TBPC to be recast as advisory committee

The Wrangell and Petersburg Assemblies will soon vote on an ordinance that will turn the Thomas Bay Power Commission (TBPC) into a member appointed advisory committee, activated only at the behest of both assemblies.

The TBPC oversaw the Tyee Hydroelectric Plant until operations and management of the plant were transferred to the Southeast Alaska Power Authority (SEAPA) last summer. Since then, TBPC members, in conjunction with both municipalities’ assemblies, have been trying to figure out the desired role of the group.

Rather than decommission the group entirely, the new provisions in the draft ordinance retain the ability to call on the group as an advisory committee “to assist the communities in the investigation, review, evaluation, planning and development of future joint energy needs and projects when assigned by both assemblies,” according to the draft.

Membership to the advisory committee would be by appointment and such appointments would be made only once both assemblies agree there is need for the group. A seven-member panel would consist of three members appointed by each

community’s assembly, including the

superintendents of the local electric utility. The final member would be selected by the six appointed members.

“It is understood there will not be a standing Thomas Bay Power Advisory Committee,” according to the draft.

“Once it’s tasked with something, once that is resolved, the committee goes away,” said Vice Mayor Cindi Lagoudakis.

She also explained that the group will not have a budget, “although there will be some compensation of travel expenses.”

The Wrangell Assembly drafted and will vote first at its Jan. 13 meeting on a re-write of the ordinance provisions that provided for the TBPC originally. The Petersburg Borough Assembly will consider the same ordinance at its Jan. 20 meeting.