News from the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission
Phone: (405)
521-4180, FAX: (405) 522-1623, www.occ.state.ok.us
July 1, 2002
$13 credit just the
beginning
Thanks to a
settlement agreement forged by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, those who
have been customers of Oklahoma Natural Gas since December of 2001 will receive
a $13 credit on their July ONG bill.
Commission Chairman
Denise Bode says the $13 dollar credit is just the beginning of savings for
ratepayers.
“ONG customers
will continue to save money under the settlement, as it required the company to
renegotiate certain high-cost gas contracts,” explained Bode. “When added to
the credit, the settlement ordered by the Commission will total an estimated 48
million dollars for ratepayers through December of 2005.”
Commission
Vice-Chair Bob Anthony said while the full Commission’s role in this matter was
ended with the settlement agreement, he is hopeful others will focus on the
questions raised in the course of the case.
“The $13
credit starts a partial reimbursement for gas overcharges related to the shady
$150 million ONG contract negotiated with the Lums, who were corrupt political
operatives from out-of-state,” said Anthony. “The Lums have already pled guilty
to federal charges, but the investigation just initiated by the Oklahoma House
of Representatives should further inform ONG customers about the profiteering which
occurred at their expense.”
The settlement
included those gas costs borne by consumers from the winter of 2000-2001 that
the Commission determined were imprudent, as well as gas costs that were the
result of contracts ONG entered into with the now-defunct Dynamic Energy
Resources, Inc. of Tulsa, owned by Gene and Nora Lum. The settlement was approved by the Commission in May.
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(All OCC advisories and news
releases are available at the Commission web site www.occ.state.ok.us)