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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-21 RTO AgendaRAILBELT TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION (RTO) GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA March 21, 2025, 11:30 am Alaska Energy Authority Conference Room 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 (for all others present) 4. AGENDA APPROVAL 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS 6. APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES –March 7, 2025 7. OLD BUSINESS A. Working Group Update B. RTO Certificate Filing and OATT Filing – Tina Grovier 8. NEW BUSINESS 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION – (Bylaws Section 5.12.3) To discuss matters with an attorney for the Committee, the immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse effect on the legal position of the Committee or Authority. 10. MEMBERS COMMENTS 11. NEXT MEETING DATE – April 18, 2025, 10:00 am (virtual teams meeting only) 12. ADJOURNMENT ___________________________________________________________________________ RTO Minutes 3/7/25 Page 1 of 4 RAILBELT TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION (RTO) REGULAR AGENDA March 7, 2025 Virtual Teams Meeting Only 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Izzo, MEA, called the Railbelt Transmission Organization Governance Committee meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. A quorum was established. 2. ROLL CALL (for Committee members) Tony Izzo (Matanuska Electric Association [MEA]); Travis Million (Golden Valley Electric Association [GVEA]); Brad Janorschke (Homer Electric Association [HEA]); Arthur Miller (Chugach Electric Association [CEA]); and Curtis Thayer (Alaska Energy Authority [AEA]). Absent: Brian Hickey (City of Seward); and Ed Jenkin (Railbelt Reliability Counsel [RRC]). 3. PUBLIC ROLL CALL (for all others present) Karen Bell, Jennifer Bertolini, Mark Billingsley (AEA); Cody George (City of Seward); Daniel Heckman (GVEA); Sarah Lambe, Jessica Spuhler (HEA); Tony Zellers (MEA); Claire KnudsenLatta, Bernie Smith (Public); and Tina Grovier (Stoel Rives, RTO). 4. AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Million. A roll call was taken, and the motion to approve the agenda passed unanimously. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None 6. APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES – February 14, 2025 MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to approve the Meeting Minutes of February 14, 2024. Motion seconded by Mr. Miller. A roll call was taken, and the motion to approve the Minutes of February 14, 2025 passed unanimously. 7. OLD BUSINESS A. RTO Working Group Update Daniel Heckman, GVEA, provided the RTO Working Group update. Mr. Heckman noted that the ___________________________________________________________________________ RTO Minutes 3/7/25 Page 2 of 4 discussion of the legal and regulatory items will be entrusted to Tina Grovier, Stoel Rives. Since the previous RTO meeting, the Working Group’s Technical Committee has met extensively to develop the backbone policy and definition, and to create a set of criteria to support the definition, including the delineation of assets that would constitute the backbone network. Within the next couple of weeks, Mr. Heckman expressed the hope for the full Working Group to hear the outcome of those deliberations and to have a broader policy discussion. Mr. Heckman informed that regarding the Open Action Transmission Tariff (OATT), The RTO’s consultant Carl Monroe, Munroe Advisors, has been examining the tariff document, identifying areas where the Technical Committee and the Legal and Regulatory Subgroup could opine and propose language, in addition to the broader Working Group. Much language is being circulated for discussion, feedback, and ultimate inclusion. Mr. Heckman mentioned a recent review of high- level OATT policy provisions that will ultimately come before the RTO Governance Committee for consideration and approval. Mr. Heckman described that the work on the annual transmission revenue requirement, the financial analysis, and support of those revenue requirements continue to be circulated by Mr. Monroe to the various entities for internal discussion and review. The Working Group anticipates that the RTO Governance Committee will begin to see that information after the March 21, 2025 meeting. The current focus is on the backbone policy and technical criteria to be presented at the March 21, 2025 meeting. After which, the Working Group will pivot its focus to the financial analysis. Mr. Heckman announced that AEA will host the Working Group’s in-person meeting on March 19 - 20, 2025. He expressed appreciation to AEA. Mr. Heckman noted that he would attend in-person and provide the RTO Working Group update. He hopes that the two days of meetings and work sessions will result in positive outcomes that he can report on March 21, 2025. Mr. Thayer asked Mr. Heckman if he thinks that the RTO will be able to file the OATT by its actual filing deadline of July 1, 2025, considering the current standing. Mr. Thayer commented that he just returned from Juneau this morning, and a couple of legislators inquired if the filing is on schedule. Mr. Thayer responded that the RTO is working toward the schedule of July 1, 2025. Mr. Heckman explained that if the Working