AARP Disappointed Corporation Commission Approves Utility Rate Increase; Says Rate Hike Is 'Outrageous'

By: State: Oklahoma

AARP Oklahoma today said it is disappointed the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has approved an $81.4 rate increase for more than half a million PSO utility customers in Oklahoma.

The Commission this week gave its approval for American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) to raise rates nearly 8 percent for residential customers This marks the second time PSO has raised its rates in less than two years, said Marjorie Lyons, State President of AARP Oklahoma.

"It's outrageous," Lyons said. "While the approved rate increase was lower than the original request of $126 million, it's unreasonable for the Commission to approve a rate increase of this magnitude during these tough economic times. What's more, this increase includes nearly half a million dollars for PSO's lobbying expenses at the State Capitol."

Corporation Commissioners Bob Anthony and Jeff Cloud voted in favor of the rate increase while newly-elected Commissioner Dana Murphy abstained.

Lyons said AARP is hopeful the final amount of the proposed increase can be lowered if a party to the case files a motion to reconsider within the next 10 days.

"It's a rotten deal for PSO's residential customers but we hope there is still time for the Commission to do the right thing by lowering the amount of the increase," she said.

AARP advocates for affordable, cost-effective energy efficiency programs and successfully lobbied the Corporation Commission to adopt demand/energy efficiency rules last year. There are currently more than 442,000 AARP members in Oklahoma.