved with no objection.
6. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MINUTES - November 22, 2019
MOTION: Mr. Warren made a motion to approve the November 22, 2019 minutes.
Motion seconded by Mr. Izzo. The Minutes of November 22, 2019 were approved
unanimously.
7. NEW BUSINESS
AIMC Minutes January 24, 2020 Page 2 of 4
7A. Operators Report
Jeff Warner, ML&P, reviewed the Operators Report provided in the member packets. The
usage report reflects six months in FY19 and six months in FY20 for each utility. The total
flows declined approximately 100% in the time period. Mr. Warner explained the line trip
in December was due to a significant windstorm period. During the same time period,
separation occurred from the south due to the SQ Line work. MEA, CEA, and ML&P were
operating interconnected in the Railbelt. Unit 11 tripped which caused a first stage load
shed. The utilities subsequently decided to start Unit 7, which was run at a minimum. The
cost was shared. It has been agreed for this to be a standard operating procedure in the
event Southcentral becomes islanded. Mr. Warner showed a listing of previous load shed
events. Mr. Warner discussed the Intertie maintenance and maintenance issues that
occurred since the last meeting. The maintenance subcommittee will review the issues and
the schedule.
8. OLD BUSINESS
Chair Henderson stated the refund determination was resolved via email communications,
as a result of Mr. Gibson’s review of the documentation.
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS
9A. OC Report
Ed Jenkin, MEA, reviewed the IOC Report provided to members. Modifications to the Alaska
Intertie Agreement have been made to reflect current and actual operations and
management procedures. The completed revisions will be presented to the IOC following
the determination and disposition regarding the possible acquisition of ML&P by CEA,
which would require additional modifications to the Agreement.
Mr. Jenkin provided an informational update that the Alaska Critical Infrastructure
Protection (CIP) standards were approved by the utilities through the Rural Utility
Management (RUM) and Railbelt Cybersecurity Working Group. The only IOC action was
the review of the physical infrastructure protection standards. The IOC does not have
record of reviewing the full set of standards and has not brought the standards before the
IMC. Mr. Jenkin noted this information infers the CIP standards have not been brought
before AEA.
Mr. Jenkin commented on the status of the warning marker ball project. There is
concurrence the installation of the warning marker balls can be completed while the line is
energized. The Maintenance Subcommittee is proceeding to make arrangements and
coordination for the energized work to be performed this summer over two budget cycles.
The RFP has not yet been released.
AIMC Minutes January 24, 2020 Page 3 of 4
Mr. Borgeson asked if the marker ball replacement project will be completed by MEA,
rather than through AEA. Mr. Jenkin stated the project will be completed and managed by
the IOC Maintenance Subcommittee, which is chaired by Greg Chamberlain at MEA. Mr.
Chamberlain is managing the marker ball project currently and MEA will contract with the
out of state company to perform the work.
Chair Henderson requested additional background on the decision to conduct the marker
ball project work while the line is energized. Mr. Jenkin noted he cannot respond because
he was not involved in any committee meeting discussions regarding the scope and
decision process. He informed discussion is ongoing regarding the possibility of including a
mechanism in the RFP to submit an energized methodology and a non-energized
methodology for the project work.
Mr. Borgeson asked for the name of the firm who is conducting the oscillation study. Mr.
Jenkin asked Russ Thornton, CEA, to confirm the firm is PTI. Mr. Thornton agreed. CEA is
the project manager of the oscillation study. Mr. Borgeson requested additional explanation
of the term “rotating machine” as referenced in the IOC report. Mr. Thornton explained
rotating machine refers to the generators.
9B. Budget to Actual Report
Jocelyn Garner, AEA and Chair of Budget Subcommittee, advised the report provided is for
expenses through the period of November 30, 2019. This includes the surplus calculation of
$190,000. Ms. Garner informed the IMC requested at the previous mee ting for a mid-year
budget review to be conducted. The mid-year budget review is still in progress. The IOC has
met and discussed reduction of costs and provided new usage projection estimates. No
budget amendments are being recommended today.
Mr. Borgeson concurred with the delay for a budget adjustment proposal. He cannot recall
a year without a significant refund and noted the unspent funds are returned to the
members.
Mr. Warren asked if the $300,000 budgeted for the LIDAR Survey is work anticipated to be
completed in the spring. Ms. Garner requested Mr. Jenkin respond. Mr. Jenkin replied he
does not have information with him to provide an update on the LIDAR Survey project. He
will submit additional information at a later date. Mr. Warner believes GVEA is the project
manager on the LIDAR Survey. He has not seen a schedule of work to-date.
Mr. Borgeson informed Dan Bishop, GVEA, is on telecom if an update is requested. Mr.
Bishop explained he has not made much progress on it. His understanding was the
Maintenance Subcommittee should be working with an individual to continue
investigations and reviews of vendor capability presentations to develop the RFP.
Ms. Garner informed the second page of the report shows the budgeted usage projections
compared to the actual usage to-date. The last page of the reports delineates the balances
AIMC Minutes January 24, 2020 Page 4 of 4
in the Intertie Trust Fund. Ms. Garner expressed AEA would like to close out the trust
account and remove it from the reporting process.
Chair Henderson requested additional information regarding recent IMC actions regarding
the Trust Fund. Ms. Garner noted she does not recall the specific actions and will research
the actions taken. There were efforts to spend the balance in the last budgeting cycle, but
there remains a balance. Chair Henderson requested Ms. Garner provide recommendations
on this issue at the next meeting. Ms. Garner agreed.
Mr. Warren informed Ms. Garner has accepted another position and this is her last IMC
meeting, and will no longer attend Budget Subcommittee meetings for the IMC or the
BPMC. He expressed appreciation for her good work. Ms. Garner relayed her enjoyment in
working with this group and the interesting projects. She expressed appreciation for the
opportunity.
Chair Henderson thanked Ms. Garner for her years of service.
10. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Chair Henderson assigned Ms. Garner to review trust fund possibilities and report back.
11. MEMBERS COMMENTS
Mr. Hickey expressed appreciation to Ms. Garner for her years of service.
Mr. Borgeson gave New Year salutations and echoed appreciation to Ms. Garner.
12. NEXT MEETING DATE - March 27, 2020
The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 27, 2020.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business of the AIMC, the meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m.
BY: ______________________________
Anna Henderson, Chair
Attest: ___________________________
Alaska Energy Authority, Secretary