Group felt they were unable to meet the deadline, they would have to seek a statutory change to HB307. Mr. Heckman emphasized that the Working Group’s ultimate goal is to meet the July 1, 2025 deadline. Chair Izzo expressed appreciation to Mr. Heckman and to the Working Group for their efforts. There were no other comments or questions. B. RTO Certificate Filing and OATT Filing Tina Grovier provided the update on the RTO Certificate Filing and the OATT Filing. Ms. Grovier reviewed that the prehearing conference was held, and the parties and the newest party, Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG), agreed to a very aggressive procedural schedule to meet ___________________________________________________________________________ RTO Minutes 3/7/25 Page 3 of 4 the statutory deadline. Any testimony AKPIRG wants to file is due today, and Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy (RAPA) will not be filing testimony, given the stipulation. The responses to RAPA’s discovery questions have been served, and a courtesy copy was provided to AKPIRG at the prehearing conference. RAPA reviewed the responses, and agreed that the responses resolve their questions. RAPA supports granting the RTO certificate, and drafted the stipulation. Ms. Grovier indicated that she proposed minimal revisions to the stipulation. Both versions were shared with AKPIRG. If RTO makes its subcommittee meetings public, AKPIRG will join the stipulation. Ms. Grovier discussed that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) granted AKPIRG party status on Wednesday, noting that the scope of the docket is limited to the fit, willing, and able question. Ms. Grovier indicated that she does not have anything to add beyond Mr. Heckman’s report regarding the OATT Filing. However, she does have related matters to discuss in executive session, as the immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse effect on the RTO and the legal position of the Committee. Chair Izzo noted that under the Bylaws Section 5.12.3, an executive session could occur to discuss matters with an attorney. There were no other comments or questions. 8. NEW BUSINESS- None MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to enter Executive Session to discuss confidential and financial matters related to the RTO finances and legal strategy. This is consistent with the Bylaws, which allows a Board to consider confidential matters in executive session. In this case, the RTO believes that there are subjects that would have an adverse effect upon the finances of the RTO, are being discussed with an attorney, the immediate knowledge which could have an adverse effect on the legal position of the Committee and are protected by law due to those rules protecting personal privacy and certain business information. Motion seconded by Mr. Miller. Chair Izzo asked that each member state who is requested to stay online during Executive Session. Mr. Thayer listed Karen Bell and Mark Billingsley. Mr. Miller noted there is no other representative online from CEA. Vice Chair Million listed Mr. Heckman. Mr. Janorschke listed Sarah Lambe and Jess Spuhler. Chair Izzo listed Tony Zellers. Cody George requested that he be allowed to attend Executive Session to provide information to City of Seward. Chair Izzo agreed, and asked members if there was any opposition. There was no objection. The motion to enter into Executive Session passed without objection. ___________________________________________________________________________ RTO Minutes 3/7/25 Page 4 of 4 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 9:21 am. To discuss matters with an attorney for the Committee, the immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse effect on the legal position of the Committee or Authority. The RTO Governance Committee reconvened its regular meeting at 10:42 a.m. Mr. Thayer advised that the RTO did not take any formal action on matters discussed while in Executive Session, except as authorized in the Bylaws 5.12.2, to give directions to an attorney or to negotiate regarding the handling of specific legal matters or pending negotiations. 10. MEMBERS COMMENTS Vice Chair Million expressed appreciation to Mr. Heckman and others for reporting on the current issues. He understands there is much work ahead. He looks forward to the in-person meeting on March 21, 2025. Mr. Miller thanked Mr. Heckman and Ms. Grovier for their extensive efforts. He commented on the good discussion and the amount of work to be completed before July 1, 2025. Mr. Janorschke echoed the previous comments of appreciation to Ms. Grovier, Mr. Heckman, the Working Group, and the legal counsel for the utilities and AEA. Mr. Janorschke advised that he will not be at the next meeting. He noted that Ms. Lambe will attend in his stead. Mr. Thayer thanked everyone for the good meeting. He believes there is a good path forward on several fronts. Chair Izzo commented that he is encouraged by the good meeting and the plan going forward. He expressed appreciation to Ms. Grovier, Mr. Heckman, and all the folks involved with this significant effort. 11. NEXT MEETING DATE – March 21, 2025 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business for the committee, the meeting adjourned at 10:48 a.m. ________________________________ Tony Izzo, Chair ________________________________ Curtis W. Thayer, Secretary