HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-16 RTO-Meeting-Minutes-FINALRTO Meeting Minutes 01/16/2026 Page 1 of 4
RAILBELT TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION (RTO) GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES January 16, 2026
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Million, GVEA, called the Railbelt Transmission Organization Governance Committee meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. A quorum was established.
B. ROLL CALL (for Committee members)
Curtis Thayer (Alaska Energy Authority [AEA]); Andrew Laughlin (Chugach Electric Association [CEA]); Brian Hickey (City of Seward); Sarah Lambe (Homer Electric Association [HEA]); Tony Izzo (Matanuska Electric Association [MEA]); Travis Million (Golden Valley Electric Association [GVEA]); Ed Jenkin (Railbelt Reliability Counsel [RRC]).
C. PUBLIC ROLL CALL (for all others present)
Jennifer Bertolini (AEA); Karen Bell (AEA) Mark Billingsley (AEA); Bill Price (AEA); Sarah Lambe (HEA); Kim Henkel (MEA); David Pease (MEA); Jon Sinclair ((MEA); Tony Zellers (MEA); Daniel Heckman (GVEA); Kody George (City of Seward); Jessica Spuhler (HEA); Tina Grovier (Stoel Rives, RTO); Carl Monroe (Munro Advisors, LLC); Bernie Smith (public).
D. AGENDA APPROVAL
MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Mr. Laughlin.
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 MINUTES – December 17, 2025, and January 8, 2026
MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to approve the December 17, 2025, meeting minutes and the January 8, 2026, meeting minutes as presented. Motion seconded by Mr. Laughlin.
Mr. Jenkin noted one correction on the top of the second page of January 8, 2026, meeting minutes should be corrected to Ms. Grovier (not Ms. Rives).
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A roll call vote was taken, and the motion to approve December 17, 2025, and January 8, 2026, minutes as corrected passed unanimously.
7A. OLD BUSINESS
A. Open Access Transmission Tariff, RCA Matter #TA1-8001
Tina Grovier, Stoel Rives, reported on January 12, 2026, the RTO and numerous other parties filed comments on RCA Order #9 related to the Commission’s proposed decisions on the Alaska Intertie Agreement. On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the RTO served responses to discovery from RAPA and the RTO still has one response outstanding due to witness unavailability. On Thursday, January 15, 2026, Judge Walker issued Order #10 in the docket, giving notice and an opportunity to be heard related to a 2002 order authorizing MEA to collect certain wheeling charges. She said there are matters related to these topics, upcoming deadlines, and next steps in the docket to discuss with the RTO in executive session, the immediate knowledge of which could have an adverse legal or financial position of the RTO and/or the committee members.
B. Technical Subcommittee Update
Jon Sinclair said the Technical Subcommittee continued to work on the local/regional allocator, specifically to define the studies and the requirements within the studies. That has been the focus of the subcommittee, along with working on business practices.
C. Tariff Subcommittee Update
Daniel Heckman said the Tariff Subcommittee met last Thursday and focused on three business practices including (1) on RTO Postings, (2) filing of Service Agreements and (3) updates or changes to the OATT. The Tariff Subcommittee will also be providing some support to the Finance Subcommittee.
D. Finance Subcommittee Update
Karen Bell said the Finance Subcommittee met this week and reviewed its upcoming tasks. The subcommittee, according to the Gantt Chart developed, will work on developing protocols for the ATRR to recommend to the Governance Committee. The subcommittee believes that it is a large task and expects it to take 3 months. The subcommittee is also starting to look at developing a scope for a unified tier study, although it does not plan to move forward with the study until a final order is issued in the current docket. The next meeting of the subcommittee with be in two weeks. She said there were other items the subcommittee discussed that may have an adverse legal or financial impact on the RTO that would be discussed in executive session later today.
MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Laughlin to enter into Executive Session to discuss confidential financial matters related to the RRTO finances and legal strategy. This is consistent with our Bylaws, which allow the Board to consider confidential matters in
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executive session. 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. Izzo.
A roll call was taken, and the motion to enter into Executive Session passed unanimously.
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 12:15 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 2:17 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 of pending negotiation.
9. NEW BUSINESS - NONE
10. MEMBERS COMMENTS
Mr. Izzo thanked Ms. Grovier, AEA Staff and the committee members as the RTO is requiring an awful lot of time and resources.
Ms. Lambe agreed with Mr. Izzo’s comments and thanked everyone.
Mr. Hickey appreciated the discussion and the information from Ms. Grovier and the subcommittees.
Mr. Laughlin echoed the comments and thanks Ms. Grovier for the detailed report and all the subcommittees for their information.
Mr. Thayer thanked everyone for the discussion and said it is hard to believe the RTO is already at hearing.
Mr. Jenkin recognized there is a lot of work being done to prepare for the hearing and he appreciates it.
Chair Million also appreciated all the staff at AEA and the utilities. He thanked Ms. Grovier for her guidance and for Mr. Monroe’s assistance in helping the RTO through the entire process.
11. NEXT MEETING DATE – TBD
Chair Million stated the RTO will be coordinating times to meet on a regular basis over the next few weeks, on a weekly basis.
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12.ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business for the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
______________________________ Travis Million, Chair
_______________________________ Curtis W. Thayer, Secretary