# Seward Electric Community Town Hall Meeting 9/28/26

The City of Seward’s Electric Community Town Hall on September 28, 2026, focused on utility operations, financial scenarios, and possible future governance and power-supply options. Staff reported about 65 new electric services this year, near completion of an overhead-to-underground conversion on Lear Road, replacement of failing cable near Stony Creek and Bruno, and generator maintenance and permit work. The presentation compared keeping the utility under current economics, local control with or without a hydro project, and selling to an existing Railbelt cooperative. The base-case estimate for the proposed Godwin–Fourth of July hydro project was approximately $190–200 million, with scenarios ranging from about $140 million to $285 million; presenters said federal direct-pay incentives could cover up to 50% if eligibility requirements are met. No vote or contract award occurred. The utility’s survey results showed the cooperative franchise option as the leading preference, followed by a municipal authority and sale to an existing cooperative; the survey remained open.

Discussion also covered project feasibility, including sediment, fishery, geotechnical, and permitting questions. Officials said the City was pursuing a preliminary permit to study the hydro site and would keep study work proprietary while a competing application was pending. A battery system was described as grant-funded through the EPA, with a vendor selected and maintenance and future replacement costs still to be addressed; no contract amount or vendor name was provided. Residents also raised concerns about future battery costs, cruise-ship shore-power demand, and whether ships would connect. No procurement approval or spending motion was reported.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** September 28, 2026

### Sources
- [Seward Electric Community Town Hall Meeting 9/28/26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc4BoqwfK6g) - City of Seward