Regulators hold ENSTAR rate case to Jan. 28 deadline, deny delay

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska on Oct. 29 extended the suspension of ENSTAR Natural Gas Company's rate filings from Dec. 17 to Jan. 28, 2027, its deadline to rule on the utility's request to raise gas rates. The order, issued by Administrative Law Judge James L. Walker, denied two landlords more time for closing arguments. Customers keep paying interim rates.

G1, the smallest class, pays a $20.00 monthly customer charge and 18.459 cents per hundred cubic feet, up from $16.25 and 14.982 cents. ENSTAR's May 2025 filing sought $24.9 million a year, $8.95 monthly for the average customer by its estimate, raising G1 further while cutting G3 and G4 customer charges below interim levels.

JL Properties and RSD Properties sought to move written closings from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, citing unfinished transcripts. ENSTAR took no position. The landlords said the attorney general's public advocacy office, Chugach Electric Association and federal agencies did not oppose the delay. The commission had already moved the deadline once, from Oct. 23, and said the agreed timeline "does not fully alleviate our scheduling conflicts." The landlords' attorney must file an affidavit by Nov. 5.