Summary of Responsibility
The responsibility of public advocacy for regulatory affairs was established in July 2003 within the Department of Law to advocate on behalf of the public interest in utility matters that come before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA or Commission). AS 44.23.020(e). The Attorney General, as the Public Advocate, determines and advocates for the general public interest with particular attention to the interests of consumers who would not otherwise have an effective voice regarding the rates and services of regulated utilities or pipeline carriers operating in the state. See related material below.
Public Advocate Advisories
- 11/03/09 Attorney General Obtains Greater Water and Sewer Refunds
- 02/20/09 Attorney General's Office Successfuly Advocates for Enstar
Customer Refunds - 10/09/08 Attorney General's Office Announces Rate Reduction and Refunds for Adak Telephone Customers
- 01/23/08 AG Office Alerts Consumers To Digital TV Conversions
- 10/26/07 AG Negotiates Oversight of Deregulated Commercial Refuse Services
- 07/10/07 Court Upholds RCA Decision Requiring Substantial Refunds for AWWU Customers
- 12/11/06 Attorney General / Public Advocate Advises Telephone Customers of 2006 Tax Refund
- 09/29/06 RCA Rejects Gas Supply Contract Proposed by Enstar. - PDF(31KB)
- 05/19/06 AG Negotiates Settlement Requiring that Enstar's Outsourcing of Collection and Billing Practices to Remain Subject to RCA Oversight. - PDF(30KB)
- 09/13/05 AG's Efforts Help Generate Multi-Million Dollar Rate Reduction and Refund for Customers of Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility - PDF(30KB).
- Get RCA Order Here - PDF(96KB)
- 08/30/05 AG's Efforts Help to Reduce Electric Utility Rate Hike - PDF(24KB)
- 02/22/05 AG Asks the RCA to Investigate a Proposed Gas Supply Agreement Proposed by Enstar Natural Gas - PDF(76KB).
- Get AG Comments Here - LARGE PDF(2.98MB)
- 11/24/04 AG's Proposal Reducing Electric Bill Costs for Bethel Residents
Approved by RCA - PDF(85KB) - 08/26/04 Attorney General Weighs-in on Proposed, Local Telephone
Subscriber Fee - PDF(86KB)
Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy (RAPA) History
- Executive Order 111, effective July 1, 2003 - PDF(108KB)
- Senate Bill 392, effective July 1, 2004 - PDF(345KB)
- Attorney General's September 4, 2003 ADN Compass OpEd - PDF(289KB)
- June 2004 Press Release: Gov. Signs Bill to Empower & Fund Utilities
Public Advocate - PDF(88KB)
Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy (RAPA) Personnel
- Daniel Patrick O’Tierney - Statewide Section Chief
Daniel.Patrick.O'Tierney@alaska.gov - Glenn Gustafson - Assistant Attorney General
- Sam Cason - Assistant Attorney General
- Lew Craig - Mgr, Investigations & Analysis
- Jana A. Grenn - Public Advocate Utility Analyst
- Janet Fairchild - Public Advocate Utility Analyst
- Parker Nation - Public Advocate Utility Analyst
- Vacant - Public Advocate Utility Analyst
- Jessica Erickson - Law Office Assistant
- Robert Foote-Jones - Law Office Assistant
Legal Services Provided
The Public Advocate represents the general public interest in rate cases and other proceedings before the RCA, in court appeals, before the Legislature and other policymakers. The Department of Law does not provide legal services directly to people, however, other than to persons specified by law, such as the governor, legislators and client state agencies. Individual utility customers who seek specific assistance may contact the Consumer Protection Section of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA).
In his role as the Public Advocate, the Attorney General utilizes the expert technical support of Department of Law non-attorney professionals who provide accounting, engineering, economic and policy analysis for all types of regulated utilities and prepare written testimony for hearing. Alaska sought and was granted membership to the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) within the first six months of operation.
Recent Significant Cases (alphabetical)
Alaska Pacific Environmental Services/Ketchikan (APES-Ketchikan), RCA Docket U-08-124, (Refuse).- Alaska Pacific Environmental Services/Dutch Harbor (APES-Dutch Harbor), RCA Docket U-08-125 (Refuse).
- Alaska Pacific Environmental Services/Nome (APES-Nome),
RCA Docket U-08-126 (Refuse). - Alaska Pacific Environmental Services/Juneau (APES-Juneau),
RCA Docket U-08-127 (Refuse). - Alaska Pacific Environmental Services d/b/a Alaska Waste (Alaska Waste),
RCA Docket U-09-012/U-09-013/U-09-014 (Refuse).
Alaska Telephone Company (ATC),
RCA Docket U-09-006 (LEC);
Bettles Telephone Company, Inc (BTI),
RCA Docket U-09-007 (LEC);
North Country Telephone, Inc. (NTCI),
RCA Docket U-09-008 (LEC).
Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU),
RCA Docket U-08-157/U-08-158 (Water/Wastewater).- Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU)
v. RCA, Supreme Court No. S-12788. 
Chugach Electric Association (Chugach),
RCA Dockets U-09-080, U-09-93 (Electric).- Eagle Utilities, Inc. (Eagle),
RCA Docket U-09-034, (Water). - Egegik Light & Power (EL&P),
RCA Docket U-07-049 (Electric). 
Enstar Natural Gas Company (Enstar),
RCA Docket U-08-025. (Gas).- Enstar Natural Gas Company (Enstar),
RCA Docket U-08-142. (Gas). - Enstar Natural Gas Company (Enstar),
RCA Docket U-09-069/U-09-070. (Gas). - Goat Lake Hydro Inc.,
RCA Docket U-07-078. (Electric). - Golden Heart Utilities (GHU)/College Utilities Corp. (CUC),
RCA Dockets U-05-043/U-05-044. (Water and Sewer Utilities). - Golden Heart Utilities (GHU)/College Utilities Corp. (CUC),
RCA Dockets U-07-076/U-07-077. (Water and Sewer Utilities). - Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA),
RCA Docket U-08-139 (Electric). - Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA),
RCA Docket U-09-052 (Electric). - Potter Creek Water Company (PCWC),
RCA Docket U-08-063. (Water). - In the Matter of the Consideration of Adoption of Regulations to Implement Amendments to the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 by the Energy Policy Act of 2005,
RCA Docket R-06-005. (Electric). - In the Matter of the Consideration of Modifying Alaska Access Charge Policies and the Use of the Alaska Universal Service Fund to Promote Universal Service in Alaska,
RCA Docket No. R-08-003 (LEC & IXC). - In the Matter of Request for Comments on Proper Scope of Regulations Docket Addressing Pricing Provisions in Natural Gas Supply Contracts, RCA Information Docket No. I-09-007. (Natural Gas).
In the Matter of the Consideration of the Adoption of Regulations Implementing Electronic Filing, Docket No. R-09-004.
