HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-19 RTO_Meeting_Minutes_FINAL___________________________________________________________________________
RTO Minutes 9/19/25 Page 1 of 3
RAILBELT TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION (RTO)
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
September 19, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Million, GVEA, called the Railbelt Transmission Organization Governance Committee
meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. A quorum was established.
2. ROLL CALL (for Committee members)
Curtis Thayer (Alaska Energy Authority [AEA]); Arthur Miller (Chugach Electric Association [CEA]
(arrived late)); Brian Hickey (City of Seward); Brad Janorschke (Homer Electric Association [HEA]);
Tony Zellers (Matanuska Electric Association [MEA]); Travis Million (Golden Valley Electric
Association [GVEA]); Ed Jenkin (Railbelt Reliability Counsel [RRC]).
3. PUBLIC ROLL CALL (for all others present)
Karen Bell (AEA), Jennifer Bertolini (AEA); Andrew Jensen (Governor’s Office); Tony Izzo (MEA); Bill
Price (AEA); Sarah Lambe (HEA); Jessica Spuhler (HEA); Tina Grovier (Stoel Rives, RTO); Daniel
Heckman (GVEA); Carl Monroe (Munro Advisors, LLC); Mark Billingsley (AEA); Bill Price (AEA); David
Pease (MEA); Jon Sinclair (MEA); Matt Clarkson (CEA).
4. AGENDA APPROVAL
MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Miller to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by
Mr. Zellers.
A roll call was taken, and the motion to approve the agenda passed unanimously.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
6. APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES – September 10, 2025
MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Hickey to approve the Meeting Minutes of September
10, 2025. Motion seconded by Mr. Thayer.
A roll call was taken, and the motion to approve the Minutes of September 10, 2025, passed
unanimously.
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RTO Minutes 9/19/25 Page 2 of 3
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. Open Access Transmission Tariff, RCA Matter #TA1-8001
Tina Grovier, Stoel Rives, stated on September 12, 2025, the RTO filed its pre-filed direct testimony
in support of its open access transmission tariff, as well as its response to the four comments that
were filed during the initial notice period. On September 17, 2025, the Commission issued a public
notice for a second comment period that will run through September 29, 2025. She explained the
RTO’s responses to those comments are due October 10, 2025. She said although the RCA has
not yet ruled on petitions for intervention that she has seen, several entities have submitted
executed non-disclosure agreements, which have been entered into the docket.
Ms. Grovier said she has matters related to those topics, discovery, subcommittees, NDAs, and
next steps in Docket U-25-028, including tasks related to the RCA’s issuing questions to discuss
with the RTO in executive session, the immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse effect
on the legal and financial position of the RTO and /or the committee members.
MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Hickey to enter into Executive Session to discuss
matters, the immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse effect related to RTO
finances and legal strategy. This is consistent with our Bylaws, which allow the Board to
consider confidential matters in executive session, and in this case, the RTO believes that
these are subjects that would have an adverse effect on the finances of the RTO and are
being discussed with an attorney, the immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse
effect on the financial or legal position of the Committee or are protected by law due to
rules protecting personal privacy and certain business information. Motion seconded by
Mr. Miller.
A roll call was taken, and the motion to enter into Executive Session passed unanimously.
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 12:08 pm. (Bylaws Section 5.12.3) To discuss matters, the
immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse effect on the finances or legal
position of the RTO, the Committee or Authority, or that are confidential under state,
federal, or local law.
The RTO Governance Committee reconvened its regular meeting at 12:41 p.m. Chair Million
advised that the RTO did not take any formal action on the matters discussed while in
executive session, except as authorized by Bylaws Section 5.12.2, to give direction to an
attorney or negotiator regarding the handling of a specific legal matter or pending
negotiation.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Creation of Subcommittees – Resolution 25-01
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RTO Minutes 9/19/25 Page 3 of 3
MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Janorschke that the RTO approve Resolution 25-01,
Designating Initial Standing Subcommittees with a minor correction to the second
paragraph from the bottom of page one, Changing the definition of “TIER” to “Times
Interest Earned Ratio (TIER).” Motion seconded by Mr. Miller.
A roll call was taken, and the motion to approve Resolution 25-01 passed unanimously.
10. MEMBERS COMMENTS
Mr. Hickey appreciated all the work and looked forward to the next few meetings.
Mr. Janorschke agreed with Mr. Hickey’s comments.
Mr. Jenkin had no comments.
Mr. Miller appreciated the good efficient meeting and appreciated the work of Tina and all the
groups that are providing assistance in the overall effort.
Mr. Zellers had no further comments.
Mr. Thayer echoed the comments and appreciated the work.
Chair Million agreed and said there are deadlines that are upcoming over the next couple of
months that the committee will be preparing.
There were no member comments.
11. NEXT MEETING DATE – October 8, 2025.
Chair Million indicated that the next meeting is October 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business for the committee, the meeting adjourned at 12:46 p.m.
______________________________
Travis Million, Chair
_______________________________
Curtis W. Thayer, Secretary
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TrTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTavis Million, Chair