News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

OKLAHOMA CITY – By a 2-1 vote, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Monday (Nov. 22) adopted rules for settling disputes between natural gas producers and gas gathers. Gas gatherers are companies that transport gas from the wellhead to gas transmission pipelines.

The rules specify, define and outline the procedures for filing a complaint, conducting a formal complaint hearing and mediating a dispute on an informal, voluntary basis.

Senate Bill 235, passed earlier this year by the Oklahoma Legislature, established requirements and prohibitions for both producers and gas gathers. The commission rules implement provisions of the new law.

Commissioner Ed Apple opposed passage of the rules because they allow only producers to file complaints. He said he believes restricting who can file a complaint is unconstitutional. Commissioners Bob Anthony and Denise Bode approved the rules. Anthony said the matter of who could file a complaint had been determined at the legislative level.

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