Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners followed through Wednesday with formal approval of a more than $12 a month rate hike temporarily implemented last October for customers of Public Service Company. But the AARP didn’t like it and chastized the commission for its vote.
PSO’s original request of $218 million, filed in 2023, was eventually negotiated down to $119.5 million and commissioners allowed an interim rate hike to take effect in late October of last year. Instead of another $16.93 more a month, the hike added $12 more onto monthly bills.
“This is not an additional increase to what has been in effect,” explained Commission chair Kim David. “It is just continuing on what is in effect.”
Commissioner Todd Hiett, who eventually voted for the approval, admitted he felt it was also a “significant inccrease—stacked on top of a recent increase.” However, he pointed out that PSO agreed as part of a stipulation agreement with the Attorney General that it will not apply for another rate hike until 2026.
“I’m willing to support it but I don’t like it. But it is what it is,” added Hiett.
Commissioner Brian Bingman, in his first meeting since succeeding former longtime commissioner Bob Anthony, did not vote on the matter since he did not participate during the rate hike hearings.
The approval drew an immediate critical response from Sean Voskuhl, State Director of AARP Oklahoma. His group was not among those who signed the stipulation agreement with the Attorney General last year.
“AARP Oklahoma is disappointed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s decision to approve Public Service Company of Oklahoma’s (PSO) $119.5 million rate increase. This unprecedented hike, which went into effect on an interim basis on October 23, saddles residential customers with an extra $12 per month, or $144 annually, and comes as PSO seeks two additional rate increases in 2025 which would further increase rates by more than $12 per month.”
Voskuhl said seniors, those on fixed incomes, have said they must sacrifice and have to choose between food, medicine and keeping the lights on.
“AARP Oklahoma will continue to fight against these rate increases with no end in sight and will advocate on behalf of PSO residential customers who deserve better.”
PSO, in a press release following the vote, said the decision enables the company to “deliver on its commitment to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for customers while modernizing and securing Oklahoma’s power grid.” It also said the approval would lead to shorter and less frequent outages.
“With the increasing challenges posed by Oklahoma weather and growing energy demands, PSO recognizes the need for a grid that can effectively withstand these pressures and continue to serve our communities without interruption,” said PSO President and Chief Operating Officer Leigh Anne Strahler.
“PSO is dedicated to ensuring that the infrastructure we provide is equipped to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s demands.”
This approval reflects no change to the interim rates implemented on October 23rd, 2024, in which the typical residential customer using 1,100 kilowatt-hours per month saw a $12 a month increase. PSO said that overall, a typical residential customer’s monthly bill has gone down over the last year following a reduction of $16.93 starting in November 2024 due to lower fuel costs.