Oklahoma regulators sign off on rate agreement with Empire District

Electric rates will remain unchanged for the next year for customers of Empire Electric District after the Oklahoma Corporation Commission voted this week on a settlement agreement.

The district had originally asked for a $2.3 million rate increase but the settlement keeps the amount at $1.4 million for the nearly 4,700 customers in Craig, Delaware and Ottawa counties of northeast Oklahoma.

While rates will remain firm for the next year, customers can expect to see them increase in the following two years. A spokeswoman indicated the increase will be offset by the refund of excess revenues the company collected from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.