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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-28 IMC Agenda and docsINTERTIE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (IMC) SPECIAL MEETING October 28, 2025 10:30 am To participate dial 1-888-585-9008 and use code 212-753-619# 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.ROLL CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS 3.PUBLIC ROLL CALL 4.AGENDA APPROVAL 5.PUBLIC COMMENTS 6.APPROVAL OF PRIOR MINUTES – September 19, 2025 7.NEW BUSINESS A.RCA Issuing Questions in Docket U-25-028 8.EXECUTIVE SESSION - (Bylaws Section 5.11.3 (d)) To discuss confidential legal matters which by law are required to be confidential. 9.MEMBERS COMMENTS 10.NEXT MEETING DATE – December 5, 2025 at 9:00 am 11.ADJOURNMENT IMC Meeting Minutes – September 19, 2025 Page 1 of 4 Alaska Intertie Management Committee (IMC) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Alaska Energy Authority Board Room Friday, September 19, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Tony Zellers called the meeting of the Alaska Intertie Management Committee to order on September 19, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS Members present: Tony Zellers (Matanuska Electric Association (MEA)); Andrew Laughlin (Chugach Electric Association (CEA)); Dan Bishop (Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA)); and Bill Price (Alaska Energy Authority (AEA)). A quorum was established. 3. PUBLIC ROLL CALL Public present: Jennifer Bertolini (AEA); Mark Billingsley (AEA); Pamela Ellis (AEA); James Mendenhall (AEA); Leeanne Smoke (AEA); Robert Varga (AEA); Mark Ziesmer (AEA); Joel Paisner (Ascent Law Partners); Matt Clarkson (CEA); Arthur Miller (CEA); Mike Miller (CEA); Paul Millwood (CEA); Phylicilia Cililio (GVEA); Travis Million (GVEA); Nathan Minnema (GVEA); David Pease (MEA); and Jon Sinclair (MEA). 4. AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Bishop to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by Mr. Price. The motion to approve the agenda passed without objection. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. 6. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MINUTES – July 25, 2025 MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Price to approve the Minutes of July 25, 2025. Motion seconded by Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop noted that he emailed a couple minor suggestions earlier today. Jennifer Bertolini, AEA, indicated that she will incorporate the minor edits into the Minutes. The Minutes of July 25, 2025 with the minor edits were approved without objection. 7. NEW BUSINESS - None IMC Meeting Minutes – September 19, 2025 Page 2 of 4 8. OLD BUSINESS 8A. 616 Structure Update Mr. Bishop reported that the 616 Structure project is complete. He requested Nathan Minnema, GVEA, to provide additional details. Mr. Minnema stated that he hopes to have a time lapse video that he can share with the Committee later today. He reiterated that the project is complete. The contractor is mobilized offsite and has been fully invoiced. There were no comments or questions. 8B. Snow Load Resiliency and Synchrophasor Grants Update Mr. Bishop discussed that GVEA has received the hopefully final grant agreements from AEA recently. GVEA will review those agreements and then return them to AEA. He expressed appreciation for all of the work on the grants. There were no comments or questions. 9. COMMITTEE REPORTS 9A. Audit Update Mark Ziesmer, AEA, presented the Audit Update. Mr. Ziesmer discussed that there have been no material changes since the July 25, 2025, meeting. He continues to work on completing the requirements for the audit. The projected surplus remains at approximately $1.1 million. Mr. Ziesmer noted that Bradley Lake and Alaska Intertie are a substantial part of the AEA audit. The audit will remain his primary focus for the next few weeks until all of the required work is completed. The financial statements are on track to be presented by October 30, 2025. Mr. Ziesmer indicated that there are no new expenses to report for the FY26 Budget versus Actual. There were no comments or questions. 9B. IOC Report Mike Miller, CEA and Chair of the IOC, presented the IOC Report. Mr. Miller noted that as previously discussed, the Structure 616 repairs were completed since the last IMC meeting. The IOC discussed a new topic regarding generator tuning coordination across the Railbelt. GVEA volunteered to lead an effort to initiate communication between the different utilities to discuss opportunities to jointly study generator coordination and governor tuning. Additionally, Mr. Miller received clarification from the IOC regarding IMC guidance on how the IOC is to act with the anticipated Railbelt Reliability Council (RRC) or Railbelt Transmission Organization (RTO) requirements. This item further clarifies the guidance sought at the previous meeting. Mr. Miller explained that the IOC is requesting the IMC to give directions for specific scenarios. Does the IMC direct the IOC to proactively engage in any anticipated work efforts to prepare for anticipated RRC or RTO compliance requirements or regulations that will need to be met in the future? Or rather, does the IMC want