News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Jim Palmer, Director of Information

May 26, 2000

CONSUMERS, THE COMMISSION, COMPETITORS NOT INVITED TO THE RE-WRITE PARTY

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Senate Bill 220 (Reg. No. 3589) passed by the state Senate late Thursday does not make changes recommended by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) or consumer groups and it does not reflect all the changes suggested by Attorney General Drew Edmondson in his May 25 letter to Speaker Benson which he said were needed for him to support the measure.

Consumer groups, the Commission and competitors were not invited to participate or be present during the most recent re-write of the bill. The electricity bill is flawed without the constitutional authority (OCC) and competitors at the table.

Commissioner Bode makes it clear she cannot support the bill and calls for its veto by the Governor.

Bode emphasized in a letter at the time of her appearance before the House Democratic Caucus last week that the electric restructuring bill would result in both a rate increase and a tax increase. The tax hike will total about $20 million.

Residential and small business electric consumers will suffer the most under SB220 as it is currently written.

-OCC-