Chugach Electric board reviews 2025 milestones, gas supply push

Gas supply uncertainty is pressing Chugach Electric Association to move fast. A board member said the timing of short-term import planning is such that the utility has to act quickly so that members do not have to worry about whether their lights are going to turn on, and to ensure that power bills remain low and supply remains reliable.

The board said gas-supply uncertainty touches reliability, cost, and planning, and that the utility has held countless meetings, sessions, and presentations on strategies to address the challenge. Agreements for gas storage are in place, and the utility is working through short-term importation, including determining which terminal will receive imported gas and from whom the gas will be purchased.

Looking beyond the near-term supply crunch, the same board member said the goal is to diversify the generation portfolio through hydroelectric, wind, solar, and other means rather than continuing to import gas. The board framed long-term generation planning as covering the next 30, 50, and 100 years, with significant opportunities still available in Alaska.

2025 Milestones

Board members highlighted several accomplishments from the past year. One described the completion of the merger or acquisition of MLNP, including consolidating buildings and moving staff onto one campus, as a significant milestone.

Another board member pointed to the renegotiation of all union and labor contracts as a major achievement, noting it had been nearly two decades since those contracts were last renegotiated. That board member said reliable power requires reliable staff and emphasized the importance of adequate compensation, good working conditions, and treating employees as the professionals they are.

The board also cited the adoption of Chugach's own Integrated Resource Plan as a meaningful accomplishment, describing it as an important tool for building the long-term generation strategy to ensure the utility is sustainable, affordable, and reliable for generations to come.

Other milestones included moving to remote operations at the Beluga Power Plant, which saved money and brought employees back on site; combining the North and South campuses to free up space and land; securing the contract to finish the Bird to Gerd 115-kV line extension from the Kenai, described as important for reliability; and the launch of community solar, which board members said gives members a new way to engage and support causes they believe in, representing an important step toward a more flexible, member-driven system.

Board Priorities

Board members described the questions that guide their deliberations: whether the utility is serving its members, keeping the lights on as affordably as possible, meeting members where their priorities are, keeping employees safe and challenged, being a good community partner, and being innovative and growing.