The current cost estimate for building Susitna-Watana Hydro is $5.66 billion. The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) is taking extraordinary steps to develop the most reliable budget possible and to validate cost assumptions. First, MWH Global – the world’s largest hydropower engineering firm in the world, has been hired to analyze the project and estimate its overall cost. Second, AEA is in the process of hiring another independent, experienced firm to validate this work. Third, AEA is organizing a board of consultants to ensure the project is designed and built responsibly and on budget.