HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-10_IMC-Special-Meeting-Agenda-PacketINTERTIE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (IMC) REGULAR MEETING February 10, 2026 1:00 pm Alaska Energy Authority Board Room 813 W Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503
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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 – January 16, 2025
7.NEW BUSINESS
A.Introduction to new IMC Attorney(s) – Jonathon D. Green and Ashley Brown8.OLD BUSINESS - NONE
9.EXECUTIVE SESSION (Bylaws Section 5.11.3) – To discuss confidential matters regarding (1) the RAPA settlement offer and other matters in docket U-25-028 the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of AEA, the Intertie, of the IMC or any of its members including; and (2) legal strategy regarding the RTO hearing, which by law is not subject to public disclosure.
10.MEMBERS COMMENTS
11.NEXT MEETING DATE – March 20, 2026
12.ADJOURNMENT
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Alaska Intertie Management Committee (IMC) REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Alaska Energy Authority Board Room Friday, January 16, 2026 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Tony Zellers called the meeting of the Alaska Intertie Management Committee to order on January 16, 2026, 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 Jennifer Bertolini (AEA); Mark Billingsley (AEA); Patrick Domitrovich (AEA); Pam Ellis (AEA); Robert Varga (AEA); Mark Ziesmer (AEA); Joel Paisner (Ascent Law Partners); Mike Miller (CEA); Paul Millwood (CEA); Nathan Minnema (GVEA); Keith Palchikoff (GVEA); Kim Henkel (MEA); David Pease (MEA); Jon Sinclair (MEA); and Bernie Smith (Public). 4. AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Bishop to approve the agenda, as presented. Motion seconded by Vice-Chair Laughlin. The motion to approve the agenda passed without objection. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS Bernie Smith, member of the public, noted that he has attended many of these meetings. He complained that the IMC agenda was not listed on the website and was not included in the public notice. Mr. Smith indicated that the agenda for the Bradley Lake Project Management Committee’s meeting was not on the website either. He requested that the agendas are posted so that he can follow along during the meeting. Jennifer Bertolini, AEA, commented that AEA modified the website, and she can help Mr. Smith at a later point to navigate the website to find the posted agendas. In the meantime, she will email both agendas to Mr. Smith. There was no objection. Mr. Price noted that he can speak for the record on how to get to the posted agenda on the
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website. There was no objection. Mr. Price instructed him to go to the AEA website; go to What We Do; go to Railbelt Energy; underneath that is the Alaska Intertie and Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project; click on either of the links to go to the webpage; click on the Management Committee; click on the Agenda for the pdf of the hot-linked agenda. Mr. Smith commented that he followed the directions and was able to find the agenda. He thanked the members for their assistance. There were no other public comments. 6. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MINUTES – December 5, 2025, and January 6, 2026 MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Bishop to approve the Minutes of December 5, 2025 and January 6, 2026. Motion seconded by Mr. Price. The Minutes of December 5, 2025, and January 6, 2026, were approved without objection. 7. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. 8. OLD BUSINESS 8A. FY26 Budget Amendment Mr. Price indicated that he could speak to the FY26 budget amendment, and that Mark Ziesmer, AEA, could answer any questions. There were three changes to the budget. One of MEA’s projects was reduced in either scope or cost. The Douglas Substation Foundation Repairs has gone over budget. The Douglas Communications Project has gone over budget. This is due to additional work being completed. Many discussions have already occurred regarding the over-budget amounts. Mr. Price noted that he received one comment this morning regarding the grants budget. The vegetation grant application was not awarded and will not be funded. Mr. Price explained that the grant budgets do not flow through the IMC Budget. They are listed for the record and for approval, even though they are accounted for outside of the IMC Budget. Mr. Price suggested that the Vegetation Management Grant line item could be removed from the budget since it was not approved. There were no other comments or questions. MOTION: A motion was made by Vice-Chair Laughlin to approve the FY2026 Budget Amendment 1, as presented, to be posted for the 30-day comment period. Comments are due to the IMC and AEA by February 24, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Motion seconded by Mr. Bishop. Chair Zellers asked if members want to remove the Vegetation Management Grant line item at this point.
