News from the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission
Phone: (405)
521-4180, FAX: (405) 521-6945 m.skinner@occemail.com
January 22,
2003
Average
credit of 35-40 percent on districts’ February gas bills
The Oklahoma
Corporation Commission today approved a one-time gas cost credit for qualifying
school districts served by Oklahoma Natural Gas, pending a written Order in the
case.
Commission
Chairman Denise Bode said the Commission is acting in the public interest.
“Oklahomans
have made it clear that education of our children is a top priority,” said
Bode. “This is an opportunity to respond to the very real need of many school
districts. Commission staff has done an
excellent job in researching the legal background of such a request, and though
it is unusual, there is no doubt the Commission has the authority to act in the
matter and get this money to the schools as quickly as possible.”
Vice-Chair Bob
Anthony noted the unique circumstances of the request.
“This is
one-time money from a litigation refund that consists of money paid by Kansas
Gas Service customers many years ago”, explained Anthony. “It does not involve
utility overcharges. When one considers the difficulty in determining and
locating what former KGS customers would be eligible for the one-time credit of
about one dollar, and the crisis faced by our schools, there is no doubt that
it is in the public interest to assist school districts served by ONG. Further, it is clear from existing case law
that such action is legally appropriate and proper.”
Commissioner
Jeff Cloud agrees approval of the request is in the public interest.
“Both the
present budget numbers and future projections are grim,” noted Cloud. “We have
the opportunity, the authority, and the responsibility to make a difference for
Oklahoma’s schoolchildren.”
It is
estimated that qualifying school districts will receive a credit of 35 to 40
percent on their February bills.
The 1.5
million dollars comes from a settlement of certain property tax litigation
covering a period in the 1980’s, and involving Kansas Gas Service Company
(KGS). ONEOK, the parent company of Oklahoma Natural Gas, acquired KGS in 1997.
-occ-
(All OCC advisories and news
releases are available at the Commission web site www.occ.state.ok.us)
EDITORS, PRODUCERS PLEASE NOTE: A list of the
qualifying school districts is attached.