Not only did Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners get an earful of complaints from ratepayers about the prospect of paying for utility natural gas projects while they are under construction—so did Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, the firm first in line to ask for such a rate hike.
Ten ratepayers, who took the time to travel to the state Capitol to testify in person before the commissioners present for the hearing regarding the OGE preapproval request, spoke against the measure. The utility wants permission, under a new state law, to begin charging for what would amount to a $100 million rate hike, while construction is underway on various energy projects, including the addition of two massive natural gas powered generators at the firm’s Horseshoe Lake Power Plant in eastern Oklahoma County.
One of the first given an opportunity to make a public comment was Stephanie Burdine of Yukon who called the request a “power grab” which she also blamed on the large AI firms that have reaped billions of dollars in their third quarter profits. She also cautioned the two commissioners present for the hearing, Todd Hiett and Brian Bingman, “You answer to us—we can fire you!”, adding that people cannot believe how much their electric bills are increasing…