CEA Candidate Questions—Bernie Smith

Voting opens April 30 in CEA’s board election and runs through the Annual Meeting on May 30. Members will elect one at-large director for a four-year term. Members can vote in 3 ways:

• Electronically—members should receive an email with a link and voting instructions on April 30. Electronic voting closes at 1 p.m. on May 30.

• At the CEA Annual meeting on May 30 (voting opens at 3 p.m.; meeting starts at 4 p.m.)

• By mail—CEA members wishing to vote by mail must contact the election administrator and request a paper ballot at 866-909-3549. Mail-in ballot must be received by the election administrator by noon on May 29.

More information, including a copy of the CEA Election Brochure, can be found on the CEA Election and Annual Meeting website.

Here are the questionnaire responses for Burnell “Bernie” Smith. Now retired, Smith’s career included working as a Manager of Engineering at the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), and where he also served as an RCA Commissioner. He also was a Project Manager at the Alaska Energy Authority. In 2023, he served as an interim member of the CEA Board and has also been a member of its Bylaws and Member Advisory Committees.

His CEA candidate page can be found here.

Bernie Smith, from his CEA candidate profile

1. Why do you want to serve on the CEA Board?

I bring extensive experience in electric utilities, with a strong background in regulatory oversight, engineering, and project management. This expertise allows me to contribute meaningfully to informed board decisions. I’ve also served as an Interim Board Director and found the collaborative experience deeply rewarding.

2. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing CEA over the next 5–10 years? What can be done to prepare to meet them?

 Key challenges include modernizing the transmission grid, securing a stable and affordable fuel supply, and integrating renewable energy cost-effectively. Supporting our capable executive team and giving them the tools and autonomy to continue their work is essential to meeting these challenges.

3. The Railbelt utilities are facing many common issues, such as shortfalls of Cook Inlet natural gas and the need for transmission upgrades. There is some collaboration among utilities to address these issues, although this has sometimes required legislative intervention (such as the formation of the Railbelt Regional Transmission Organization).

What role do cooperative boards have in working toward greater collaboration among the Railbelt utilities? Should this be done solely through directives to staff, or is there a place for direct collaboration between boards and/or board members?

The Chugach Board must stay informed on legislative and RCA mandates such as the Railbelt Reliability Council, the Transmission Organization, and grid load balancing initiatives. I’ve attended most public meetings on these topics and maintain good relationships with key stakeholders. This positions me to keep the Board and executive team well-informed and aligned with broader regional efforts.

4. Legislators give considerable weight to input provided by utilities on legislation that affects them. What role should board members play in developing their cooperative’s stance on bills before the Legislature? How should the Board interact with staff on these issues?

Board members and executive staff should actively collaborate on shaping legislative positions. Engaging with lawmakers ensures that any proposed legislation supports the best interests of our co-op and its members.

5. CEA is involved in making decisions about the full or partial restoration of the Eklutna River and its salmon run. Are you committed to working with Indigenous councils and leadership toensure that their perspectives are given full consideration on issues like the Eklutna restoration?

If so, what steps would you take to ensure that CEA takes a more proactive approach to collaboration with Indigenous communities on this and other local energy projects?

Yes, I am committed to working with Indigenous leaders and other stakeholders on Eklutna River restoration. I would advocate for inclusive dialogue that balances ecological restoration with maintaining our drinking water and hydroelectric resources.

6. Although CEA is a member-owned cooperative, levels of member engagement and involvement are low—only 14 percent of members voted in the last election and few members attend board meetings. Do you believe that the Board should try to increase member engagement? If so, what can the Board do to encourage greater member engagement and involvement in helping to guide the cooperative’s policies?

Absolutely. While Chugach staff have taken steps—like improving the website and participating in community events—the Board can further encourage engagement by promoting transparency, responding to member feedback, and highlighting the impact of member participation in decision-making.

7. The extensive use of executive session by utility boards contributes to member disengagement. In 2024, CEA’s Board spent nearly half (47.8%) of its regular board meetings in executive session, up sharply from 2023 (when the figure was 31.1%) Recognizing that the use of executive session is necessary at times, do you believe that cooperative boards have an obligation to their member-owners to maximize the openness and transparency of their decision making? Should CEA’s Board minimize its use of executive session? If so, what steps could be taken to achieve this goal?

 Yes, the Board should limit executive sessions to situations where confidentiality is legally required, such as contract negotiations or NDA-bound discussions. I’ve publicly supported this position. Moving Director comments ahead of executive sessions is a positive step toward transparency and respect for members' time.

8. Beyond the issues discussed above, are there any other policies or issues facing the CEA Board you would like to address?

I would like to see more exploration into long-term energy sources, such as geothermal, tidal, offshore wind, and other emerging technologies. Diversifying our energy portfolio is critical for resilience and sustainability.