Why Alaska utilities can build now, ask for rate increases later

The exhaust stack for the diesel turbine. (Photo by Elizabeth Jenkins/KTOO)Alaska’s privately owned electric utilities can’t increase their rates overnight. They first have to go through a process with the state’s regulatory commission to demonstrate a need. That’s what Juneau’s utility — AEL&P — is at the beginning stages of doing.
But customers get little say about projects already on the books.
Last week, Alaska Electric Light & Power announce