NOTICE OF DEPRECIATION FILING
The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on April 29, 2016, Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc. (GVEA) filed a depreciation study proposing revised depreciation rates. Docket No. U-16-050 was opened to address this matter.
Depreciation expense is a material cost of business that may be recovered through regulated utility rates. Changes in depreciation expense may lead to changes in the utility rates paid by consumers. No change in consumer rates is proposed by this filing. However, if approved, GVEA plans on incorporating the impact of the revised depreciation rates into its general rate case it intends to file with the Commission in the autumn of 2016.
The depreciation study is based upon GVEA’s plant balances as of December 31, 2014. GVEA requests the Commission approve the proposed revised depreciation rates to synchronize its rates with those approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (RUS). GVEA states that the revised depreciation rates would result in an overall depreciation expense reduction of $2,167,527 from the amount previously approved by the Commission by Order U-15-104(2) on December 30, 2015. GVEA requests that the revised depreciation rates be approved retroactive to January 1, 2016 for accounting purposes, and to coincide with the effective date approved by RUS.
This notice does not address in detail all of the points contained in the filing. The Commission may approve, deny, or modify, in whole or in part, the depreciation rates proposed by GVEA, and may set conditions on approval.
You may obtain more information about this filing by contacting Kirk H. Gibson, with McDowell Rackner Gibson PC, Attorneys for GVEA, at 419 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, OR 97205; phone: (503) 290-3626. The complete filing 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 No. “U-16-050” in the Find a Matter search box.
To comment on this filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., June 6, 2016, at the Commission’s address given above or via our website at:
https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx.
Please reference Docket No. U-16-050 and include a statement that you’ve filed a copy of the comments with GVEA 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, TTY (907) 276-4533 or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by May 30, 2016.
DATED at Anchorage, Alaska, this 4th day of May, 2016.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
Robert M. Pickett
Chairman