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Alaska Statutes

Alaska Stat. § 42.05.141 (2026)

General powers and duties of the commission

✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 42.05.141. General powers and duties of the commission.
 (a) The Regulatory Commission of Alaska may do all things necessary or proper to carry out the purposes and exercise the powers expressly granted or reasonably implied in this chapter, including
     (1) regulate every public utility engaged or proposing to engage in a utility business inside the state, except to the extent exempted by AS 42.05.711;

     (2) investigate, upon complaint or upon its own motion, the rates, classifications, rules, regulations, practices, services, and facilities of a public utility and hold hearings on them;

     (3) make or require just, fair, and reasonable rates, classifications, regulations, practices, services, and facilities for a public utility;

     (4) prescribe the system of accounts and regulate the service and safety of operations of a public utility;

     (5) require a public utility to file reports and other information and data;

     (6) appear personally or by counsel and represent the interests and welfare of the state in all matters and proceedings involving a public utility pending before an officer, department, board, commission, or court of the state or of another state or the United States and to intervene in, protest, resist, or advocate the granting, denial, or modification of any petition, application, complaint, or other proceeding;

     (7) examine witnesses and offer evidence in any proceeding affecting the state and initiate or participate in judicial proceedings to the extent necessary to protect and promote the interests of the state.

 (b) The commission shall perform the duties assigned to it under AS 42.45.100 — 42.45.190 and AS 44.83.700 — 44.83.720.

 (c) In the establishment of electric service rates under this chapter the commission shall promote the conservation of resources used in the generation of electric energy.

 (d) When considering whether the approval of a rate or a gas supply contract proposed by a utility to provide a reliable supply of gas for a reasonable price is in the public interest, the commission shall
     (1) recognize the public benefits of allowing a utility to negotiate different pricing mechanisms with different gas suppliers and to maintain a diversified portfolio of gas supply contracts to protect customers from the risks of inadequate supply or excessive cost that may arise from a single pricing mechanism; and

     (2) consider whether a utility could meet its responsibility to the public in a timely manner and without undue risk to the public if the commission fails to approve a rate or a gas supply contract proposed by the utility.

 (e) The commission may not designate a local exchange carrier or long distance telephone company as the carrier of last resort. In this subsection, “local exchange carrier” and “long distance telephone company” have the meanings given in AS 42.05.890.

 (f) The commission may designate an eligible telecommunications carrier consistent with 47 U.S.C. 214(e).

 (g) Nothing in this chapter limits the authority of the commission under this section or AS 42.05.151 necessary to implement provisions that remain applicable under AS 42.05.321(b) or 42.05.711.

 (h) The commission shall, as required under AS 44.88.850(b), determine whether the sale price in a gas sales agreement for gas produced through a project partially or fully funded by a loan under AS 44.88.850 constitutes a just and reasonable immediate delivery price for gas.

