Ballot counting for an election to deregulate Homer Electric Association Inc. started Dec. 8 and is continuing. An independent accounting firm is counting the ballots, said Ann Wilde, a section manager with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

The RCA will certify the election no later than Dec. 27 and announcement of the results will be made in an order certifying the election.

For the election to be valid, at least 15 percent of the 23,371 ballots HEA mailed to members must be returned, or 3,506 ballots. Wilde said the accounting firm has not yet reported on if a sufficient number of ballots were received.