Attorneys for Public Service Company of Oklahoma presented arguments to Oklahoma regulators on Wednesday, seeking a rate increase of nearly $132 million. PSO attorney, Jack Fite, said the utility is entitled to reimbursement from customers for improvements made to the system. The company spent nearly $884 million since 2014 on system upgrades and air pollution …
Duke University Files Claim With Estate of Aubrey McClendon
The alma mater of late oil tycoon, Aubrey McClendon, has filed a claim against his estate seeking collection on nearly $10 million in unsecured pledges to the university, according to a Wall Street Journal report. In the claim filed with the estate on August 12, Duke University listed the amount of $18.75 million for the total pledge, …
New Mexico Summit to Examine Energy Storage Strategies
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) will host an Energy Summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico to discuss storage strategies for industry and national security on Tuesday, August 23. The event is free and open to the general public. Guest speakers include representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, AES Energy Storage and Tesla. Heinrich, a …
New FAA Drone Rule Effective on August 29
August 29 marks a new dawn in aviation history. That’s when the Federal Aviation Administration’s new small drone rule for non-hobbyists takes effect. On June 21, the FAA released its first operational rules covering safety regulations for unmanned aircraft systems. Operational limitations include: Weight limitation of less than 55 pounds Visual line-of-sight only by remote …
NRC Asks FERC to Prepare Generic Rules on Protecting Sensitive Data
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday to create generic rules aimed at protecting sensitive information that could threaten critical energy infrastructure. “As the federal regulator of commercial nuclear power plants, the NRC regularly receives and generates information that, if released, could negatively affect, at a minimum, public health and …
Oklahoma Corporation Commission Responds to Recent Seismic Activity
In response to last week’s earthquakes in Lincoln County, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Friday announced two disposal wells must shut down while 19 other wells must reduce wastewater disposal well operations. New Dominion LLC’s B. Smith 31 well and Hulen Operating Co.’s Threatt 18-3 well were within 3 miles of eight small-magnitude earthquakes that rocked the …
OGE Exercises Right of First Offer to Acquire CenterPoint Interest in Enable
OGE Energy Corp. said Friday it exercised its right of first offer to increase the utility’s stake in Enable Midstream Partners LP along with an unnamed third party, according to a report in The Oklahoman. OGE Energy currently holds a 26.3 percent limited partnership interest in Enable. The offer comes after Houston-based CenterPoint Energy Inc. …
Grady County Game Warden Thwarts Oilfield Theft
Two men are facing felony charges of larceny of oilfield equipment and transporting a loaded firearm after allegedly taking batteries and solar panels from an oilfield site in Grady County, according to a Chickasha News report. Colton Robbins of Lindsay and Travis Bunch of Nowata were arrested on charges of larceny of the oilfield equipment, …
OCC Approves OG&E SmartHours Reimbursement of $30.3 Million
By a unanimous 3-0 vote, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved a $30 million joint stipulation settlement on Tuesday allowing Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. to recapture lost revenues from the company’s SmartHours program, according to a report by The Oklahoman. OG&E will recover $30.3 million — $10.1 million per year — for three years of lost revenue …
OCC Grants Approval to Fortis Acquisition of ITC Holdings
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has granted final approval to Fortis Inc.’s application to acquire ITC Holdings Corp. for $11.3 billion, according to a company press release. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. “The Oklahoma Corporation Commission plays an important role in protecting the interests of all Oklahomans,” said Barry …