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Mr. Price explained that the Vegetation Management Grant line item can either be removed now or after posting. Mr. Ziesmer indicated that the Vegetation Management Grant line item can be removed before the 30-day public comment period. Vice-Chair Laughlin recommended that the Vegetation Management Grant line item is removed before Budget Amendment 1 is posted. MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Price to strike the Vegetation Management Grant line item from Budget Amendment 1 and post the Budget Amendment 1 with no other changes. Motion seconded by Mr. Bishop. The motion to strike the Vegetation Management Grant line item passed without objection. The motion to approve the FY2026 Budget Amendment 1, as amended, to be posted for the 30-day comment period passed without objection. 9. COMMITTEE REPORTS 9A. Budget vs. Actuals Chair Zellers requested Mr. Ziesmer to present the Budget versus Actuals Report. Mr. Ziesmer summarized the report as of October 31, 2025. Actual revenues exceeded the budget by $119,741, primarily due to higher than anticipated energy usage. The total energy usage exceeded the budget by 2,881 MWH. The interest accrued from the start of the fiscal year through October 31, 2025, totaled $27,607. The operating expenses were below budget by $629,569 due to minimal or no activity in several categories. Mr. Ziesmer discussed that the Maintenance of Station Equipment Douglas Substation category 57000 is over budget, with the Douglas Substation Communications over budget $47,309. The category covers the costs which were originally appropriated by State dollars. The budget amendment was approved for this item and will cover the overage. The Douglas Substation line item is over budget by $161,001. The project was planned across both FY25 and FY26, however, more of the spending occurred in FY26. The budget amendment was approved for this item and will cover the overage. Mr. Ziesmer discussed that the Miscellaneous Administration and IMC Administrative Costs category 58306 is over budget by $8,866. This is mostly related to the legal costs regarding the Railbelt transmission and RTO. The Insurance Premiums category 58401 is over budget by $5,642. This is due to timing differences between the budget and actual expense recognition. Mr. Ziesmer believes the variance will level out over time. The Administrative Expenses were below budget by $27,852, primarily due to lower-than-expected internal payroll and indirect costs. Mr. Ziesmer discussed that the current revenue and expense results reflect a surplus of $1,078,120. There were no comments or questions.
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9B. IOC Report Chair Zellers requested Mike Miller, CEA, to present the IOC Report. Mr. Miller noted that the report includes discussion regarding the Douglas Communications, and the cost information regarding the approved budget revision. He explained that the increased cost was due to the identified need to replace the enclosure for the communications equipment and to address land rights issues. Mr. Miller gave the update on the Snow Unloading Project and the cost-share agreement language that is being finalized between CEA and GVEA. An RFP for design has been prepared. Mr. Miller discussed the Synchrophasor Project and the goal to have contracts ready by the end of the month. He noted that reports were submitted for the IBR Study and the 230 kV Upgrade Impact Study. Mr. Miller advised that after he created his report, he received an update from the SCADA/Telecommunications Subcommittee who held a meeting and discussed action items assigned to the participants to follow-up on options to address improvement to Intertie communications. There were no other comments or questions. 9C. Operator Report Mr. Miller presented the Operator Report dated January 16, 2026. The trend for the usage of the Intertie is consistent with the entire fiscal year and is about half of the usage that was seen in the previous fiscal year. There were no trips of the Intertie in December. One reporting event occurred in which the EGS Units tripped into diesel. This was related to a natural gas fuel swap. The units reduced their output and responded within five seconds, which provided a healthy frequency response number for that event. There were no comments or questions. MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Bishop to enter into Executive Session to discuss confidential matters, the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of AEA, the Intertie, the IMC, or any of its members. Motion seconded by Vice-Chair Laughlin. The motion to enter into Executive Session was approved without objection. 10. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 9:19 a.m. – (Bylaws Section 5.11.3 (d)) To discuss confidential matters the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of AEA, the Intertie, the IMC, or any of its members. The Committee reconvened its regular meeting at 9:34 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 Mr. Price echoed previous comments of appreciation made by Joel Paisner, Ascent Law Partners,
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regarding the effort in releasing the MEA briefs and defending the IMC. Vice-Chair Laughlin expressed appreciation to the committees for their work and reports. He thanked Chair Zellers and Mr. Paisner for their efforts on the briefs. Mr. Bishop thanked the committees, subcommittees, AEA’s accounting team, and IMC participants for their efforts on the legal briefs. Chair Zellers echoed the comments of appreciation for the efforts on the briefs. 12. NEXT MEETING DATE – March 20, 2026 Chair Zellers indicated that the next meeting date is March 20, 2026. 13. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business of the IMC, the meeting adjourned at 9:36 a.m. __________________________ Tony Zellers, Chair __________________________ Bill Price, AEA Secretary