Imagine your natural gas bill doubling from November to December. It’s what customers of Summit Utilities in Arkansas are likely to face after regulators gave approval to a rate hike settlement. Based on the settlement agreement, it’s reported the average Summit Utilities customer can expect a $134 December bill. It is an agreement …
Turnpike travel in Oklahoma to cost more beginning in January
This week’s action by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority wasn’t much of a Christmas gift….more like something Scrooge or the Grinch Who Stole Christmas would leave for us. Turnpike fees will jump 15% effective Jan. 1, 2025. Click here for KOCO TV News
Justices displayed possible support for oil railway fought by Colorado
With Justice Neil Gorsuch recused from hearing the case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in Colorado’s fight against a proposed 88-mile railway to move oil from Utah and into Colorado. Some observers say based on questions from the justices, they appeared to lean in favor of supporters of the Uinta Basin …
Iowa farmers want regulations covering destroyed wind turbines
In a case reminiscent of the abandoned wind turbines in the Oklahoma Panhandle last year, some Iowa farmers are pushing for new regulations to cover the cleanup of damaged turbines on their land. In Iowa, a family was left with a hole in the ground after the company used exposives to remove a turbine …
Energy briefs
** On Tuesday the U.S. House passed bipartisan ‘Good Samaritan’ abandoned mine cleanup legislation by voice vote. The bill passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in July, and President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law. ** Texas researchers investigate a spike in seismic activity in the Permian Basin and its connection to the injection of roughly 50 billion barrels …
Indiana ROFR-like law blocked by federal judge
In a case that raises the subject of ROFRs or Right of First Refusal, a federal judge has blocked a 2023 Indiana law that gives in-state utilities first rights to build new transmission projects, saying it limits competition for out-of-state companies. The idea of ROFRs has floated around the Oklahoma legislature for the past …
US expected to top world’s oil producers for another year
Based on a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it appears increased well productivity by 34 publicly traded U.S. oil exploration and production companies will make the U.S. the world’s top producer of crude oil for a seventh consecutive year. The identities of the 34 companies were not revealed in the report. …
Legislators aren’t finished with Corporation Commissioner Hiett
This week’s Supreme Court decision regarding the efforts of three GOP legislators to stop Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett might not have been what they wanted. But their hopes of doing something about his votes on utility rate cases could remain alive and rest in the hands of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. For it …
Slight gain in crude oil prices
Tuesday brought another increase in crude oil prices, largely because of expectations for increased demand in China and a possible squeeze on supplies in Europe as winter approaches. Traders were optimistic following reports that China might adopt a loose monetary policy in the coming year. Plus, there was the fact that China’s crude oil …
Millions more from Biden administration for critical materials
From Texas to North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and seven other states, but not Oklahoma, they will receive another energy handout worth millions of dollars from the outgoing Biden administration. The Department of Energy announced announced an investment of $17 million across 14 projects that will accelerate critical materials innovation while promoting safe, sustainable, economic, …