 (i) Except as provided in AS 42.05.711(q) and (s), the commission shall regulate under this chapter the service of natural gas storage and the service of liquefied natural gas storage, including storage furnished by operating a natural gas storage facility that is part of a pipeline facility operated by a pipeline carrier, or a natural gas pipeline facility operated by a natural gas pipeline carrier. In this subsection, “natural gas pipeline carrier,” “natural gas pipeline facility,” “pipeline carrier,” and “pipeline facility” have the meanings given in AS 42.06.630.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1972–2024 · leading case: Gen. Motors Corp. v. Tracy, 519 U.S. 278 (1997).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Gen. Motors Corp. v. Tracy, 519 U.S. 278 (1997). · cites it 2× “1996); Alaska: Alaska Stat. Ann. §§ 42.05.141 , 42.05.291, 42.”
Far North Sanitation, Inc. v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 825 P.2d 867 (Alaska 1992). · cites it 3× “This test year interim rate-setting appears to be one which was within the liberal construction of AS 42.05.141 which grants the APUC, upon its own motion, the right to investigate and set rates which are fair to consumers and provide a reasonable rate of return and profit to…”
United States v. RCA Alaska Commc'ns, Inc., 597 P.2d 489 (Alaska 1979). · cites it 2× “The general powers and duties of the commission are described in AS 42.05.141 which provides, in part: The Alaska Public Utilities Commission may .”
Chugach Elec. Ass'n v. Regulatory Comm'n, 49 P.3d 246 (Alaska 2002). · cites it 2× “Instead, it stated that its power to control competition derived from three places: AS 42.05.141, 17 AS 42.05.221(a), and AS 42.”
Greater Anchorage Area Borough v. City of Anchorage, 504 P.2d 1027 (Alaska 1972). · cites it 2× “" The general powers and duties of the PUC are set forth in AS 42.05.141: "Alaska Public Utilities Commission may (1) regulate every public utility engaged or proposing to engage in such a business inside the state, except to the extent exempted by § 711 of this chapter and the…”
Matanuska Elec. Ass'n v. Chugach Elec. Ass'n, 99 P.3d 553 (Alaska 2004). “511(a) (Commission may do all things necessary and proper to carry out its authority, including investigating reasonableness of rates, regulations, and practices of public utilities, including investment policies and practices). 20 . See, e.g., United Parcel Serv.”
Homer Elec. Ass'n, Inc. v. City of Kenai, 816 P.2d 182 (Alaska 1991). · cites it 2× “B The legislature established the “[gjeneral powers and duties” of the APUC in AS 42.05.141, which provides in subsection (a)(1), that the APUC shall regulate every public utility engaged or proposing to engage in such a business inside the state, except to the extent exempted…”
Glacier State Tel. Co. v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 724 P.2d 1187 (Alaska 1986). · cites it 2× “GSTC is regulated by the Alaska Public Utilities Commission (APUC or the “commission”) pursuant to AS 42.05.141. On May 22, 1981, GSTC filed Tariff Advice Letter (TA) No.”
Amerada Hess Pipeline Corp. v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 711 P.2d 1170 (Alaska 1986). “610 is consistent both with the apparent intent of the legislature to allow the APUC to recoup its costs of regulation, and with AS 42.05.141(1) which provides that the powers of the APUC shall be liberally construed to accomplish its stated purposes.”
Jager v. State, 537 P.2d 1100 (Alaska 1975). “The revised statute, AS 42.05.141, provides : The Alaska Public Utilities Commission may .”
Colville Env't Servs., Inc. v. North Slope Borough, 831 P.2d 341 (Alaska 1992). · cites it 2× “Is the granting of a certificate to 'perform daily refuse collection plainly beyond the Commission's authority? The legislature established the “general powers and duties” of the Commission in AS 42.05.141. Subsection (a)(1) of this statute provides that the Commission may (1)…”
Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n v. Mun. of Anchorage, 555 P.2d 262 (Alaska 1976). “AS 42.05.141 provides : The Alaska Public Utilities Commission may (1) regulate every public utility engaged or proposing to engage in such a business inside the state, except to the ex *266 tent exempted by § 711 of the chapter and the powers of the commission shall be…”
Show all 21 citing cases →
— Alaska Stat. § 42.05.141(1) — 4 cases
Amerada Hess Pipeline Corp. v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 711 P.2d 1170 (Alaska 1986). “610 is consistent both with the apparent intent of the legislature to allow the APUC to recoup its costs of regulation, and with AS 42.05.141(1) which provides that the powers of the APUC shall be liberally construed to accomplish its stated purposes.”
Mun. of Anchorage v. Regulatory Comm'n of Alaska, 215 P.3d 327 (Alaska 2009).
Homer Elec. Ass'n v. State, Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 756 P.2d 874 (Alaska 1988).
Mun. of Anchorage v. Regulatory Comm'n, 208 P.3d 163 (Alaska 2009).
— Alaska Stat. § 42.05.141(a) — 2 cases
Matanuska Elec. Ass'n v. Chugach Elec. Ass'n, 99 P.3d 553 (Alaska 2004). “511(a) (Commission may do all things necessary and proper to carry out its authority, including investigating reasonableness of rates, regulations, and practices of public utilities, including investment policies and practices). 20 . See, e.g., United Parcel Serv.”
Far North Sanitation, Inc. v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 825 P.2d 867 (Alaska 1992). “This test year interim rate-setting appears to be one which was within the liberal construction of AS 42.05.141 which grants the APUC, upon its own motion, the right to investigate and set rates which are fair to consumers and provide a reasonable rate of return and profit to…”
— Alaska Stat. § 42.05.141(a)(1) — 5 cases
Homer Elec. Ass'n, Inc. v. City of Kenai, 816 P.2d 182 (Alaska 1991). “B The legislature established the “[gjeneral powers and duties” of the APUC in AS 42.05.141, which provides in subsection (a)(1), that the APUC shall regulate every public utility engaged or proposing to engage in such a business inside the state, except to the extent exempted…”
Colville Env't Servs., Inc. v. North Slope Borough, 831 P.2d 341 (Alaska 1992). “Is the granting of a certificate to 'perform daily refuse collection plainly beyond the Commission's authority? The legislature established the “general powers and duties” of the Commission in AS 42.05.141. Subsection (a)(1) of this statute provides that the Commission may (1)…”
Alaska Fed'n for Cmty. Self-Reliance v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 879 P.2d 1015 (Alaska 1994).
Mun. of Anchorage v. Regulatory Comm'n of Alaska, 215 P.3d 327 (Alaska 2009).
Mun. of Anchorage v. Regulatory Comm'n, 208 P.3d 163 (Alaska 2009).
— Alaska Stat. § 42.05.141(a)(3) — 4 cases
Far North Sanitation, Inc. v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 825 P.2d 867 (Alaska 1992). “This test year interim rate-setting appears to be one which was within the liberal construction of AS 42.05.141 which grants the APUC, upon its own motion, the right to investigate and set rates which are fair to consumers and provide a reasonable rate of return and profit to…”
Glacier State Tel. Co. v. Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 724 P.2d 1187 (Alaska 1986). “GSTC is regulated by the Alaska Public Utilities Commission (APUC or the “commission”) pursuant to AS 42.05.141. On May 22, 1981, GSTC filed Tariff Advice Letter (TA) No.”
Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n v. Mun. of Anchorage, 902 P.2d 783 (Alaska 1995).
Homer Elec. Ass'n v. State, Alaska Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 756 P.2d 874 (Alaska 1988).
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