Regulatory Matters	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Regulatory Matters [Abstract]
Regulatory Matters	5. REGULATORY MATTERS Simplified Rate Filing Chugach is a participant in the Simplified Rate Filing (SRF) process for adjustments to base demand and energy rates for Chugach retail customers and wholesale customer, Seward. Chugach is required to submit filings to the RCA for approval before any rate changes can be implemented. While there is no limitation on decreases, base rate increases under SRF are limited to 8% in a 12-month period and 20% in a 36-month period. SRF is an expedited base rate adjustment process available to electric cooperatives in the State of Alaska, with filings made either on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. Chugach is a participant on a quarterly filing schedule basis. Because the SRF process is completed every three months rates are expected to be more consistent and rate changes are generally small. Chugach submitted quarterly SRF filings which resulted in a 3.0% decrease to system demand and energy rates effective July 1, 2017, an increase of 1.9% for rates effective November 1, 2017, and an increase of 0.4 % for rates effective February 1, 2018. Chugach submitted its December 31, 2017 test year SRF with the RCA on March 30, 2018. The RCA approved a system demand and energy rate increase of 0.3%, effective May 1, 2018. Chugach submitted its March 2018 test year SRF with the RCA on May 30, 2018, for rates effective August 1, 2018. Approved by the RCA July 6, 2018, this filing resulted in an increase to demand and energy rates of 1.8 percent and 2.9 percent for retail and wholesale customers, respectively. Fuel and Purchased Power Rates Chugach recovers fuel and purchased power costs directly from retail and wholesale customers through the fuel and purchased power rate adjustment process. Changes in fuel and purchased power costs are primarily due to fixed price or fuel price adjustment processes in gas-supply contracts. Other factors, including generation unit availability also impact fuel and purchased power recovery rate levels. The fuel and purchased power adjustment is approved on a quarterly basis by the RCA. There are no limitations on the number or amount of fuel and purchased power recovery rate changes. Increases in fuel and purchased power costs result in increased revenues while decreases in these costs result in lower revenues. Therefore, revenue from the fuel and purchased power adjustment process does not impact margins. Chugach recognizes differences between projected recoverable fuel and purchased power costs and amounts actually recovered through rates. The fuel cost under/over recovery on the Balance Sheet represents the net accumulation of any under- or over-collection of fuel and purchased power costs. A fuel cost under-recovery will appear as an asset on our Balance Sheet and will be collected from our members in subsequent periods. Conversely, a fuel cost over-recovery will appear as a liability on the Balance Sheet and will be refunded to members in subsequent periods. Operation and Regulation of the Alaska Railbelt Electric and Transmission System In June 2016, the RCA opened a docket to “evaluate the reliability and security standards and practices of Alaska Electric Utilities.” In 2017, Chugach and several other Alaska Railbelt utilities entered into a contract with GDS Associates, Inc. (GDS). GDS’s scope is to facilitate discussion between all six Alaska Railbelt utilities and various stakeholders with an end goal of submitting to the RCA a Railbelt Reliability Council (RRC), including a governance structure, that will be responsible for adoption and enforcement of uniform reliability standards and integrated transmission resource planning. GDS presented to the RCA during two technical conferences in January and March of 2018. Chugach and the other utilities provided GDS’s final recommendation of the RRC to the RCA in May 2018. Currently the utilities are finalizing an MOU covering implementation which is expected to be filed with the RCA in the third quarter of 2018 pending review and approval by each of the respective utility’s Board of Directors. While Chugach cannot determine the materiality of any effect on its results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows until a business model and plan are adopted, it anticipates a positive outcome. In June 2016, in response to Docket I-16-002, Railbelt Utility Information Technology and Operations Technology, leadership began meeting to discuss Railbelt Cybersecurity. The Railbelt Utilities Managers group designated the Cybersecurity Working Group to review industry standards and provide a statement of work to develop Railbelt Cybersecurity Standards. On June 21, 2018, Chugach posted a Request for Proposal to hire a consultant to write the standards. The final draft is expected to be presented to the Railbelt Utility Managers by the end of 2018. Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska, LLC (CINGSA) CINGSA filed Tariff Advice Number 32-733 on April 30, 2018, to request adjustments to their base rates for firm natural gas storage service (FSS) and interruptible gas storage service (ISS). Chugach has intervened on this case, and the RCA has suspended this filing into a docket The RCA is expected to issue a decision by July 24, 2019. On April 27, 2018, CINGSA filed a request with the RCA for advance determination of decisional prudence and assurance of cost recovery for what has been termed the Redundancy Project. A docket was opened to address this matter. Chugach is participating in this docket. A decision by the RCA is expected by January 4, 2019.

