NOTICE OF JOINT UTILITY APPLICATION TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND SERVICE

The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on June 9, 2015, Alaska Telephone Company (ATC) and Alaska Power Company (APC) (collectively Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T)) filed a joint application seeking to temporarily suspend wireline telephone and electric service in Healy Lake, Alaska (Application) for the period of April 14, 2015 through December 31, 2015 (Suspension Period). Dockets U-15-085 (ATC) and U-15-086 (APC) were opened to address the joint Application.

According to the company, AP&T does not have any wireline telephone or electric service customers in the Healy Lake service area and as of the week of March 16, 2015 temporarily suspended service to the community for a lack of need. AP&T states that the company does not anticipate the need for utility provided wireline telephone or electric service in Healy Lake for the foreseeable future and does not intend to provide or act upon any new requests for service during the proposed Suspension Period. 

AS 42.05.261(a) provides that a public utility may not discontinue or abandon service unless, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, the Commission finds that continued service is not required by the public’s convenience and necessity. A hearing will be scheduled by the Commission in a future order to allow interested persons to voice their support for or opposition to AP&T’s proposed temporary suspension of wireline telephone and electric service in Healy Lake. All interested persons will be invited to attend and make comments at the hearing.

No motion for waiver or petition for confidentiality was filed with the Application. The Commission has not assessed the completeness of the Application. The Commission may determine whether the Application is complete by June 30, 2015.

You may obtain information about the Application by contacting Anthony S. Guerriero with Brena, Bell & Clarkson, P.C., attorney for AP&T, at 810 N Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone (907) 258-2000. The complete Application is also available for inspection at the Commission’s office at 701 West 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone (907) 276-6222, or may be viewed at the Commission’s website at http://rca.alaska.gov by typing Docket “U-15-085” or “U-15-086” in the Find a Matter search box.

To comment on the Application, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m. July 7, 2015, at the Commission’s address given above or via our website at:

https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx

Please reference Docket U-15-085 or U-15-086 and include a statement that you’ve filed a copy of the comments with the attorney for AP&T at the address given above.

Individuals or groups of people with disabilities, who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communication formats, please contact Joyce McGowan at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at 1-800-390-2782, TTY (907) 276-4533, or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by June 30, 2015.

DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 15th day of June, 2015.

      REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA

      Robert M. Pickett

      Chairman