The Haines Borough Assembly will decide Tuesday whether it wants to submit a legal document that would allow borough representatives to participate in the investigation process regarding a proposed power rate increase in Haines.
At its Jan. 28 meeting, the assembly voted to have an attorney assess whether or not submitting a petition to intervene in the case of Alaska Power Company’s request for an 18 percent rate increase would have any effect on the outcome of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska’s hearing on the matter.
Mayor Stephanie Scott, after conferring with the attorney, decided intervening would be worthwhile.
“It gets us a seat at the table so we can ask subsequent questions and investigate further. I think that’s the reason to file an intervention at this point in time,” Scott said.
Filing a petition is relatively inexpensive, but, if granted, the subsequent attorney time involved in the RCA’s hearing process could really add up, Scott said.
Scott has also contacted other municipalities that would be affected by the proposed rate increase to see if they have decided to submit petitions to intervene, as well. “I don’t believe we’re alone on a raft,” she said.
The assembly will consider the draft petition to intervene at its regular meeting Tuesday.
The RCA recently approved an interim rate increase of 6 percent while the investigation is underway.
The RCA has set a deadline of July 13 for an update on the investigation, though the commission has until Feb. 20, 2015, to issue a final order.