Canadian electrical firm Hydro One has re-filed its request to take over Alaska Electric Light and Power.
On Friday, state regulators announced that Hydro One filed its request Nov. 21. Public comments are being accepted through Dec. 21.
This marks Hydro One’s second filing with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The first takeover request was rejected by state regulators Nov. 13 on a technicality.
Ontario-based Hydro One had sought a waiver from rules requiring it to show proof that, as a foreign corporation, it can do business in Alaska. Hydro One contended that because AEL&P will be managed through Spokane-based Avista Corp., and because Avista will be handled through a Delaware-based LLC, Hydro One did not have to show that proof.
Regulators rejected that argument, then rejected the takeover request because Hydro One had not shown proof that it can do business here.
The re-filing is the latest step in a process that began in July when the largest power company in Ontario announced it would buy the parent company of AEL&P for $5.3 billion.
That parent company, Washington-based Avista, acquired AEL&P from its Juneau owners in 2013. The company has been providing electricity to Juneau for 120 years.
Members of the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly have expressed interest in buying the company, but Hydro One’s president and CEO has said the company is uninterested in that idea.
Anyone interested in filing a public comment can visit https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 523-2258.
