On behalf of the commissioners and the staff at the RCA, Chairman Patch thanks
every Alaskan who took time to express their opinion about how well the Regulatory
Commission of Alaska accomplishes its objectives and how carefully and
thoughtfully it goes about the business of utility and pipeline certification, regulation,
and rate setting.
Commissioner Robert M. Pickett was reappointed to service as a Commissioner by
Governor Sean Parnell and was unanimously reconfirmed in a joint legislative
session.
On the basis of the earned trust and high regard the agency enjoys from a high
percentage of informed Alaskans from all across the state and in many walks of
industry and Alaskan life, the agency earned high praise and a strong
recommendation from the State Legislative Auditor. As a result the legislature
extended the termination date of the agency for a term of eight years, the maximum
allowed by law.
After a careful analysis of the state’s regulations adoption process, both houses of
the legislature recognized that the RCA has a regulations process that is accessible,
transparent, and involves and informs the public; and both houses continued the
agency’s status under the current administrative procedures act, recognizing that the
people of the state and the parties that regularly appear before the commission are
best served by recognizing that the agency can best serve if its statutory
independence and its quasi-judicial decision making role is acknowledged and
protected.
These notable accomplishments and others could not have been achieved had you
not exercised your right to take part in the political process and voice your opinion to
the agency so that it could be aware of how it is perceived and how it can
continuously improve and had you likewise not expressed your praise and
commendation, when earned, to the state legislators.
My sincere thanks to each and every Alaskan who helps the RCA achieve a high
standard of performance and correspondingly acknowledges our efforts and our
accomplishments.
T.W. PATCH
Chairman, Regulatory Commission of Alaska
701 West 8th Avenue, Suite 300
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3469
Date Issued: 4/28/2014