Customers of Oklahoma Natural Gas started getting notices in the mail this week about their rates going up again, should the increases be approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. It could mean another $2.12 more a month for most residential customers.
In the “Dear Customer” letter, ONG gave details of its Application with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission requesting review and approval of its calculations under the Performance Based Rate Change Plan.
“Oklahoma Natural is seeking an increase of approximately $41,504,750 in base rates. The requested increase is necessary to recover increased business costs and natural gas infrastructure investments,” explained ONG in the letter. “Oklahoma Natural invested approximately $272 million in capital investments since its last base rate increase, a PBRC review with a test year ending December 31, 2023.
The utility explained as result, the average residential customer’s monthly service charge would be increased by $3.24 a month while a residential low-income customer’s bill would go up $1.03.
ONG said that as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it will continue to return to customers excess deferred income taxes (EDIT) including a one-time annual EDIT credit for 2025 of $13,243,908. It equates to $13.39 for an average residential customer and $3.96 for a residential low-income customer. The one-time annual EDIT for 2025 will be paid in February 2026, according to the ONG letter.
ONG explained that with calculations and the one-time EDIT credit, the estimated total impact to the monthly bill for an average residential customer will actually be $2.12 more a month and $0.70 for a residential low-income customer.
Public comments will be heard by a Corporation Commission Administrative Law Judge at 10 a.m. on June 12. A Hearing on the Merits will follow and continue each business day until the hearing is ended.