A “marathon” hearing is what an Administrative Law Judge expects as the Oklahoma Corporation Commission begins examining the request of Public Service Company of Oklahoma to finalize its $730 million acquisition of a Jenks natural gas power plant.
Public comments were received Thursday afternoon from 20 chamber of commerce, business and school leaders in support of PSO’s purchase, which if approved, would mean an increase of $7.24 or 5% more a month for residential customers across the state.
Commissioners Todd Hiett and Brian Bingman attended the start of the hearing while Commissioner Kim David was not in attendance. They listened to the testimony of supporters.
Reanna Morgan of the Pushmataha County Chamber of Commerce called the purchase of the Green Country Energy plant a “much needed addition to the PSO power structure,” and sayd it was a “smart and effective cost solution.”
Lena Cobb of 4C Welding, a Hugo welding school supported the request, saying it was “forward thinking by PSO.” James Bell, President and CEO of the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce said the purchase “enhances economic development opportunities.”
Others who voiced support for the purchase included Kim Wilmes of the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce; Jeff Gose, mayor of Thomas; Julie Knutson, CEO of the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals; Chelsea Feary, President and CEO of the Owasso Chamber of Commerce; J.J. Dossett of Owasso City; James Bell, President and CEO of the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce; Nicole Jordan, Business Development Director at the Lawton Economic Development Corporation; Leah Thomas, City Manager of Hugo; Jacqueline Lecrone of the Idabel Chamber of Commerce; Debbie Ward, Economic Development Director of Rogers County; Leslie Hixson, Community Action Corps in Frederick; David Yarbrough, Executive Director of the Tulsa Ports; and Christian Cox, a resident of Jenks.
They were the only ones who testified Thursday as attorneys and representatives for various other groups made last-minute preparations with the Judge who will begin hearing expert testimony from numerous witnesses on Monday morning at 8:30.
The power plant, owned by J-Power USA Generation based in Illinois, came up for sale in the fall of 2023 and with an expected growth in demand for electricity, PSO decided it needed the facility. The utility had previously purchased power from the Jenks plant which began operations in 2002.