Unalaska, AK – The city council revisited the community energy relief options at their meeting last night. City staff recommends giving all residential households a $60 per month electric bill rebate for 14 months. It would cost the city $280,000 but would not affect the money the city receives from the state's Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program. Initially, Public Utilities Director Dan Winters recommended supplementing the COPA to stabilize and lower electric bills, but doing so would have reduced the state's PCE contribution. Most city council members supported the idea of utility bill rebates.

Other energy relief options included giving residents rebates for buying energy star appliances, but the staff found that the option would lead to an increase of appliances sent to the landfill which would make landfill operations difficult. Additionally, it would only help some residents, not all. The staff and the council rejected that option as well as options providing a home weatherization rebate and renovating the powerhouse.

The city is seeking a grant to fund a waste heat recovery system for the powerhouse and will bring the option back to the council once the grant process is finished.