HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-20 RTO-Meeting-Agenda1RAILBELT TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION (RTO)
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
March 20, 2026, 12:00 PM
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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 – February 13, 2026
7.OLD BUSINESS
A.Open Access Transmission Tariff, RCA Docket U-25-028
B.Technical Subcommittee Update
C.Tariff Subcommittee Update
D.Finance Subcommittee Update
8.EXECUTIVE SESSION – (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 its members, or that are confidential under state, federal, or local law.
9.NEW BUSINESS
A.RTO FY27 Budget
10.MEMBERS COMMENTS
11.NEXT MEETING DATE – TBD
12.ADJOURNMENT
RTO Meeting Minutes 02/13/2026 Page 1 of 3
RAILBELT TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION (RTO) GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES February 13, 2026 A. CALL TO ORDER Chair Million, GVEA, called the Railbelt Transmission Organization Governance Committee meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. A quorum was established. B. ROLL CALL (for Committee members) Curtis Thayer (Alaska Energy Authority [AEA]); Brad Janorschke (Homer Electric Association [HEA]); Tony Izzo (Matanuska Electric Association [MEA]); Travis Million (Golden Valley Electric Association [GVEA]); Ed Jenkin (Railbelt Reliability Council [RRC]). Absent & Excused: Arthur Miller (Chugach Electric Association [CEA]); Brian Hickey (City of Seward). C. PUBLIC ROLL CALL (for all others present) Jennifer Bertolini (AEA); Karen Bell (AEA) Mark Billingsley (AEA)l Bill Price (AEA); Nick Szymoniak (CEA); Jessica Spuhler (HEA); Kim Henkel (MEA); David Pease (MEA); Jon Sinclair (MEA); Daniel Heckman (GVEA); Kody George (City of Seward); Tina Grovier (Stoel Rives, RTO); Carl Monroe (Munro Advisors, LLC); Tony Zellers (MEA); Andrew Jensen (Governor’s Office). D. AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Mr. Izzo. 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 – February 6, 2026 MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to approve February 6, 2026, meeting minutes as presented. Motion seconded by Mr. Izzo. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion to approve February 6, 2026, minutes passed unanimously. 7. OLD BUSINESS A. Open Access Transmission Tariff, RCA Docket U-25-028
RTO Meeting Minutes 02/13/2026 Page 2 of 3
Tina Grovier, Stoel Rives, said on February 9th, the parties to the docket filed witness lists, issue statements, and some also filed errata. On February 12th, the RCA issued Order #12 addressing Aurora Energy’s notice of non-participation, revising the order of hearing, addressing hearing room seating limitations, and requiring a witness from MEA to appear. The hearing begins next week after the President's Day holiday. I have matters related to these topics and next steps in Docket U 25-028 to discuss with you 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, or that are confidential under state, federal or local law. MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to enter into Executive Session to discuss confidential financial matters related to the RTO finances and legal strategy. This is consistent with our Bylaws, which allow the Board to consider confidential matters in 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 – 12:45 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 1:25 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. BUDGET AMENDMENT Karen Bell explained that as discussed at the last Governance Committee meeting, the Finance Subcommittee is recommending an amendment to the fiscal year 2026 budget for the RTO to increase the budget by $550,000 for contractual services, which would support hearing costs as well as add a budget for New Gen Strategies and Solutions, who is supporting the ATRR template in the hearing and providing testimony. The subcommittee has reviewed the budget and believes that the subcommittee may have to come back to the RTO for an additional amendment to cover costs through the end of the fiscal year. She explained there may be additional work required after the hearing and it would be difficult to predict the cost incurred during the hearing and additional costs afterwards. The subcommittee is requesting the Governance Committee approve the budget amendment request of $550,000. MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Thayer to approve the budget amendment as presented. Motion seconded by Mr. Izzo.
RTO Meeting Minutes 02/13/2026 Page 3 of 3
A roll call vote was taken to approve the amended budget with the addition of $550,000 and the motion passed unanimously. 10. MEMBERS COMMENTS – There were no comments. 10. NEXT MEETING DATE – TBD Chair Million stated the next meeting date is to be determined soon. 11. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business for the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 1:42 p.m. ______________________________ Travis Million, Chair _______________________________ Curtis W. Thayer, Secretary
Railbelt Transmission OrganizationDraft Administrative Budget - Outside ServicesFiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027)DraftFY2027Approved FY2026Actual2/28/26 Total Outside Services1,522,200 1,222,200 729,132 Outside Services Contracts and Misc. Governance Expense 772,200 1,222,200 729,132 Studies (Cost of Capital, Losses, Regional/Local Allocator) 750,000 Notes: AEA Staff Professional Services were paid for by AEA in FY2025 and FY2026 with the appropriation approved in the fiscal note with HB307. There is a budget request for an appropriation for AEA to pay for AEA Staff Professional Services in FY2027 until the time the NOATT becomes effective. The AEA budget request is included as part of the State's FY2027 budget and therefore is not shown here. Contractual costs will need to be shared through the Letter of Agreement for Interim Cost Share Allocation until the time the NOATT becomes effective. The FY2027 Outside Services budget assumes the dates proposed by the RTO in the Gantt chart submitted to the RCA. The finance subcommittee anticipates the FY2027 budget may need to be revisited upon a final order being issued in U-25-028. The actual 2026 value does not include all costs incurred in February 2026 because some invoices are still pending.RTO Administrative Budget