The Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s recent decision to join the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners is official after the association approved the move.
SEARUC voted June 11, 2025, during its annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, to approve the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s (OCC) membership request, officially welcoming the state regulatory body into the regional organization. The Corporation Commission voted at its May 21 meeting to withdraw from membership in the Mid-America Regulatory Conference and apply to join SEARUC. The Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC) represents an association of regional organizations of utility and energy regulatory agencies from 14 states that include: Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
The OCC’s addition to SEARUC strengthens regional collaboration among utility regulators in the southeastern United States. The OCC unanimously voted on May 21, 2025, to formally request membership in SEARUC, citing closer alignment in terms of geography, regulatory challenges, and shared political and economic interests.
“Joining SEARUC is a natural fit for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission,” said OCC Chairman Kim David. “We share many of the same priorities and challenges as our counterparts in the Southeast, from energy infrastructure and reliability to affordability and future load growth opportunities. I’m excited for the opportunities ahead as we collaborate more closely with our regional partners.”
In May when commissioners took the vote to join SEARUC, David said Oklahoma was more politically aligned with the SEARUC member states “as believers of natural gas.”
“At my very first MARC meeting, I was called racist if I believed in natural gas—soured my opinion,” she said at the May meeting.
The Commission vote was to join SEARUC but it remained as a member of MARC.
SEARUC, one of the regional arms of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), facilitates coordination and information sharing among utility regulators across its member states. The organization plays a critical role in shaping regulatory policies and ensuring the delivery of reliable, safe, and affordable utility services.
With Oklahoma’s inclusion, SEARUC now represents 12 states across the southeastern U.S., including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico.