NOTICE OF UTILITY PETITION

The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on August 14, 2015, CapStone Solutions, Inc. (CapStone) filed a petition for an exemption from regulation as a wholesale electric utility pursuant AS 42.05.711(d). Docket No. U-15-106 was opened to address this matter.

CapStone intends to own and operate solar energy generation facilities and sell power to local utilities in rural communities. CapStone proposes to exclusively sell power to small rural utilities that are either completely unregulated or are exempt from economic regulation by the Commission. AS 42.05 provides the Commission with the authority to certificate public utilities with revenues over a certain threshold, and to economically regulate other public utilities. Certification involves a Commission determination that the utility is fit, willing, and able to provide the proposed service, and that the proposed service is required by the public convenience and necessity. Economic regulation refers to Commission regulation of a utility's rates and charges, quality of service, and management practices. CapStone seeks exemption from both certification and ongoing economic regulation in order to make its solar generation construction and operations economically feasible and satisfy its investors and lenders.  Capstone requests an exemption under AS 42.05.711(d), which allows the Commission to exempt a utility from all or a portion of AS 42.05 if the Commission finds the exemption is in the public interest.   

In conjunction with its petition, CapStone requested expedited consideration of the filing, seeking approval of its petition by mid-December. This notice does not address in detail all of the points contained in the filing. The Commission may approve or impose conditions that vary from those proposed.

You may obtain more information about this petition by contacting Jason McEvers, President, CapStone Solutions, Inc., 8195 166^th Avenue, NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA, 98052; phone: (425) 861-9440. The complete filing is also available for inspection at the Commission’s office at 701 West 8^th 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-15-106” in the Find a Matter search box.

To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m. October 29, 2015, at the Commission’s address given above or via our website at:

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

Please reference the docket number and include a statement that you’ve filed a copy of the comments with CapStone at its 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, or TTY (907) 276-4533 or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by October 22, 2015.

DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 8^th day of October, 2015.

                                                            REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA

                                                            TW Patch
                                                            Chairman