Why is the Oklahoma Legislature Raising My Electricity Rates?
House Bill 2747 Means Higher Electricity Bills for Oklahomans
The Oklahoma House has passed House Bill 2747, and it's now sponsored in the Senate by Senator Shane Jett. This bill would drive up electricity costs by allowing utilities to avoid competitive bidding on transmission projects—passing the higher costs onto customers.
President Trump’s DOJ opposed "ROFR" laws like HB 2747.
During his first administration, the DOJ warned that state "Right of First Refusal" (ROFR) laws, similar to House Bill 2747, harm consumers by protecting utilities from competition. A new anti-competitive regulation task force recently reinforced that view:
“Laws and regulations can undermine reliability and affordability by protecting incumbent electricity providers from competition or disruptive innovation.”
Oklahoma Voters Agree with President Trump and Support Competition
Oklahoma voters have spoken:
Electric rates are too high, and inflation is hitting hard.
Higher electric rates? No thanks!
Oklahoma voters are concerned about a little-known proposal called “Right of First Refusal” (ROFR) that eliminates cost-saving competition for power line construction, making electricity even pricier.
And Oklahoma’s Utilities Are Already Asking for You to Pay More
Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OGE) has requested a $332 million rate increase that would result in an almost 14% increase in rates for consumers
A similar request has been submitted by PSO for a $218 million rate hike.