The outage (they said or implied) was due to a choice to trip power & interrupt demand (over load conditions were present) to ration the limited power available; rather than let an uncontrolled failure affect more customers and perhaps damage the infrastructure on the grid.

The loads have increased in hotter than average weather, this is why the experts chose to create a controlled power failure. Part of that load is an increased number of electrical appliances in residence/business in south central Alaska. There have been increasing numbers of home air-conditioning units sold/in use during these hot days.

Undoubtably a combined load caused the first issue.

About GCI... They have recently been fined only a few million dollars (see news) for their 9-1-1 systems failing to work. {Part of the time, a lack backup power is to blame.} Their bundles use coaxial cable, then frequencies are split inside customer homes. They are not using VOIP. We had better with RCA Alascom in 1972.