District 3 Candidate
Board Experience
In the late 70's, when the Alaska Fairbanks Intertie was being built, the utilities cooperatively developed various boards and committees. One of these was the Intertie Management Committee (IMC), which consisted of several subcommittees: the Intertie Operating Committee (IOC), the Reliability Operations Committee (ROC), and the SCADA committee, all of which I served in various roles including president. These entities made the Railbelt work by establishing rules for operation and repair, developing maintenance budgets, allocating resources, and more.
Over my career, I’ve worked with state leaders, legislatures and other influential utility executives to put laws into place to protect the utilities, and to help better manage the Railbelt. I am very familiar with the workings, and rules of order for board meetings. I have collected a vast body of knowledge in the 50 years of being part of the Alaska electrical industry, and now I want to put that knowledge to work for the members of Homer Electric Association.
A few other notes of interest are:
- I was a volunteer Alyeska Ski patrolman and board member for 8+ years
- I was a voluntary Mountain & Rescue Patrolman
- I was a hockey goalie (Goalie Bob) and played Rugby
- I have a passion for travel and I love cats
Work Experience
I came to Alaska in 1977 and worked for the Corps of Engineering Electrical Division. In 1978, I went to work for Municipal Light and Power (ML&P). Here I held many positions over twenty-eight years: Distribution Engineer, Planning Engineer, Relay and Protection Engineer, Dispatch Manager, and Manager of Power Production to name a few. In the early 2000’s, I developed, installed, and maintained the ML&P Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA). I retired from ML&P in 2006.
That same year, HEA asked me to join as their Power Production Manager. Together, we embarked on the project called Independent Light, whereby we built the facilities at Nikiski and Soldotna so HEA could generate its own electrical needs. There were many discussions with the HEA board on the pros and cons of being independent. I presented a strong and influential argument that HEA should become independent. I was instrumental in the successful completion of Independent Light, and later I became Superintendent of Bradley Lake Hydro (operated for the State of Alaska under contract with HEA). I retired from HEA in 2022.
Main Goal
I'm Bob Day and I'm seeking your vote for the Homer Electric Association Board of Directors. I've spent 50 years working with utility systems that power our state, including the Corp. of Engineers, Municipal Light & Power, and HEA. I became a Registered Professional Engineer in 1981. I've managed multiple assets across Alaska's utility infrastructure, including Bradley Lake Hydro. I have historical and institutional knowledge of the rail belt, its partners, and the challenges the utilities have faced. A major discussion taking place across the industry is the threat of the dwindling availability of Cook Inlet gas. I am acutely aware of our systems’ integration with the regional fuel supply, and the importance of developing a solution for long-term stability, as our energy security is at risk. I'm running because HEA is at a critical crossroads that requires technical expertise and sound solutions. I will use my engineering background to rigorously vet a transition plan, whether that involves securing new fuel sources, storage, renewables or diversifying our generation. My priority is to ensure that every decision is technically viable and protects members from increasing costs. I've spent my life keeping Alaska's lights on, and I ask for your vote.