5. REGULATORY MATTERS

Simplified Rate Filing

Chugach is a participant in the Simplified Rate Filing (SRF) process for adjustments to base demand and energy rates for Chugach retail customers and wholesale customer, Seward. Chugach is required to submit filings to the RCA for approval before any rate changes can be implemented. While there is no limitation on decreases, base rate increases under SRF are limited to 8% in a 12-month period and 20% in a 36-month period. SRF is an expedited base rate adjustment process available to electric cooperatives in the State of Alaska, with filings made either on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. Chugach is a participant on a quarterly filing schedule basis. Because the SRF process is completed every three months rates are expected to be more consistent and rate changes are generally small.

Chugach submitted quarterly SRF filings which resulted in a 3.0% decrease to system demand and energy rates effective July 1, 2017, an increase of 1.9% for rates effective November 1, 2017, and an increase of 0.4 % for rates effective February 1, 2018. Chugach submitted its December 31, 2017 test year SRF with the RCA on March 30, 2018. The RCA approved a system demand and energy rate increase of 0.3%, effective May 1, 2018. Chugach submitted its March 2018 test year SRF with the RCA on May 30, 2018, for rates effective August 1, 2018. Approved by the RCA July 6, 2018, this filing resulted in an increase to demand and energy rates of 1.8 percent and 2.9 percent for retail and wholesale customers, respectively.

Fuel and Purchased Power Rates

Chugach recovers fuel and purchased power costs directly from retail and wholesale customers through the fuel and purchased power rate adjustment process. Changes in fuel and purchased power costs are primarily due to fixed price or fuel price adjustment processes in gas-supply contracts. Other factors, including generation unit availability also impact fuel and purchased power recovery rate levels.

The fuel and purchased power adjustment is approved on a quarterly basis by the RCA. There are no limitations on the number or amount of fuel and purchased power recovery rate changes. Increases in fuel and purchased power costs result in increased revenues while decreases in these costs result in lower revenues. Therefore, revenue from the fuel and purchased power adjustment process does not impact margins. Chugach recognizes differences between projected recoverable fuel and purchased power costs and amounts actually recovered through rates. The fuel cost under/over recovery on the Balance Sheet represents the net accumulation of any under- or over-collection of fuel and purchased power costs. A fuel cost under-recovery will appear as an asset on our Balance Sheet and will be collected from our members in subsequent periods. Conversely, a fuel cost over-recovery will appear as a liability on the Balance Sheet and will be refunded to members in subsequent periods.

Operation and Regulation of the Alaska Railbelt Electric and Transmission System

In June 2016, the RCA opened a docket to “evaluate the reliability and security standards and practices of Alaska Electric Utilities.” In 2017, Chugach and several other Alaska Railbelt utilities entered into a contract with GDS Associates, Inc. (GDS). GDS’s scope is to facilitate discussion between all six Alaska Railbelt utilities and various stakeholders with an end goal of submitting to the RCA a Railbelt Reliability Council (RRC), including a governance structure, that will be responsible for adoption and enforcement of uniform reliability standards and integrated transmission resource planning. GDS presented to the RCA during two technical conferences in January and March of 2018. Chugach and the other utilities provided GDS’s final recommendation of the RRC to the RCA in May 2018. Currently the utilities are finalizing an MOU covering implementation which is expected to be filed with the RCA in the third quarter of 2018 pending review and approval by each of the respective utility’s Board of Directors. While Chugach cannot determine the materiality of any effect on its results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows until a business model and plan are adopted, it anticipates a positive outcome.

In June 2016, in response to Docket I-16-002, Railbelt Utility Information Technology and Operations Technology, leadership began meeting to discuss Railbelt Cybersecurity. The Railbelt Utilities Managers group designated the Cybersecurity Working Group to review industry standards and provide a statement of work to develop Railbelt Cybersecurity Standards. On June 21, 2018, Chugach posted a Request for Proposal to hire a consultant to write the standards. The final draft is expected to be presented to the Railbelt Utility Managers by the end of 2018.

Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska, LLC (CINGSA)

CINGSA filed Tariff Advice Number 32-733 on April 30, 2018, to request adjustments to their base rates for firm natural gas storage service (FSS) and interruptible gas storage service (ISS). Chugach has intervened on this case, and the RCA has suspended this filing into a docket The RCA is expected to issue a decision by July 24, 2019.

On April 27, 2018, CINGSA filed a request with the RCA for advance determination of decisional prudence and assurance of cost recovery for what has been termed the Redundancy Project. A docket was opened to address this matter. Chugach is participating in this docket. A decision by the RCA is expected by January 4, 2019.