A recommendation from an Administrative Law Judge that Public Service Company only get $81.2 million of a nearly $170 million rate hike request goes before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Tuesday.
The matter is scheduled as part of the Commission’s regular meeting. It was in December when Judge Mary Candler issued her recommendation. She is the same judge who earlier this month recommended against PSO’s preapproval of its proposed massive wind farm in the Panhandle.
The utility originally had asked for $169.7 million, stating it needed the funds to recover more than $625 million in expenses encountered over the installation of new electrical infrastructure. PSO also wanted to recover $111 million in costs spent on installation of 533,000 smart meters for it customers.
But Judge Candler ruled against allowing recovery one of the utility’s power units “since it is not being used to supply power to customers at this time.” She also recommended moving the smart meter plan to base rates.
PSO’s original request would have bumped an average customer’s monthly bill by another $14. Just a year ago, the Corporation Commission approved a $19 million rate increase for.
The Administrative Law Judge’s recommendation in December was not well received at PSO.
“These types of orders discourage investors, and that harms the utility and does our customers no good at all,” said spokesman Stan Whiteford at the time. “We need investors to keep our utility strong.”