More utility rate cases will be heard this week before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and in both, it likely means higher bills for consumers.
Both will apply to Oklahoma Gas and Electric as an Administrative Law Judge holds a Thursday morning (10 a.m.) hearing on the merits about the utility’s application of the Fuel Adjustment Clause for the Calendar year 2023. The hearing will also review a Prudence Review of the Fuel Procurement Processes and Costs of OGE for the same year. The requests fall under case No. PUD2024-000038 before the Commission.
OGE stated in filings that its 2023 January-December total fuel costs were $763,068,570. Coal costs during the same period totaled $80,630,136. Costs for alternative fuels was $6,441,833 and natural gas costs were $308,131,995.
All three commissioners might attend the hearing. Later in the day, they will hold a special meeting (1:30 p.m.)to deal with OGE’s case No. PUD2023-000087 which was handled previously by the commissioners.
Formally known as Case No. PUD2023-000087, the matter involves the November 2024 decision by commissioners approving the $126.66 million rate hike sought by the utility. It resulted in average monthly bills going up $12.65. OG&E originally had asked for a $332 million rate hike request but it was lowered by regulators.
Two weeks ago, the case drew the ire of AARP Oklahoma’s Executive Director Sean Voshkuhl.
“This order will make final OG&E’s saddling residential customers with a historic $126.6 million rate increase and raise utility bills more than $9 a month, an amount many customers simply cannot afford. OG&E began collecting this unprecedented rate hike on an interim basis on July 1, 2024, and the OCC approved OG&E’s interim rates on November 27, 2024,” he stated.