News from the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission
Phone: (405)
521-4180, FAX: (405) 522-1623, www.occ.state.ok.us
ELECTRIC CO-OP MEMBERS THE
WINNERS IN COURT CASE
Court reaffirms Corporation
Commission’s authority to insure quality of service
(Oklahoma
City) Members of electric cooperatives unable to resolve quality-of-service
complaints with their co-op can still turn to the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission for help, the result of a recent ruling by the Oklahoma Court of
Civil Appeals.
The
case stemmed from the request of a customer of Ada-based People’s Electric
Cooperative (PEC) that the Commission help resolve a problem with the
customer’s electric bill. PEC declined
to cooperate with the Commission’s Consumer Services Division, on the grounds
that the Commission no longer regulated the PEC.
At
issue is a state law that allows electric cooperatives to “opt out” of
Commission regulation. PEC members had approved the “opt out.” PEC officials
argued the law applied to all aspects of Commission regulation, including
consumer protection and terms and conditions of service. The Commission
asserted the law only allowed the removal of the OCC’s regulatory authority
over a co-op’s rates and charges.
In
its decision the Court ruled in favor of the Commission, noting that “since
statehood, as evidenced in the (Oklahoma) Constitution, rates and charges are
but one aspect of supervision and regulation of public service companies.”
Corporation
Commission Chairman Denise Bode called the ruling “pro-consumer.”
“In
the rare case in which an electric co-op member is unable to resolve a
service-related complaint with the utility, it is vitally important that there
be a remaining avenue for resolution.
As a co-op member myself, I am pleased the Court has allowed the
Commission the ability to continue to help those in need of such assistance.”
The
case originally went to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which then sent it to the
Court of Civil Appeals.
-occ-