May 30, 2008 -- AEL&P announced today that repairs to the Snettisham transmission line are ahead of schedule.  Barring unforeseen delays, Snettisham power could be flowing to Juneau by early to mid-next week.  Previous estimates had been for completion of the repairs by Sunday, June 8.

“The contractor continues to work seven days a week, and is significantly ahead of schedule,” said Eric Eriksen, Vice-President of Transmission and Distribution for AEL&P. “If the weather holds and we don’t have mechanical failures, we should have power restored sooner than expected.”

The earlier Snettisham comes back online, the sooner the diesel generators can be shut down, and the lower the Emergency Cost of Power Adjustment will be going forward.  The ECOPA is scheduled to be revised on June 16.  If power is restored ahead of the June 8 schedule, the rate effective June 16 could be lower than the 18 cents per kilowatt-hour estimated last week.