Rep. Donna Mears seeks fix to preserve certificate‑of‑fitness exemption for rural utilities Rep. Donna Mears introduced HB 329 to clarify AS 18.62.010 so that utilities serving multiple small, non‑interconnected communities can continue to rely on locally trained, non‑journeyman workers for routine repairs; AVEC and IBEW testified about safety, training and operational impacts while DOL explained its interpretation.

Rep. Donna Mears is pushing for House Bill 329 to ensure rural utilities can keep using local workers for essential electrical maintenance, but will it pass the scrutiny of safety standards?

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Committee hears AVEC and IBEW on bill to restore small‑community certificate exemption HB329 would clarify AS 18.62.010 so that rural portions of an electric utility’s service area that are not electrically interconnected and communities under 2,500 remain exempt from the certificate-of-fitness requirement; AVEC warned a Department of Labor interpretation disrupted maintenance and reliability, while IBEW emphasized safety and training.

Lawmakers are grappling with crucial amendments to a bill that could impact power reliability in Alaska's remote communities, as concerns grow over utility employee exemptions.

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Senate Judiciary advances bill to formalize prescriptive easements for rural electric lines The Senate Judiciary Committee reported Senate File 99 favorably after stakeholders and utilities agreed to language allowing prescriptive easements for long-standing, visible electricity delivery lines while preserving landowner rights; the bill passed the committee 5–0.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has taken a significant step by advancing a bill that aims to streamline prescriptive easements for rural electric lines, balancing utility needs with landowner rights.

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