the IMC to sit firm in the current configuration across the Railbelt until anticipated regulation becomes adopted and approved? IMC Meeting Minutes – September 19, 2025 Page 3 of 4 Vice-Chair Laughlin believes Mr. Miller’s explanation provides clarity. Vice-Chair Laughlin summarized the question: is the IOC to work proactively now or is the IOC to wait until the standards are set and adopted by the RCA? Mr. Miller agreed and noted that some of the required compliances may necessitate capital investment and labor efforts. Mr. Miller asked if the IOC and Railbelt participants want to engage in any of those kinds of activities proactively, prior to there being an approved standard. Mr. Price asked if the IOC is going to interface with the RRC or is the IMC going to interface with the RRC? Mr. Miller noted the interface question was not the driver during the IOC meeting. One example of consideration is metering requirements and if an audit of the metering for the Alaska Intertie needs to occur. If so, then should capital investments in additional or higher quality metering infrastructure be made in anticipation of requirements of new standards? Mr. Bishop expressed his concern regarding how to define the RRC’s direction and who communicates that direction. He does not want to inadvertently waste time on things that may not become requirements. Mr. Miller understands his concern. Mr. Miller believes there are members in the IOC who also engage in some of the standard development working groups who have visibility into potential requirements. However, the potential requirements must ultimately be approved by RCA. Chair Zellers recommended that this item be discussed during executive session because these are potentially legal matters and could affect the finances of the IMC. There was no objection. Mr. Miller continued with the IOC Report. Progress continues on the 230 kV upgrade study. Additional results of that study will be reviewed in October. GVEA is leading the charge on an RFP for a Railbelt EMT model with the intent to have potential bids back in time to include in the fiscal year 2027 budget, if appropriate. Mr. Bishop requested that the IOC provide a study regarding the transfer capacity to the Kenai Peninsula with the upgraded line to 230 kV. Mr. Miller apologized and explained that he is referring to the 230 kV increase to Healy and potentially including a second circuit. Mr. Miller does not know if the IOC is engaging in southern Intertie study work, but he will confirm. Chair Zellers commented that he believes the Bradley Lake Project Management Committee (BPMC) is responsible for and conducting the southern study referenced by Mr. Bishop. There were no other comments or questions. 9C. Operator Report Mr. Miller presented the Operator Report. There was increased usage by MEA. He believes this is due to purchases from GVEA that occurred in July. The total usage is on track with the previous fiscal year, which is about half as much as the previous year. There were no Intertie trips to report during July or August. There were approximately five different frequency events that occurred. The frequency response was relatively consistent. There were no comments or questions. IMC Meeting Minutes – September 19, 2025 Page 4 of 4 MOTION: A motion was made by Vice-Chair Laughlin to enter into Executive Session to discuss confidential matters which by law are required to be confidential, and matters the immediate knowledge of which could clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of AEA, the Intertie, or the IMC, or any of its members. Motion seconded by Mr. Bishop. The motion to enter into Executive Session was approved without objection. 10. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 9:17 a.m. – (Bylaws Section 5.11.3 (d)) To discuss confidential legal matters which by law are required to be confidential. The Committee reconvened its regular meeting at 9:54 a.m. Chair Zellers advised that the Committee did not take any formal action on the matters discussed while in executive session. 11. MEMBERS COMMENTS Vice-Chair Laughlin thanked Chair Zellers for running an efficient meeting and reviewing deep topics so quickly. He expressed appreciation to GVEA for their speedy efforts to repair Structure 616 and to return it to service. He thanked everyone for presenting reports today. Mr. Price thanked everyone for their efforts and keeping the Intertie operational. He looks forward to the next challenges. Mr. Bishop thanked everyone for their support with the Structure 616 repair. He thanked AEA for their collaborative effort with GVEA in preparing the grant agreements for signature. Chair Zellers echoed the previous comments of appreciation. He thanked the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) who attended and provided insights today. Chair Zellers thanked the Committee members for the reports. 11. NEXT MEETING DATE – December 5, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Chair Zellers indicated that the next meeting date is December 5, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business of the IMC, the meeting adjourned at 9:59 a.m. __________________________ Tony Zellers, Chair __________________________ Bill Price, AEA Secretary