(a) An electric utility must participate in an electric reliability organization if the utility operates in an interconnected electric energy transmission network served by an electric reliability organization certificated by the commission. The commission may not require an electric reliability organization for an interconnected bulk-electric system if all of the load-serving entities operating in the interconnected bulk-electric system are exempt under AS 42.05.711(b).
(b) A person may submit to the commission an application for certification as an electric reliability organization for an interconnected bulk-electric system. The commission may certificate one electric reliability organization for each interconnected electric energy transmission network. The commission may certificate an electric reliability organization if the commission determines that the electric reliability organization has the ability to comply with AS 42.05.762.
(c) The commission shall immediately notify the interconnected load-serving entities within a new or existing interconnected bulk-electric system of the requirements of this section.
(d) Notwithstanding the requirements in (e) of this section, if all load-serving entities within an interconnected bulk-electric system petition the commission for an exemption from the requirement to establish an electric reliability organization for the interconnected electric energy transmission network, the commission may waive the requirement to form an electric reliability organization for that interconnected electric energy transmission network.
(e) The commission shall form and certificate an electric reliability organization for an interconnected bulk-electric system under this section if, within
(1) 90 days after the commission notifies the interconnected load-serving entities under (c) of this section, no person has applied for certification as an electric reliability organization for that interconnected bulk-electric system; or
(2) 270 days after the commission notifies the interconnected load-serving entities under (c) of this section, the commission has not certificated an electric reliability organization for that interconnected bulk-electric system.
(f) The commission may certificate an electric reliability organization for an interconnected electric energy transmission network that is not an interconnected bulk-electric system if
(1) one or more load-serving entities within that network successfully petition the commission to find that an electric reliability organization should be established for the network; and
(2) a person applies for certification as an electric reliability organization for the network.