AK HB169

Directs the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to submit a report to the legislature by July 1, 2016 evaluating whether an independent entity should manage electrical transmission facilities in the Railbelt area.

Requires the report to assess whether an independent entity would provide effective and efficient electrical transmission, including economical distribution, reliable service, and nondiscriminatory open access to transmission services.

Specifies the independent entity must be regulated by the commission, governed by a board of Railbelt stakeholders, and possess operational authority over transmission facilities with primary responsibility for system reliability.

Lists required powers for the independent entity including adopting reliability standards, planning transmission improvements, managing generation facility interconnections, administering regional tariffs, and managing transmission congestion.

Requires the commission to assume full cost recovery for existing investments and transmission systems, with just and fair regional tariff rates and transitional rate protections for individual utilities.