Sidelined by some health issues two years ago when he made a run for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, former energy writer and industry analyst Russell Ray is giving it another bid.
Ray has announced his candidacy in this year’s election saying he is a candidate to fix the Corporation Commission which he claims has reached a crisis point in public trust. In announcing his bid, he was also critical of the sitting commissioners, all of whom are former legislators. Chair Kim David is a former Senate Majority leader and commissioner Brian Bingman once was Senate President. Commissioner Todd Hiett served as Speaker when he was in the State House.
Ray claims it shows the commission is a “retirement home for termed-out lawmakers who are beholden to the companies” regulated by them.
“As lawmakers, they have sponsored and supported legislation on behalf of these companies,” Ray told The Oklahoman Thursday. “I think that’s a huge problem for consumers.”
Ray is a former energy editor for the Tulsa World newspaper and in deciding to run again for the regulatory agency, he vowed not to take any money from regulated utilities. It is part of his belief that industry is favored more by commissioners who he said are playing politics with the electric bills of consumers.
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