The Oklahoma Supreme Court told Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett to respond by September 27 to a lawsuit filed against him by three Republican legislators who want him disqualified from voting on cases involving OGE, ONG and PSO. Chief Justice M. John Kane IV signed an order Tuesday, directing Hiett to respond to …
Category: General
Study confirms what locals know: Kiamichi can dry up in summer
We continue our series of stories by Southwest Ledger reporter Mike Ray into the controversial proposed hydroelectric project on the Kiamichi River in southeast Oklahoma. By Mike W. Ray Southwest Ledger The 38.5 billion gallons of initial “fill” water for the three reservoirs that would be constructed for Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation’s …
Crude oil prices made more gains on Tuesday
Tuesday brought another gain of increased crude oil prices as they gained from 1% to 2% because of increased supply disruptions. Reuters indicated that traders also bet demand might increase if the Fed lowers borrowing costs this week. The news group reported more than 12% of crude output from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was offline …
Ponca City state Representative chosen to head legislative energy council
Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, was recently elected to serve as the chairman of the Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research (CLEER). The election came at the Energy Council’s annual Global Energy and Environmental Issues Conference held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It’s an exciting time to be part of the Center for Legislative Energy and …
What PSO’s $730 million gas plant purchase means to customers
Documents filed this week with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission show the Jenks gas plant purchased by Public Service Company of Oklahoma was sold in a $730 million deal that will result in higher bills for customers. It will also mean another PSO rate hike request is coming in 2025. First, the acquisition will …
AARP hopes to block endless stream of utility rate hikes
So many utility rate hikes are hitting Oklahoma ratepayers, it’s like a game of whack-a-mole, Sean Voskuhl, AARP Oklahoma State Director, said during a Tuesday town hall meeting where hundreds of millions of dollars in new requests were discussed. “They say it’s only $2 to $3 more a month but when you add these …
Opposition grows to proposed SE Oklahoma hydroelectric project
A proposed hydroelectric project along the Kiamichi River in southeast Oklahoma’s Pushmataha County pushed along quietly until residents finally learned of the company’s plans filed with the federal regulators. Mike Ray of the Southwest Ledger has written extensively about the growing opposition and what the developer proposed. For the next several days, we …
Energy briefs
** Members of an Arizona tribe are trying to persuade a federal judge to extend a temporary ban on exploratory drilling for a lithium project near lands they have used for religious and cultural ceremonies for centuries. Leaders of the Hualapai Tribe and others are scheduled to testify in U.S. District Court before the judge who issued …
Carl Icahn walks away with court victory in claims against his Icahn Enterprises
Billionaire activist Carl Icahn came away with a court victory this week after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that had accused him of defrauding shareholders of his investment company Icahn Enterprises so he could obtain large personal loans. Icahn, a major holder of Oklahoma oil and gas operations SandRidge Energy and the …
New OKC Transportation and Parking Director named
Oklahoma City Manager Craig Freeman has named Jesse Rush administrator of the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) and Director of the City of Oklahoma City’s Public Transportation and Parking Department. Rush replaces Jason Ferbrache, who has served in a dual role as an Assistant City Manager and the Public Transportation and …