December 20, 2017 archive

Xcel Energy Switching to Nasdaq

Minnesota-based Xcel Energy Inc., the company with 210 miles of transmission lines in Oklahoma is transferring its stock exchange listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The move will be effective Dec. 29 after the close of the markets. Xcel Energy shares are expected to begin trading as a …

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Two-Year Anniversary of End to Oil Export Ban

The two year anniversary of the lifting of the oil export ban is this week. It was Dec. 18, 2015 when President Barack Obama signed the legislation that had been sent to him by the U.S. House and Senate. The first shipment of U.S. crude oil left the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas on Dec. …

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PSO Moves to Start Shut-down of Coal-Fired Power Plant in New Mexico

New Mexico’s largest electric utility moved this week to begin the shutdown of a coal-fired power plant that’s served customers in the Southwest for decades. The first of two units to be closed at Public Service Company’s San Juan Generating Station was switched off this week. A second unit will be turned off this weekend …

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Nebraska Regulators Stick With Original Route Approved for Keystone XL Pipeline

The Nebraska Public Service Commission voted this week to deny motions to reconsider its Keystone XL Pipeline decision. The commission voted 5-0 after hearing oral arguments from pipeline developer TransCanada and the Sierra Club. The motion to have the commission reconsider its earlier vote was a move to amend the application for the pipeline. The …

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Lower Utility Taxes—Will They Translated into Savings for Customers?

While Democrats argued in Congress that the tax reform bill was for the wealthy, a review of the drop in corporate taxes shows Oklahoma utility consumers could see real benefits. As figured by Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony, it’s possible the state’s 4 major utilities, OG and E, ONG, Empire and PSO would pay nearly …

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Anthony Says Court Ruling Okayed Bribery in State Government

“I guess the Supreme Court just ruled that bribery’s okay.” It’s the reaction of Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony to the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling upholding a 1989 rate case where a then-commissioner had taken a bribe from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. “It’s a sad day for Oklahoma when the state’s highest court can’t even …

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Supreme Court Upholds Bribed Corporation Commission Vote Again

The Oklahoma Supreme court has again struck down the efforts of some consumers seeking $16 billion in refunds from AT&T over a bribed Corporation Commission vote in 1989. With one dissenting vote, the justices ruled they had previously ruled against the issue on other occasions and did again this time. They upheld a decision by …

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